Breathing Life into the Maputo Protocol
This Digest aims to promote the use of one of the world’s most comprehensive and progressive human rights instruments (the Maputo Protocol or the Protocol).
issue: African Union
11 Years of the Maputo Protocol: Women’s Progress and Challenges
SOAWR coalition organization and others are working to ensure that the Protocol remains on the agenda of policy makers and to urge all African leaders to safeguard the rights of women through its ratification and implementation. These organizations give visibility to both progress as well as violations of the rights enshrined therein.
SOAWR Congratulates the Republic of Cameroon on Its Ratification of the AU Protocol
Cameroon has become the 36th African Union (AU) Member State to ratify the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa following its deposit of its ratification instrument on 28 December 2012. The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) Coalition congratulates Cameroon on taking this important step, which demonstrates its commitment to women’s rights and gender equality. The ratification process has been a long journey. Cameroon signed the Protocol on 25 July 2006 and, on 28 May 2009, President Paul Biya issued Decree Number 2009/143 on the Ratification of the Protocol. Unfortunately, this decree met with opposition from religious communities
Republic of Congo and Guinea Ratify the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa
The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR), a pan-African coalition of 42 organizations in 23 African countries, congratulates the Republic of Congo and the Republic of Guinea on their ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (hereafter the Protocol). The ratification by Congo and Guinea on 6th of August and 17th of September 2012 respectively, brings the total number of ratifications to 34 (thirty-four) out of the 54 (fifty-four) African member states. The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR), a pan-African coalition of 42 organizations
Latest
Posts
SOAWR’s Statement at the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
This statement by Alliances for Africa (Observer Status Number 235) on behalf of the SOAWR Coalition was prepared in Abuja, Nigeria, on 30th September 2025 and read at the 85th
RAPPORT PARALLELE COMBINÉ (10e au 18e , 2006- 2024) AU RAPPORT PÉRIODIQUE DE L’ÉTAT TUNISIEN
RAPPORT PARALLELE COMBINÉ (10e au 18e , 2006- 2024) AU RAPPORT PÉRIODIQUE DE L’ÉTAT TUNISIEN SUR L’ÉTAT DE MISE EN ŒUVRE DU PROTOCOLE À LA CHARTE AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE
The Central African Republic has officially ratified the Maputo Protocol!
Following the SOAWR Coalition’s ratification and advocacy mission on the 25th of June 2025, the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) deposited the instrument of ratification for the Maputo Protocol on the 29th of July 2025, making CAR the 46th African Union member state to do so.
#MaputoAt22: Our Rights Are Non-Negotiable
Today, on 11 July 2025, we mark 22 years since the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in