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Maputo @20

region: Central Africa

Gabon

Gabon signed the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol) on the 27th of January 2005 and ratified it on the 10th of January, 2011. Considered as the most prosperous and stable country in Africa, Gabon gained its independence in 1960 from France. Former Omar Bongo is considered as the longest serving president in the world. He dominated the country’s political scene for four decades until his death in June 2009. His son, Ali Bongo, won the 2009 elections. Polygamy remains a tradition that is still practiced

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Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea signed the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol) on the 30th of January 2005 and ratified it on the 27th of October, 2009. Despite the government effort to ensure equal opportunity for women, customs and traditions remains an obstacle to women’s enjoyment of their human rights. According to UN Women, 29.5% of women aged 20–24 years old who were married or in a union before age 18. As of February 2021, only 23% of seats in parliament were held by women. While equal representation

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Democratic Rep. of Congo

DRC ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol) on the 9th of June 2008. Decades of armed conflict have led to the deaths of over 2 million civilians and estimates suggest over 1 million women have been raped. Though articles 5, 14 and 15 of the DRC constitution establish a legal basis for equality and equity policies, women currently occupy only 7.2% of positions at the highest level of decision making at a national level in the parliament and government. Up to 52% of women

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Congo Brazzaville

The Republic of Congo signed the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol) on the 27th of February 2004 and ratified it more than seven years later on the 14th of December 2011. Referred as Congo-Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo became independent in 1960. Civil war and militia have inundated the country for many years in part due to the country’s offshore oil wealth. Despite the relative calm in the country, there are still many refugees, which present a humanitarian crisis. Although the status of women has improved

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Solidarity for African Women's rights (SOAWR) is a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations across
the continent working to ensure that the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in
Africa remains on the agenda of policy makers and to urge all African leaders to safeguard the rights
of women through ratification and implementation of the Protocol.

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