Join us in marking 20 years of the Maputo Protocol!

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Dear John,

Today is a very special day for gender equality

On this day exactly 20 years ago, State representatives from across the African Union (AU) ([link removed]) came together in Maputo, Mozambique, to adopt one of the most important and progressive legal frameworks for women’s rights the world has ever seen.

In the two decades since, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women – also known as the Maputo Protocol ([link removed](raped)%20his%20student.) – has been crucial in recognising, promoting and safeguarding the rights of women and girls throughout Africa. It has led to unprecedented progress towards equality in every sphere of life, from health and social welfare to citizenship, political participation, and safety from violence and harm.

The extraordinary impact of the Maputo Protocol is a testament to the dedication and solidarity of the women involved in the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) Coalition, who together, have led efforts to promote and implement the Protocol over the past 20 years. As a founding member of SOAWR ([link removed]) , Equality Now ([link removed]) has been a crucial partner in these efforts.

From the very start, we have shared our knowledge, resources, and networks, with our international legal expertise strengthening the earliest drafts of the Protocol, our national and regional advocacy efforts expediting its ratification and domestication, and our support as SOAWR secretariat playing a pivotal role in facilitating strategic meetings and discussions.


Today, we are commemorating our part in this historic milestone in three ways

First, as part of the SOAWR coalition and in partnership with Make Every Woman Count, Equality Now is releasing a new report – 20 Years of the Maputo Protocol: Where are we now? – summarizing the progress made to date toward the ratification, domestication, and implementation of the Maputo Protocol and highlighting the challenges that remain.


Second, we are proud to be partnering with the Kenyan Government, SOAWR, the African Union Commission, and thehttps://achpr.au.int/enAfrican Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in hosting high-level conferences on Raising the Bar on Accountability and Accelerating the Promise for African Women and Girls, the first of which is currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya.


Finally, this evening we will be joining other SOAWR Member Organisations at our flagship celebratory gala for the 20 for 20 Solidarity Awards ([link removed]) , at which we will collectively recognize and celebrate 20 remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions over the past 20 years towards the implementation of the Maputo Protocol across Africa ([link removed]) .


Now it is time for the rest of the world to sit up and listen

What has been achieved under the Maputo Protocol over the past 20 years has shown that meaningful progress towards gender equality is underpinned by three things: an ambitious, well-defined vision; strong, strategic leadership; and effective, multi-sectoral collaboration.

Governments everywhere should look now to Africa – not only to see what has been delivered but also to see who delivered it and how. I hope you will join me in lifting up the achievements of all those involved in the success of the Maputo Protocol so that we can inspire and challenge the rest of the world to take action against gender inequality today.


In Solidarity,

S. Mona Sinha
Global Executive Director
Equality Now

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