Breathing Life into the Protocol on Breathing Life into the Protocol on the rights of women in Africathe rights of women in Africa

by by Caroline Muthoni MuriithiCaroline Muthoni Muriithi

Equality Now/SOAWR Equality Now/SOAWR

Equality Now is an organization working to fight violence and discrimination against women and girls globally.

Equality Now is the Secretariat for the SOLIDARITY FOR AFRICAN WOMEN’S RIGHTS COALITION (SOAWR )

Example of Rights within the Protocol:

Freedom from Female Genital MutilationFreedom from Violence in Public and Private spaces

including TraffickingSexual and Reproductive RightsProhibition of early marriageRight to Property/inheritanceProtection of Widows and Elderly WomenProtection for Women in ConflictProtection for Women with Disabilities

“The African Women’s Protocol is actually strengthening our good culture that is gradually fading away in the heat of modernization. Its provisions are not totally strange to our cultures; it is part of our forgotten cultures overtaken by ages” Chief Ibiang Enang, Traditional ruler from Nko community, Nigeria

Raising her Voice (RHV) programme supports the work of SOAWR in that it enables us to use the Protocol as a vehicle to bring change for poor and marginalized women in Africa.

The RHV/SOAWR collaboration is working to promote the rights and ability of poor women in Africa to increase their influence and ensure their voices are heard so that those in power – from village leaders to politicians and law-makers - become more accountable to them.

The Protocol alone does not have the power to The Protocol alone does not have the power to transform the lives of women but only if we transform the lives of women but only if we

work towards ratification, domestication and work towards ratification, domestication and implementation, will we see real changeimplementation, will we see real change

“In many countries, and more particularly in Africa, where the illiteracy rate is quite high, the justice system has never been kind to women; it

fails them. The obstacles, both formal and informal that women encounter in their attempt to access justice are quite numerous... Although

there are constitutional and other statutory provisions that on paper afford women a fair

measure of protection, policies, procedures and practices often prevent women from the full and equal enjoyment of these rights and privileges

and hinder them from accessing justice.”

Hon. Lady Justice Georgina Wood, Chief Justice of Ghana

Examples of challenges Examples of challenges faced by women: faced by women: Lack of knowledgePerceptions in societyRe-victimizationTime and Resources neededCourt Procedures and Practices

“The biggest challenge in tackling cases of sexual violence is the social stigma and ostracization for making the offence public. The victim/survivor and her family in majority of cases, do not press charges for the fear of a backlash by society as

well as the accused” Lawyer for surviviors in Pakistastan

SOAWR/RHV workSOAWR/RHV workPopularizing the Protocol

across AfricaDeveloping a legal guide

to using the Protocol forLegal Action

Training lawyers and activists

Identifying test cases

e.g. Zambia

Moving Forward: Moving Forward: Calling on your support to:- Use the Protocol in cases/decisions- Advocate for the abolition of those

laws and procedures that limit women/girls access to justice

- Incorporate the Provisions of the Protocol in trainings for Judges

- Develop partnerships with Civil Society to promote learning and sharing

Cont’dCont’dEncourage the use of Amicus

Briefs in new areas of law Provide legal analysis of the

Protocol in law journals etcPopularize the Protocol in

meetings and colloquiums

Together let’s breath life into Together let’s breath life into the Protocolthe Protocol

Thank youThank you Contact details:

Equality Now/SOAWRP. O. Box 2018, 00202, Nairobi, KenyaTel: +(254)20.2719832Fax: +254)20.2719868Website: www.soawr.orgwww.equalitynow.org