Celebrating Africa Women's Day

I decided to educate myself about women's rights as a way to commemorate Pan Africa Women's Day 2020, a day that was set aside in 2019 to mark the 57th anniversary of the Pan-African Women’s Organisation, the Specialised Agency of the African Union (AU) dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

To do this, I have just completed reading the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Right of Women in Africa that was adopted by the Second Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the African Union (AU) in Maputo on 11th of July 2003, and entered into force on 25th of November 2005. It is a wonderful document. I would recommend it to anyone interested in gender equality.

For the avoidance of doubt, “RIGHTS of WOMEN” include the following 13 rights, among others:

1. The Right to Life, Integrity and Security of the Person (Article IV)
2. Equal Rights in MARRIAGE (Article V)
3. [Rights of] Access to Justice and Equal Protection before the Law (Article VII)
4. Right to Participation in the Political and Decision-Making Process (Article IX)
5. Right to Peace (Article X)
6. Right to Education and Training (Article XII)
7. Economic and Social Welfare Rights (Article XIII)
8. Health and Reproductive Rights (Article XIV)
9. Right to Food Security (Article XV)
10. Right to Adequate Housing (Article XVI)
11. Right to a Healthy and Sustainable Environment (Article XVIII)
12. Right to Sustainable Development (Article XIX)
13. Right to Inheritance (Article XX).

Additionally, the Charter provides for Protection of Women in Armed Conflicts (Article XI), Special Protection of Elderly Women (Article XXII), Special Protection of Women with Disabilities (Article XXIII), as well as Special Protection of Women in Distress (Article XXIV).

Happy Africa Women's Day 2020

Viva Gender Equality! Viva Non-Discrimination! 

Source: https://au.int/sites/default/files/treaties/37077-treaty-charter_on_rights_of_women_in_africa.pdf