Commemoration Of Maputo Protocol @ 20: Promoting Gender Equity, Women’s Rights

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Initiative for Research, Innovation, and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) and Partners West Africa, Nigeria (PWAN) join Africans worldwide in recognizing the significance of the Maputo Protocol. This landmark document, adopted by the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Maputo, Mozambique on July 11, 2003, is a comprehensive and forward-thinking instrument aimed at ensuring and safeguarding women’s human rights in Africa.

The Maputo Protocol serves as an obligatory framework to address legal, cultural, and socio-political constraints on African women. It has provided significant rights to African women and girls, including measures on gender discrimination, women’s access to justice and equal protection, participation in politics and decision-making, reproductive health rights, economic empowerment, harmful traditional practices, women’s dignity, peace, and ending violence against women.

Despite progress made through the ratification of the Protocol by 43 out of 55 African countries, gender disparities, gender-based violence, biases, discrimination, and violations of women’s and girls’ fundamental human rights remain significant challenges across the continent. Nigeria ratified the Protocol on December 16, 2004, and while the complete domestication of the Protocol is pending, certain aspects have been incorporated into the country’s laws and policies, such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) of 2015, the National Strategy to End Child Marriage in Nigeria 2016-2021, the Referral Guide for Gender-Based Violence, and the National Gender Policy (2021-2026).

However, Nigeria still has a long way to go in achieving gender equity and inclusion. Women play critical roles in the socio-economic and political development of society, yet their contributions are often constrained, limiting their full potential. Female education faces restrictions in some Nigerian communities, relegating women to domestic roles. Furthermore, women’s participation and representation in the political and public spheres are abysmal, as evidenced by the low number of women in positions of power. Advocacy for gender bills, including those addressing citizenship, indigeneship, appointive positions, reserved seats, and equal opportunities, has become essential to enhance women’s participation in democratic governance.

The goals of the Maputo Protocol align with the values of IRIAD and PWAN. We emphasize the critical need to embrace gender equity by providing equal opportunities for both men and women, thereby enabling the maximization of women’s and girls’ potential for sustainable development. Recent positive examples, such as the appointment of Dr. Toyin Sakirat Madein as the Accountant General of the Federation, highlight women’s representation in public spaces and serve as inspiration for breaking gender biases and glass ceilings.

However, we cannot ignore the escalating cases of violence against women and girls, which pose a severe threat to their overall well-being. Therefore, we call upon the government and relevant stakeholders to intensify their efforts in combating gender-based violence and violations of women’s rights. It is crucial for the government to prioritize the socio-economic empowerment of women and actively integrate them as key players in public offices and leadership positions. Only through these concerted actions can we overcome the historical barriers that impede progress for women.

Join us in commemorating the Maputo Protocol @ 20 and advocating for gender equity, women’s rights, and an end to gender-based violence. Together, we can create a society that values and empowers all its members.

#MaputoProtocol@20 #GenderEquityNow #WomenRightsAreHumanRights #GovernanceInclusion #No2GenderBasedViolence #AfricanWomenRights

Signed,

Princess Hamman-Obels, Director of IRIAD

Kemi Okenyodo, Executive Director of PWAN

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