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“The African continent is increasingly seen as the continent of the future and we need to applaud the prominent role that women are playing in running the affairs and

shaping the destiny of the continent.”

Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, AUC Chairperson

Report on the Participation of the SOAWR Coalition in the Activities

of the 25th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives

Committee, 22nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, and 20th

Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union

Theme: Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

21st-28th January 2013

Written by: Oxfam and Alliances for Africa

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ACRONYMS

AfA Alliances for Africa

ASI- African Solidarity Initiative

AU African Union

AUC African Union Commission

AWD African Women’s Decade

CSO Civil Society Organization

ECA Economic Commission for Africa

ECOSOCC Economic, Social and Cultural Council

FAS Femmes Africa Solidarité

FAMEDEV Réseau Inter Africain des Femmes, Médias, Genre et

Développement/Inter-African Network for Women,

Media, Gender and Development

FEMNET African Women’s Development and Communication

Network

GIMAC Gender is My Agenda Campaign

PCRD Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development

PRC Permanent Representatives Committee

RECs Regional Economic Communities

RCA Regional Committee in Africa

SADC Southern African Development Community

SDGEA Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa

SOAWR Solidarity for African Women’s Rights

SOTU State of the Union

UN United Nations

UNECA United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

WGDD Women, Gender and Development Directorate

WOLPNET Women of Liberia Peace Network

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction………………………………………….....…………………………...4-5

2.0 SOAWR Activities during the January 2013 AU Summit…….............5-9

2.1 21st GIMAC Pre-Summit

2.2 Meetings with AUC Representatives

2.3 Meetings with UN Representatives

2.4 Media Engagement

2.5 Strategic Breakfast Meeting with H.E. Joyce Banda

2.6 Photo Exhibition: DRC/Mali Conflict and Launch of Oxfam Policy

Brief on Refugees of Mali

2.7 International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in

Conflict

3.0 Key Decisions and Appointments of the January 2013 Summit.......9-10

4.0 Achievements, Challenges, Lessons Learned and Follow-Up Actions..11-12

Annex A SOAWR Policy Brief

Annex B SOAWR Press Statement

Annex C Photo gallery

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

In January 2013, the African Union convened the 25th Session of the Permanent

Representatives Committee (PRC), the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Executive

Council, and the 20th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union under

the theme “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance’’. This report provides a

summary of SOAWR activities conducted during this African Union Summit and a

reflection of the challenges, lessons learnt, and opportunities for future

engagement. The SOAWR delegation comprised of representatives of Alliances for

Africa (AfA), Oxfam, and the Inter-African Network for Women, Media, Gender and

Development (FAMEDEV).

The SOAWR coalition’s main objective for the Summit were: to meet and network;

to advocate for the ratification of the Maputo Protocol; and to amplify SOAWR

visibility among CSOs and the AU in order to strengthen relations and improve

ways of working to improve implementation of the Protocol. The delegation achieved

this by organising strategic meetings with key players in the AU such as the AUC

Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aisha Abdullah; Commissioner of Rural

Economy and Agriculture, Ms Tumusiime Rhoda Peace; Her Excellency Joyce

Banda, the President of Malawi; UN Special Representative of the Secretary –

General on sexual violence in conflict Ms Zainab Hawa Bangura and UN Women

Executive Director, Michele Bachelet. Members also achieved their objectives by

lobbying government representatives to ratify the Protocol during the PRC and

Executive Council and by interacting with the media.

The SOAWR delegation engaged in the following activities during the AU Summit:

• Participating and lobbying during the opening of the PRC, 21 January 2013

• Meeting with AUC Department of Political Affairs (DPA), 21 January 2012

• Participation in 21st GIMAC Pre-Summit, 22-23 January 2013

• Photo exhibition: DRC/ Mali conflict and launch of Oxfam policy brief on refugees of Mali

• Press Conference of the AU Legal Counsel – Ms. Djenna Diarra, 22 January

• Meeting with AUC Legal Counsel and staff at her office, 23 January

• Meeting with AUC Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi at her office, 23 January

• State OF The Union (SOTU) Launch meeting with PRC at Hilton Hotel, 23 January

• 27th January, 2013 South Sudan signed the Maputo protocol at the legal counsel office.

• 22nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU, 25-26 January

• Meeting with Commissioner of Rural Economy and Agriculture, 24 January

• Breakfast Meeting with H.E. Joyce Banda, President of Malawi, 26 January

• Meeting with the H.E. Macky Sall, President of Senegal - FAMEDEV

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• Side Event on Stopping Sexual Violence in Conflict organized by the Nobel Women’s Initiative, Intercontinental Hotel, 26 January, 2013

• Inter-Agency CSOs Press Conference on the AU Summit along with OXFAM, State of the union(SOTU), and Sudan Consortium, 26 January

• Opening and Closing of the 20th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State 27-28 January

• CSO Meeting with UN Women Executive Director, 27 January

2.0 SOAWR ACTIVITIES DURING THE JANUARY 2013 AU SUMMIT

2.1 21st GIMAC Pre-Summit

From the 22nd – 23rd January 2013, SOAWR delegation attended the 21st Pre–

Summit Consultative meeting on Gender mainstreaming in the AU under the

auspices of the Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC). The meeting was held at

the margins of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The meeting

was organized by the GIMAC network, was coordinated by Femmes Africa Solidarité

(FAS).

The objective of the meeting was to strengthen the gender mainstreaming agenda in

the debates at the African Union level in order to ensure advocacy for women’s

empowerment in social, economic and political spheres can be integrated in the

African Union while reflecting on the theme of the AU Summit. The meeting was

attended by women from all over Africa and was opened by AU Chairperson

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who said “We need to …inspire current and future

generations…. [And] harness energies of young women”. She also recognised the

role of women in stepping to the destiny of Africa.

Peace and security issues dominated the discussions ,women’s CSOs from Central

African Republic, Mali and DRC urging the member states of the African Union, UN

and their Governments to:-

• Enable women to actively participate in the process of peace negotiation, including conflict prevention, disarmament and reconstruction

• Observe all signed instruments, treaties and agreements

2.2 Meetings with AUC Representatives

By adopting the AU-shared value approach as an entry point to direct the

conversation strategically with key departments like

the Women, Gender and development

Directorate(WGDD) to discuss how to strengthen the

capacity for on the rights of African women WGDD.

The delegation successful contacted a meeting with

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Acting Director/Legal Counsel Mrs Djaneba Diarra and staff of the Office of

the Legal Counsel The SOAWR delegation gave a brief overview of the work done

to-date and shared some of the challenges that have been noted both at the

national level as well as at the continental level in terms of ratification,

domestication and implementation of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in

Africa. SOAWR also raised challenges in terms of evidence as to where the

blockages are emerging from and how the coalition can collaboratively make

inroads in the realisation of the Protocol’s provisions for women across the member

states.

Mrs, Djaneba Diarra acknowledged that the Protocol

ratification rate is a success story and indicated that

she was impressed with the strategies employed by the

coalition both at the country and continental levels.

She expressed willingness to collaborate with SOAWR

and proposed sharing information and participating in

meetings.

The Office of the legal counsel invited SOAWR to partner with them on the Sign up

Day on the 27th January. This is a day during which member states, especially

Foreign Ministers and Presidents, sign the AU Instruments and charters. As a

result, the SOAWR delegation was able to strategically lobby the AU commissioners

to popularise the event as well as target key countries, such as South Sudan, who

have yet to sign the Protocol to do so.

The SOAWR delegation also had discussions with AUC

Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aisha

Abdullahi and other members of the DPA. In these

discussions, several issues were highlighted including

the need for gender mainstreaming in the institutions

of the AUC and the DPA in particular; popularization

of the African Women Protocol at the national level for

lawyers, public servants in ministries,

parliamentarians and the judiciary. The team also

discussed the need to improve communication and better coordination and

collaboration between CSOs and the AUC, especially in sharing information and

technical expertise.

Commissioner of Rural Economy and Agriculture Tumusiime Rhoda Peace

explained that while women play a

big role in agriculture, there are

no statistics to show how many

women engage with the sector and

how much they are contributing.

She also mentioned the issue of

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access to asset and credit for women despite the fact that they work on the land

and own less than 1%. She continued to say how interest on credit for women

tends to be higher than men due to lack of collateral or the fact that many women

do micro-credit projects. This meeting was important because next year’s AU

Summit theme will be Agriculture.

2.3 Meetings with UN Representatives

UN Special Representative of the Secretary – General

on sexual violence in conflict Ms Zainab Hawa Bangura

The Special Representative indicated that a major obstacle

to the ratification of the Protocol by Sierra Leone is the

issue of FGM which is practiced in 14 out of 18 ethnic

tribes. She also stated that the ‘Messenger’ is key to

making inroads with the ratification campaign. She

encouraged SOAWR to look for other partners such as women parliamentary

caucus to push for the avocation of the protocol in non- ratified countries.

CSO meeting with UN Women Executive Director, Michele Bachelet and UN

Women Regional Director, Christine Musisi

The CSO meeting with UN Women representatives

involved a general dialogue on civil society’s work on

gender equality and women’s empowerment and

discussions around CSO’s perspective on Africa’s

renaissance and on the current dialogue on the Post

2015 development agenda. The meeting was a closed

session and only 15 members from women's rights

organisations attended, including Osai Ojigho (AfA),

Faith Ochieng (Oxfam) and Shukri Gesod (Oxfam). The

meeting was mostly centred on the CSW and the need to galvanise and support the

Addis Declaration and the need to start lobbying and influencing governments now

in order to avoid history repeating itself. The discussion included the need to

promote young women’s participation in AU spaces. SOAWR reiterated the need for

consolidated effort in the push for universal ratification and the need for UN

Women to support initiatives that aim at realising the promises enshrined in the

Protocol at the national level and the need to scale up in the domestication and

implementation component of the work.

2.4 Media Engagement

SOAWR members and partners engaged with the media in various ways from

interviews with mainstream media to social media. This included Nigerian TV -

Channels, Southern Africa Broadcast Corporation, and Somalia media. Members

also engaged the media during the inter-agency press conference and had a strong

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social media presence. SOAWR tweets were re-tweeted by Girl effect, Tech women,

NO FGM and FEMNET.

Three Key Messages:

1. The SOAWR coalition calls upon the Non-ratified states to accelerate their

efforts to ratify and implement the Maputo Protocol ahead if its 10th year

anniversary

2. Women’s lives are valuable. We call all Governments and the AU to help fight

gender based violence.

3. Women are the backbone of society. Give them space to voice their opinions

and be part of decision-making processes. The SOAWR Coalition asks that

Heads of State and Government strengthen the presence of women to break

the homogeneity in this domain and improve the quality of decision making

to better serve the citizens. Diversity among members of decision-making

organs is a motor of creativity and innovation, given that it brings additional

knowledge, and skills.

2.5 Strategic Breakfast meeting with Malawi’s President Joyce Banda

The SOAWR Delegation met with, Her Excellency Joyce Banda, President of the

Republic of Malawi to brief her on the coalition’s key priorities and agenda as well

as request for her support and leadership on specific issues regarding the

ratification, domestication and

implementation the Protocol on the

rights of women.

The team briefly presented the

coalition’s focus and challenges in

pushing for universal ratification of

the Protocol, and requested President

Banda to call on the remaining 18

countries to ratify and implement the

Protocol on the Rights of women and,

furthermore, requested Her

Excellency to host a mini- summit to

review the key challenges in actualising the Protocol.

The President re-affirmed her commitments towards pushing the agenda of

women’s rights. She sees herself as a ‘women’s rights activist first’ and head of

state second. She also accepted the request to host a mini- summit

commemorating 10 years of the Protocol.

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She acknowledged at length the tremendous support received from Oxfam Malawi

in pushing for the Gender Based Violence Bill in Malawi when she was still the

Minister of Gender as it enabled her to lobby fellow MPs and mobilise citizens to

gain their support

2.6 Photo exhibition: DRC/ Mali conflict and launch of Oxfam policy brief on

refugees of Mali

The SOAWR Delegates attended a Photo exhibition highlighting the on-going

conflicts in DRC and Mali and the launch of a briefing paper on Mali which Oxfam

and the African Union Commission Peace and Security Department (AUC-PSD)

organised.

The event was opened by AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane

Lamamra. Over a hundred diplomats and delegates, and around 25 media

representatives attended the inauguration of the exhibition. More than 20 media

interviews were given by Oxfam staff and partners at the photo exhibition.

2.7 International campaign to stop rape and gender violence in conflict

The SOAWR delegation attended the Nobel Women’s Initiative’s International

Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict event . The Nobel Women’s

Initiative is the first global international campaign collaborating with Nobel peace

laureates. The main objective was to draw attention to sexual and gender-based

violence in conflict and call for an end to rape and other gender violence in conflict.

Participants included the UN Special Representative of the Secretary – General on

sexual violence in conflict Ms Zainab Hawa Bangura , Litha Musyimi – Ogana,

Director of the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender and Development

Directorate among others

3.0 KEY DECISIONS AND APPOINTMENTS DURING THE SUMMIT

Elections of Political office Holders of the AU

• Chairman of the African Union for 2013: H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn,

Prime Minister of Ethiopia. SOAWR would like to congratulate His

Excellency on the election. SOAWR can take advantage of this to push for

Ethiopia’s ratification of the Protocol.

• Mr. Kimelabalou Aba from Togo elected as judge of the AfCHPR.

• Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga from Congo elected as Commissioners for

Human Resources, Science and Technology, young women looking for

mentors

• Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping of Lesotho elected as Commissioner of

Economic Affairs.

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• Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Algeria, Mozambique and Nigeria was elected

for Membership of the Peace and Security Council for a three year term as of

April 2013.

• Mr. Rafaa Ben Achour (Tunisia), Mr. Daniel Makiesse Mwanawanzambi

(DRC) Mr. Boniface Obinna Okere ( Nigeria), Mrs. Naceesay Salla- Wadda (

Gambia) and Mr. Kholisani Solo ( Botswana) were elected as members of

the African Union Commission on the International Law

Governance and Democracy

Signing and Ratification: Governments of Tunisia, South Sudan and Somalia

signed the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance.

Other Decisions

- PRC and AUC to have a retreat in Feb 2013 to discuss: strategic plan,

theme of the year and implementation of AU decisions.

- Nigeria to host a Special follow up Summit on the Abuja 2001 African

Union Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis etc. in the third quarter of 2013.

- Egypt will host the Economic Forum for Africa within the frame work of

celebrations 50th anniversary of OAU/AU.

- Executive Council adopted a timeline to review election process at the AU

Commission.

- MDGs: The newly elected AU chairperson determined to contribute to the

success of the MDGs in Africa by the deadline of 2015.

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4.0 ACHIEVEMENTS, CHALLENGES, LESSONS LEARNED AND FOLLOW-UP

ACTIONS

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Succeeded in meeting and lobbying Ambassadors, Ministers and country

delegates for ratification of the Protocol in 17 states out of the 18 that had

not ratified the Protocol. Only Madagascar was not reached.

• South Sudan signing the Protocol on the Rights of Women during the

summit.

• Obtained full accreditation for members of the SOAWR delegation as

Observers and Press to enable access to the AU Summit venues

• Developed new partnerships with staff of the Department of political affairs,

office of the legal office, Rural Economy and Agriculture, and CSOs working

on promoting women’s rights

• Meeting with H.E. Joyce Banda with commitment to host a mini-summit on

the Protocol

CHALLENGES

• Lack of copies of the Protocol or the abridged Protocol handbook to

distribute during discussions. SOAWR members had to print some copies

from AUC secretariat.

• Inability to post updates on SOAWR Face book and Twitter accounts.

Delegates used personal twitter handles to post updates.

LESSONS LEARNED

• Need for a SOAWR strategy on obtaining observer status and badges by

diversifying our access to accreditation and strengthening relationship with

other departments of the AUC in addition to the WGDD.

• SOAWR visibility and story: Due to changes and lack of sharing information

within the AUC-not many of the people met were aware of all the amazing

work done to date on the Protocol.

• Need to widely disseminate resource materials on SOAWR and translated

copies of the Protocol

• Media planning and key messages and to improve on our Media Footprints

• Need to host side events at the margins of the AU Summits

• SOAWR needs to follow the elections of the AU Organs much closely and see

how we can support the increase of women numbers in critical roles

especially at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS

• Follow-up with all of the delegations and Foreign Ministers since most of

them indicated that they will consult at the country level once they return

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• Advocacy letters for the ratification of protocol to Algeria, Chad, Eritrea,

Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,

Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sao Tome & Principe, Sudan, South-Sudan.

• Forward to the Department political affairs office, names and CVs of women

for the AU Observer Mission Database

• Engaging the UN Women Regional Director who has shown keen interest in

hearing more about SOAWR and planning for the 10th year anniversary of

the African Women’s Rights Protocol. Possibility of further conversation on

this in Nairobi as UNWOMEN may be able to support the process.

Opportunities

• Possibility of the Gambia Embassy hosting a side event/dinner at the

margins of the May summit on the Protocol.

• Possible collaboration with UN-SRSG for VAW Zainab Bangura office.

• Possible collaboration and opportunity to host strategic Protocol meeting at

the AU-hubs in Geneva, Brussels and NY-Possible reach out to the Africa

Contact group-They've indicated interest as part of the commemorating the

10years anniversary of the Protocol.

• UN Women regional Director-Christine Musisi-indicated interest in

supporting the 10th Anniversary. Currently following up with her office in

Nairobi for a meeting. To be confirmed.

• Donor outreach strategy/plan, media strategy

Other Interesting Information:

• Dr. Zuma Called for a speedy move towards integration, prosperity, and

peace and indicated that the commission is in the process of Concept Paper

which would lay the basis for the Africa Wide Agenda 2016.....With a view to

having a framework document for debate during the Anniversary summit in

May 2013. It is critical to note that CSOs and other related agencies were

not mentioned in the groups for consultations and with four months to go it

is critical to establish the status of the framework and how inclusive was the

process in its inception and construction

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ANNEX A

Media Contact Person: Faith Ochieng , Email: panafrica2@oxfam. Org.uk, Telephone:+254-714-668-019

Policy Brief on the Ratification of the Maputo Protocol January 2013

INTRODUCTION

Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) is a coalition with a membership of 43

national, regional and international civil society organizations based in 23 African countries

working toward the protection of women’s human rights in Africa. Since 2004, the Coalition

has actively advocated for the ratification, implementation and popularization of the Protocol

to the African Charter on Human Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (hereafter, the

Maputo Protocol).

In 2012, in an attempt to intensify efforts in the campaign for universal ratification of the

Maputo Protocol, Coalition members embarked on a study to identify the blockages behind

ratification and the opportunities for change with a specific focus on the 22 countries that (at

the time) had not ratified the Protocol. At the Request of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights

of Women in Africa, SOAWR shared the findings of this study during the Report of the

Special Rapporteur at the 52nd

Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’

Rights in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.

This Policy Brief shares the findings of the SOAWR study and makes recommendations in

light of these findings.

THE MAPUTO PROTOCOL

Adopted by the African Union in July 11, 2003, and in force since November 25, 2003, the

Maputo Protocol contains progressive provisions for African women, with specific articles

stressing women’s right to: partake in peace negotiation processes and political processes

more broadly, have access to reproductive health services, participate and enjoy sustainable

development, and no longer be subjected to harmful traditional practices such as female

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2012, the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition conducted a study to assess

the status of ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’

Rights on the Rights of Women, with a focus on the challenges to ratification and

opportunities for change. The study identifies key obstacles to ratification, including

concerns about particular articles of the Protocol, insufficient awareness and understanding

of the provisions, lack of political will and weak institutional mechanisms. Such challenges

should be addressed as the African Union and Member States prepare to celebrate the 10th

anniversary of the adoption of the Maputo Protocol in July 2013.

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genital mutilation (FGM). The Protocol has been ratified by 36 Member States, four of whom

did so in the span of five months in 2012, namely, the Republic of Congo, Guinea,

Swaziland, and Cameroon.

In 2004, through the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, Heads of State and

Government committed to ratify the Protocol and to enhance and accelerate efforts to

promote gender equality on the continent. Subsequently, by launching the African Women’s

Decade (2010-2020) in October 2010, they renewed their commitment to promoting gender

equality and women’s empowerment, with a particular focus on the grassroots. Nevertheless,

despite these commitments and the unprecedented ratification rate in recent months, the

following states have yet to deliver on their commitment to African women: Algeria,

Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar,

Mauritius, Niger, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome & Principe, Sierra Leone,

Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tunisia.

SOAWR STUDY FINDINGS

The SOAWR study mapping the status of the ratification of the Maputo Protocol provides

insight into the stumbling blocks facing ratification in the following states: Algeria, Burundi,

Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritius,

Niger, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome & Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia,

South-Sudan, Sudan, and Tunisia.

The study involved a range of research methods, including an online survey for civil society

organizations, interviews with stakeholders (including government and African Union

officials) and a desk review. The following key obstacles to ratification were identified:

• Lack of awareness (Somalia)

• Lack of political goodwill and weak/poor institutional mechanisms to support the

ratification process

• Concerns about particular articles:

o Article 6 – Mauritius and Egypt

o Article 7 – Sudan and Tunisia

o Article 14 (2) – Burundi, Mauritius, Niger, Sudan

o Article 21 – Burundi

• Religious and cultural conservatism

• Insufficient Financial resources (Sierra Leone, Niger)

The study found that civil society organizations often face challenges in their advocacy for

ratification. These include lack of funding, lack of information about the ratification status,

and bureaucratic delays.

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On a positive note, however, the study also identified positive developments and

opportunities in several countries. These included progressive national laws and policies in

several countries (e.g. Ethiopia, Somalia, and Tunisia), increasing political representation of

women (e.g. Algeria), and an increasing number of organizations and coalitions working on

issues around the Protocol. Furthermore, the Republic of Congo and Guinea ratified the

Protocol within the scope of the study. Subsequently, Swaziland and Cameroon have also

followed suit.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the findings of the study, SOAWR makes the following recommendations.

• Member States, the African Union, and civil society organizations should all intensify

their efforts to raise awareness about the Protocol throughout the continent;

• The African Union should provide updated information about the status of ratification

of the Protocol and other treaties on its website; and

• Member States should prioritize the ratification of the Protocol as the 10th

anniversary

of its adoption draws near.

The complete report on the SOAWR study is available at:

http://femnet.co/index.php/en/other-publications/item/100-report-on-status-of-ratification-of-

protocol-on-the-rights-of-women-in-africa

Solidarity for African Women’s Rights

(SOAWR) is a coalition of 43 civil society

organizations in 23 African countries

dedicated to protecting and advancing

African women’s rights. SOAWR is

working to ensure that the Protocol to the

African Charter on Human and Peoples’

Rights 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.

Secretariat

Equality Now, Africa Regional Office

P.O. Box 2018-00202

Nairobi, Kenya

Tel. +254-20-2719832 /+254-20-2719913

Fax. +254-20-2719868

Members of the Coalition

BURKINA FASO: Voix de Femmes; BURUNDI: Collectif des Associations et ONGs

Féminines de Burundi; CAMEROON: Women’s Advocacy and Communication Network,

Women Peace Initiatives Association; DJIBOUTI: Union Nationale des Femmes de Djibouti;

EGYPT: Association of Egyptian Female Lawyers; ETHIOPIA: Inter-African Committee on

Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children; THE GAMBIA:

African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies; GHANA: African Women’s

Development Fund; GUINEA: Cellule de Coordination sur les Pratiques Traditionelles

Affectant la Santé des Femmes et des Enfants; KENYA: African Women’s Development and

Communication Network, Coalition on Violence against Women, Equality Now

(Secretariat), Ipas Africa Alliance for Women’s Reproductive Health and Rights, Fahamu

Networks for Social Justice, Federation of Women Lawyers-Kenya, Oxfam GB,

Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance, Tomorrow’s Child Initiative, Women Direct;

LIBERIA: Women of Liberia Peace Network, Women NGO’s Secretariat of Liberia;

MALAWI: NGO Gender Coordination Network; MALI: Association des Juristes Maliennes;

MOZAMBIQUE: Forum Mulher; NAMIBIA: Sister Namibia; NIGERIA: Alliances for

Africa, BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, Human Rights Law Service, Women’s

Rights Advancement and Protection Alternatives; SENEGAL: Inter-African Network for

Women, Media, Gender and Development, (Fahamu Networks for Social Justice); SOUTH

AFRICA: People Opposing Women Abuse, University of Pretoria Centre for Human Rights;

SUDAN: Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA); TANZANIA: Legal

and Human Rights Centre; UGANDA: Action for Development, Akina Mama wa Afrika,

Centre for Justice Studies and Innovations, Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative

for the Advancement of Women, (SIHA), Uganda Women’s Network; ZAMBIA: Women

and Law Southern Africa, Women in Law and Development in Africa; ZIMBABWE: Girl

Child Network

ANNEX B

Media Contact Person: Faith Ochieng

Email: panafrica2@oxfam.org.uk

Telephone: +254-714-668-019

Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR)

African Union Summit: Pan Africanism and African Renaissance

Press Statement

“Step up for African Women and deliver on your Commitment for African Women”

SOAWR Coalition calls on:

1. Non-Ratified Countries to Accelerate their efforts to Ratify and Implement the Maputo Protocol ahead of the

50th

Anniversary of the AUC and the 10th

Anniversary of the Protocol.

2. Our lives are valuable. We call all, Governments and the AU to help

fight gender based violence. For every life whether woman, man or child

is important and violence especially gender based violence to treat the

wellbeing of the women and less significant to the men. About VAW and

impunity for the prosecutions for the violations. States can help fight

gender based violence by ratifying the protocol and implementing it in

their countries. Stand up and be counted for supporting women’s rights

and freedom

Women are the backbone of society, give them space to voice their

opinions and be part of decision-making processes. The SOAWR Coalition

asks that Heads of State and Government strengthen the presence of women to break the homogeneity in this

domain and improve the quality of decision making: diversity among members of decision-making organs is a

motor of creativity and innovation, given that it brings additional knowledge, skills and experiences.

The SOAWR Coalition congratulates: Congo, Guinea, Swaziland, and Cameroon for ratifying the Maputo Protocol in the

span of five months in 2012. SOAWR congratulates the 36 member states who have ratified the Protocol on taking this

important step and demonstrating commitment to advancing African women’s rights and gender equality.

Although unprecedented progress has been made with regard to this Protocol, SOAWR emphasizes the need for the

remaining 18 Member States to ratify the Protocol before the 10th

year anniversary of its adoption which will be marked on

11 July 2013. These member states are Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea,

Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome & Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia,

South Sudan, Sudan, and Tunisia.

Opportunities to harness include Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the helm of the African Union Commission, new

governments in many African States --such as Somalia with two female Ministers, one of whom also serves as the Deputy

Prime Minister-- an unprecedented number of women in Senegalese and Algerian Parliaments, and the approaching 50th

year anniversary of the OAU/AU.

“It is clear now, more than ever before, that

African Member States must be bold about

respecting and upholding the rights of those who

hold up half the African sky – African Women! Let

there be no delay – no more promises deferred to

tomorrow. Ratify today for the betterment of

tomorrow,” urged Shukri Gesod, Gender Justice

Lead at Oxfam.

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About the SOAWR Coalition:

Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) is a coalition of 43 civil society organizations in 23 African countries

dedicated to protecting and advancing African women’s rights. SOAWR is 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.

Members of the Coalition

BURKINA FASO: Voix de Femmes; BURUNDI: Collectif des Associations et ONGs Féminines de Burundi; CAMEROON:

Women’s Advocacy and Communication Network, Women Peace Initiatives Association; DJIBOUTI: Union Nationale des

Femmes de Djibouti; EGYPT: Association of Egyptian Female Lawyers; ETHIOPIA: Inter-African Committee on Harmful

Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children; THE GAMBIA: African Centre for Democracy and Human

Rights Studies; GHANA: African Women’s Development Fund; GUINEA: Cellule de Coordination sur les Pratiques

Traditionelles Affectant la Santé des Femmes et des Enfants; KENYA: African Women’s Development and Communication

Network, Coalition on Violence against Women, Equality Now (Secretariat), Ipas Africa Alliance for Women’s Reproductive

Health and Rights, Fahamu Networks for Social Justice, Federation of Women Lawyers-Kenya, Oxfam GB, Reproductive

Health and Rights Alliance, Tomorrow’s Child Initiative, Women Direct; LIBERIA: Women of Liberia Peace Network, Women

NGO’s Secretariat of Liberia; MALAWI: NGO Gender Coordination Network; MALI: Association des Juristes Maliennes;

MOZAMBIQUE: Forum Mulher; NAMIBIA: Sister Namibia; NIGERIA: Alliances for Africa, BAOBAB for Women’s Human

Rights, Human Rights Law Service, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternatives; SENEGAL: Inter-African

Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development, (FAHAMU Networks for Social Justice); SOUTH AFRICA: People

Opposing Women Abuse, University of Pretoria Centre for Human Rights; SUDAN: Strategic Initiative for Women in the

Horn of Africa (SIHA); TANZANIA: Legal and Human Rights Centre; UGANDA: Action for Development, Akina Mama wa

Afrika, Centre for Justice Studies and Innovations, Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of

Women, (SIHA), Uganda Women’s Network; ZAMBIA: Women and Law Southern Africa, Women in Law and Development

in Africa; ZIMBABWE: Girl Child Network

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ANNEX C – Photo gallery

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SOAWR Coalition

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