But to go further will require political will and action. Signed 20 years ago, in the Mozambique city that bears its name, the Maputo protocol was a landmark treaty in the progress towards gender equality across Africa. It promises equality and non-discrimination to women and girls in civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Since it came into force, 49 of the 55 African Union member states have signed on, and 42 have ratified it.
The protocol is one of the most ratified of any instrument in the continental union. It also seeks to eliminate harmful practices such as female genital mutilation FGM , early marriage and forced marriage, and requires governments to take measures to prevent gender-based violence. I was eager to see what gains had been made β and the challenges that still exist β since the last assessment. It shows governments across the continent have taken steps to introduce constitutional, legal, policy and institutional reforms that align with the commitments made.
Significant strides have been taken in areas such as economic and social welfare rights, the right to participate in the political and decision-making process, marriage rights, reproductive health and protection against female genital mutilation FGM.
For example, more than half of African states now have laws in place to ensure that individuals are paid equally for the same work. Many countries prohibit discrimination in employment based on gender. Many countries have adopted legislation tackling violence against women either as a standalone law, addressed it in the penal code, or enacted legal reforms prohibiting it. The Maputo protocol has played a vital role in creating legal tools. It explicitly prohibits practices such as child marriage and forced marriage and requires state parties to criminalise rape, sexual harassment and other gender-based violence.
The attorney general was ordered to propose modifications to the Act to prohibit all harmful FGM practices. Progress made. Areas to look at include political will, financial resources, lack of awareness among stakeholders, and limited capacity within governments. Strong political will to implement the treaty is paramount. This means recognising the importance of gender equality and ensuring that government officials at every level are fully committed to this cause.
