JOINT PRESS STATEMENT – THE MAPUTO PROTOCOL AT 20 YEARS

Maputo Protocol @ 20years

Today, July 11, 2023 marks 20 years that the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa was adopted by the African Union (AU) Heads of States in Maputo, Mozambique to protect and promote African Women’s rights. The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, is commonly known as the Maputo Protocol.

The Maputo Protocol serves as an obligatory framework to address legal, cultural, and socio-political constraints on African women. It is one of the most comprehensive and forward-thinking instruments for ensuring and safeguarding women’s human rights in Africa. Some of the important provisions in The Maputo Protocol are:

• Article II: Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
• Article III: Right to Dignity
• Article IV: Rights to Life, Integrity and Security of the Person
• Article VII: Access to Justice and Equal Protection before the Law
• Article IX: Right to Participation in the Political and Decision-Making Process.
• Article X: Right to Peace
• Article XI: Protection of Women in Armed Conflicts
• Article XII Right to Education and Training.
• Article XIII: Economic and Social Welfare Rights.
• Article XIV: Health and Reproduction Rights.
• Article XIX: Right to Sustainable Development.
• Article XXVI: Implementation and Monitoring

The above provisions emphasize the significant and critical roles that women play in the society. Women in Africa, particularly in Nigeria should have equal access to economic empowerment, leadership, employment, education, training and resources etc. in other words, there should be gender equity in Nigeria.

IRIAD and PWAN is therefore, urging the National Assembly to pass the gender bills and the President to assent to these bills which will guarantee and promote women’s participation in democratic governance.

This message is brought to you by IRIAD and PWAN

Princess Hamman-Obels                       Kemi Okenyodo

Director |IRIAD                                        Executive Director |PWAN               

Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:@iriadev     Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:@partnersnigeria

https://www.iriadng.org                                www.partnersnigeria.org