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Equality Now

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    • Gaps in rape laws in Africa are enabling perpetrators to avoid punishment
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Gaps in rape laws in Africa are enabling perpetrators to avoid punishment

Although some African jurisdictions have implemented progressive rape laws, significant legal, procedural, and societal barriers continue to undermine justice for sexual violence survivors

Across Africa, rape is one of the most common crimes. New research reveals how inadequate criminalization of rape, weak legal implementation, rape myths, and victim-blaming are just some of the barriers to justice that survivors face. These obstacles prevent many cases from reaching court, with even fewer resulting in convictions,…

Equality Now
Source: Equality Now |

Women in Africa face widespread discrimination in family laws

The impacts of discriminatory family laws can be profound, putting women and girls at greater risk of sexual and gender-based violence

Discrimination against women and girls remains widespread in family laws across Africa, finds new research by Equality Now (www.EqualityNow.org). Analysis of twenty African countries reveals gender inequality in marriage, divorce, custody, and property rights is being perpetuated by sex discrimination institutionalized within legal systems and customary laws. While some significant legal…

Equality Now

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    • Maputo Protocol 20th anniversary celebrations, July 11 2023. Image source: Equality Now
    • Hon. Aisha Jumwa, the Cabinet Secretary for Kenya’s Ministry of Public Affairs, Gender and Affirmative Action. Image source: Equality Now
    • Maputo Protocol 20th Anniversary celebration in Nairobi, Kenya. Image source: Equality Now
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Source: Equality Now |

African Countries Show Progress in Advancing Women’s Rights: Landmark Report on the Maputo Protocol

The Protocol explicitly condemns harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, and violence against women

To mark the 20th Anniversary of the Maputo Protocol and to promote the continued adoption and implementation of its progressive provisions, the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR) (www.SOAWR.org), Equality Now (https://apo-opa.info/46ORZo4), and Make Every Woman Count (MEWC) (www.MEWC.org) has released the landmark report, 20 Years of the Maputo…

Equality Now

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    • Maputo Protocol 20 for 20 Solidarity Awards Announced, Voting Open
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Maputo Protocol 20 for 20 Solidarity Awards Announced, Voting Open

The 20 for 20 Solidarity Awards recognize those who have steered the arduous complexities of gender inequality in Africa in the hope that this will inspire others to make a difference

The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) (www.SOAWR.org) Coalition has launched the 20 for 20 Solidarity Awards to commemorate Africa Day and the 20th Anniversary of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol). Founded in 2004,…

Equality Now

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    • From Left: Ms. Judy Gitau, Africa Regional Coordinator at Equality Now, Ms. Chinwe Ogbonna–Deputy Regional Director at UNFPA ESARO and Ms. Boemo Sekgoma, Secretary General, SADC Parliamentary Forum holding policy briefs during the SADC Parliamentary Forum on domesticating the Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage | 10th May, 2023 Johannesburg, South Africa (Photo Credit: Equality Now)
    • Ending Child Marriages in Southern Africa
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Countries in Southern Africa urged to Strengthen Legal Protections against Child Marriage

Child marriage places girls at increased risk of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and it keeps many trapped in a cycle of poverty

Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries have taken commendable action to strengthen legal protections; however, there has been little or no progress by other Member States, and greater efforts are needed across the board to end child marriage. Child marriage remains a widespread and persistent problem across Southern Africa. Two…

Equality Now

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    • Traditional leaders at celebration in Liberia, International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, photo credit - Safe Hands for Girls, Alhagie Manka (1) Image source: Safe Hands for Girls, Alhagie Manka
    • Traditional leaders at celebration in Liberia, International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, photo credit - Safe Hands for Girls, Alhagie Manka (2) Image source: Safe Hands for Girls, Alhagie Manka
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Source: Equality Now |

Traditional Leaders in Liberia Make Historic Announcement Declaring Ban on Female Genital Mutilation

The declaration by Chief Zanzan Karwor gives this campaign much needed impetus as it is at the heart of the matter

Safe Hands for Girls (https://apo-opa.info/3XhnfGj)  - represented by the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Jaha Dukureh - and Equality Now (https://apo-opa.info/3jIWTzk) wish to congratulate Chief Zanzan Karwor, the Chairperson of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders in Liberia (https://apo-opa.info/40TEXTA), and the entire council for declaring a ban on female genital…

Equality Now

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    • Strengthening Kenya’s policy responses to sexual exploitation and abuse of children
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Strengthening Kenya’s policy responses to sexual exploitation and abuse of children

The Department of Criminal Investigations has implemented measures to improve case detection and evidence gathering

Kenya has taken commendable action to tackle increases in child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) by introducing a robust legal framework for protecting children. Following on, the government needs to focus its efforts on improving implementation, says TRACE Kenya and Equality Now (www.EqualityNow.org) in a new advocacy brief that identifies…

Equality Now

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    • African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to give verdict on case challenging Tanzania’s ban on pregnant girls and adolescent mothers attending school
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African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to give verdict on case challenging Tanzania’s ban on pregnant girls and adolescent mothers attending school

High-level government officials voiced public support for the ban, which led to the renewed and rampant expulsion of girls from schools in the past few years

The African Court on Human and Peoples Rights will issue its final judgment on the Equality Now (www.EqualityNow.org) and Tike Mwapimbile (https://bit.ly/3VfR5ee) case against the United Republic of Tanzania regarding the Government of Tanzania's policy of permanently expelling pregnant girls from school, and banning adolescent mothers from attending school. The judgment…

Equality Now

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    • Discriminatory marriage laws are putting women and girls at risk of child marriage, rape, and abuse. Photo credit: Equality Now, Tara Carey
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Discriminatory marriage laws are putting women and girls at risk of child marriage, rape, and abuse

Occurring across religions, ethnicities, geographies, and cultures, girls are disproportionately affected by discriminatory minimum age of marriage laws and practices

Women and girls are denied the same legal rights as men and boys in numerous African countries, including when it comes to marriage. This is putting millions at heightened risk of human rights violations, including child marriage, marital rape, forced pregnancy, and domestic violence. To highlight what changes governments in…

Equality Now
Source: Equality Now |

Almost Half of Countries in Africa Still Have Nationality Laws that Discriminate Against Women

Campaigners are calling on governments to dismantle sexist nationality laws and ensure full legal equality in citizenship

A quarter of countries still have discriminatory nationality laws that deny women the same nationality rights as men, reveals a worldwide report by the international human rights organization Equality Now (EqualityNow.org). Women are being prohibited from passing their citizenship onto their children and foreign spouses, and face restrictions on changing…