5th مايو 2026

Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on Agenda Item 5 of the 87th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR

Achieve legal equality Africa

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Summary
What’s included in the statement?
Who’s this statement for?
Key recommendations

Equality Now’s statement to the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights welcomes the adoption of a new Advocacy Framework to advance the Maputo Protocol while raising urgent concerns about a proposed African Charter that threatens to roll back hard-won gains for women’s rights. We call for stronger accountability in state reporting and deeper engagement with traditional and religious leaders to advance gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls across Africa.

What’s included in the statement?

Analysis of the newly adopted Advocacy Framework on withdrawing reservations to the Maputo Protocol
Examination of the proposed African Charter on Family, Sovereignty, and Values and its risks to women’s rights
Assessment of state compliance with Maputo Protocol reporting obligations
Insights on collaboration with traditional and religious leaders to advance women’s rights
Calls to action directed at African Union bodies and Member States

Who’s this statement for?

African Union institutions and human rights mechanisms
National governments and policymakers
Civil society organisations and women’s rights advocates
Legal practitioners and human rights experts
Traditional and religious leaders engaged in community-level change

Key takeaways and recommendations

Urgently halt the development of the proposed African Charter that undermines established women’s rights frameworks
Strengthen compliance with the Maputo Protocol reporting obligations by all Member States
Promote and disseminate the Advocacy Framework on withdrawing reservations
Deepen collaboration with traditional and religious leaders to challenge harmful norms
Align national laws and practices with regional and international human rights standards

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8 أكتوبر، 2026

3 pages

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Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on Agenda Item 5 Of the 89th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR

Equality Now calls for stronger implementation of the Maputo Protocol to protect women’s and girls’ rights across Africa. Our statement to the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights urges ratification without reservations, withdrawal of existing reservations, submission of outstanding state reports, and development of a progressive continental framework to advance equality in marriage and the family.

Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on the Occasion of the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Equality Now calls on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to safeguard existing human rights protections, protect women human rights defenders, tackle sexual and gender-based violence, urge Mali to criminalise female genital mutilation, and advance survivor-centred digital governance.

Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on Agenda Item 5 of the 87th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR

What’s included in the statement?

Who’s this statement for?

Key takeaways and recommendations

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Explore more resources

Intervention on the Activity Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Internally Displaced Persons

Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on Agenda Item 5 Of the 89th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR

Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on the Occasion of the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on Agenda Item 5 of the 87th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR

What’s included in the statement?

Who’s this statement for?

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Key takeaways and recommendations

About

Languages

Classification

More information

Explore more resources

Intervention on the Activity Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Internally Displaced Persons

Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on Agenda Item 5 Of the 89th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR

Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on the Occasion of the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

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