The first half of July was filled with joy and celebration as we marked the 20th anniversary of the most influential legal instrument ever created for the advancement of women’s rights in Africa, the Maputo Protocol. Joined by SOAWR Coalition partners and champions of women’s rights from across the African continent, we listened, learned and leveraged the power of our collective mission.
No sooner had we drawn a short breath after commemorating this historic milestone than we joined decision-makers, philanthropists, activists, and others from across the global gender equality community at the 2023 Women Deliver Conference in Kigali. Here we discussed new solutions and pathways to some of the biggest challenges facing women and girls today.
The diversity at this year’s convening was palpable, with conversations about the world’s most pressing issues being shaped by women of all ages, identities, nationalities, and backgrounds.
We learned from the experiences of our Elders, pioneering global leaders, such as Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Mary Robinson and Graça Machel, and were inspired by the next generation of activists, including Vanessa Nakate and 11-year-old Licypriya Kangujam, who spoke with conviction about the grave threat posed by climate change to women and girls everywhere.
Throughout all these conversations was a truth we all know: gender equality underpins a stable, sustainable future for both people and the planet.
Whether we are working towards finding solutions to climate change, ending the persecution of those who are part of the LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities, or improving global access to healthcare, progressive change begins with equality for women and girls.
Legal equality is the foundation of Gender Equality
The vision of a better future, which drives all those working towards global gender justice, can only be fully realized when everyone is treated equally under the law. Legal equality spreads out into every part of society, improving outcomes for women and girls in all areas spanning education, healthcare, personal safety and economic security.
We cannot even begin to talk about changing systems without first addressing and changing the many laws around the world that continue to discriminate on the basis of sex or gender. Some fundamental ones begin right in the family.
The response to the many contributions made by Equality Now to myriad conversations over the past few weeks demonstrates that more and more people are beginning to understand the foundational role of legal equality in the pursuit of global gender justice. We must now use our knowledge and expertise to strengthen our collective efforts.
Achieving legal equality is the goal; Collaboration is how we get there
Equality Now has been instrumental in challenging hundreds of discriminatory laws over the past 30 years, including through our ongoing work as a founding member of the SOAWR Coalition promoting the adoption and implementation of the Maputo Protocol across Africa. Our collective voice in Nairobi a few short weeks ago resulted in Botswana’s government approving the country’s accession to the Maputo Protocol at the end of July.
This is an example of how, by only working with multiple partners at the local, national, and regional levels, we can achieve so much. Only through continued collaboration will we break new ground and find workable solutions to sticky problems.
I have spoken before about the importance of listening; and the value of remembering that the most salient voices belong to those who are most profoundly impacted by inequality. We know that women and girls are disproportionately affected by global issues such as climate change, poverty, and violence. At Equality Now, we are committed to rallying our skills and our networks to amplify their voices, enabling them to reach and influence those in power to create systemic change.
As we continue to develop our allyship with our grassroots partners across the world, we will also keep bringing together professionals and organizations from every part of government and society, connecting and reinforcing their impact through the medium of legal equality.
By maintaining solidarity across sectors, borders, and generations, we can form a powerful ecosystem of progress with legal equality as its beating heart. As we move on from this momentous month, it is time for all of us to focus not on what sets us apart but on the common values and vision that drive and inspire each of us towards our shared goals.