23rd March 2023

Gender equality and international law in Africa: The role of regional economic communities

End sexual violence Africa

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Summary
Key recommendations

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is prevalent in Africa, occurring in both public and private spheres during peacetime and war. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns exacerbated the issue, leading to a surge in intimate partner violence and highlighting pre-existing gender inequalities as a cause and effect of VAWG.

Key recommendations

To review the progress made in ending VAWG in Africa at the national and regional levels, and to identify challenges, gaps, and opportunities in advancing the rights of women and girls, Equality Now and SOAWR, in partnership with The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union Commission (AUC) have launched our “Gender Equality and International Law in Africa: The Role of Regional Economic Communities” report.

The report aims to provide a foundation for the UNDP regional project on Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Africa, analyzing the status implementation of four Regional Economic Communities (RECs) pertaining to the three human rights instruments: CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, and the ILO Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100).

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Gender equality and international law in Africa: The role of regional economic communities

Key recommendations

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Explore more resources

Good practices on compensation for victims/survivors of sexual violence in South Asia

Advocacy framework for withdrawing reservations to some provisions of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

Exploring the interlinkages between child marriage and family laws in South Asia

Gender equality and international law in Africa: The role of regional economic communities

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Key recommendations

About

Languages

Classification

More information

Explore more resources

Good practices on compensation for victims/survivors of sexual violence in South Asia

Advocacy framework for withdrawing reservations to some provisions of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

Exploring the interlinkages between child marriage and family laws in South Asia

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