25th September 2024

The Shadow Report on the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s 7th to 10th Periodic Reports (2015-2023) on the Implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

The Shadow Report on the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s 7th to 10th Periodic Reports (2015-2023) on the Implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), submitted on April 23, 2024, highlights the country’s progress, successes and challenges in effectively implementing the Maputo Protocol. The report is a collaborative effort by Equality Now, the Ethiopia Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), the Network of Ethiopian Women Association(NEWA), the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center (EHRDC), Ethiopian Women Rights Advocate (EWRA), TIMRAN, the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA). Equality Now provided technical guidance and support to the platform of organizations in the development of the Shadow Report and in its subsequent submission to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

What is the purpose of the report?

The Shadow Report makes numerous recommendations for legal reforms, better implementation of existing laws, and specific actions to address violence, discrimination, and sexual and reproductive health care issues for women. It further emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive policies and practices across all sectors and levels of Government.

Who’s it for?

  • African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
  • Law and policymakers
  • Legal professionals
  • Government institutions

Key recommendations

  • Legal Reform: Adopt and amend laws to comprehensively address violence against women and girls (VAWG), including better definitions of sexual harassment, banning child marriage, increasing penalties for FGM, and prohibiting corporal punishment at home.

  • Gender-Sensitive Mechanisms: Establish and resource procedures and institutions for reporting, investigating, prosecuting, and protecting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), ensuring alignment with international standards.

  • Support and Accountability: Enhance coordinated rehabilitation and psychological support for survivors, ensure transparent and speedy criminal investigations and trials, and strengthen measures against trafficking and sexual violence.

  • Awareness and Data Management: Promote training and awareness-raising for officials and communities, implement effective data collection on SGBV cases, and finalize guidelines on child maintenance and protection efforts.

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Advancing digital rights and legal reforms to end technology-facilitated gender-based violence and protect women and girls in Southern Africa

Equality Now and AUDRi, in partnership with the Southern Africa Youth Forum, co-hosted a side event on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) at the Southern Africa People’s Summit on 16 August 2025 in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The discussion centred on how advancing digital rights for women, girls, and other marginalised groups through legal reforms can help end TFGBV, with a particular focus on tackling online sexual exploitation and abuse.

Recommendations to SADC heads of State and Government on strengthening protection and support mechanisms for survivors of child marriage

Equality Now, together with the Stop Violence – Stop Child Marriage Project, YWCA Madagascar, Plan International, SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), convened a side event at the Southern Africa People’s Summit on 15 August 2025 under the theme “Strengthening Protection and Support Mechanisms for Survivors of Child Marriage.”

The state of gender equality in the US: A Universal Periodic Review shadow report

This shadow report outlines how the U.S. is failing to meet international human rights obligations on sex equality, child marriage, FGM/C, and online sexual abuse, urging action ahead of its 2025 Universal Periodic Review.

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