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Campaign for the AU Protocol on the Rights of Women

May 14, 2010, 1:13 PM | Article By: Isatou Dumbuya

Women constitute about 60% of Africa's population and yet they continue to be the most affected with under development despite their every day strive for their leaving and family needs.

In respect of these the AU provided a protocol on the right of women in Africa in order to empower them politically, economically, socially and culturally.

These protocols aimed amongst others, achieving universal ratification of the AU protocol on the rights of women and also ensure that the protocol is implemented in all countries and that it becomes part of domestic law.

These strategies aim to influence public opinion and build constituencies in favour of the ratification, domestication and implementation of the protocol, nationally and regionally. These also expand the Solidarity for African Women Right (SOAWR) relationship with the AU commission, the Pan-African Parliament and other bodies to ensure commitment to the provision of the protocol, raise awareness amongst African States of the importance of the protocol in addressing conditions facing women and girls.

It also seeks to actively engage with the mass media and make use of the internet to popularise the protocol, strengthen and promote the leadership capabilities of women organisations.

The protocols also seek to maintain close collaboration with the African Union Commission, the AU Legal Counsel, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of African Women, and the African Human and Peoples Right Court.