Maputo Protocol contributed towards Africa’s progress on gender equality, but growth uneven: Report

Maputo Protocol contributed towards Africa’s progress on gender equality, but growth uneven: Report

Subject: International relations

Section: International Conventions

Context:

• There has been some progress on gender equality in African countries due to the Maputo Protocol, but it has been uneven, according to a new report.
• The report: 20 Years of the Maputo Protocol: Where are we now?

About the Maputo Protocol:

• The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, better known as the Maputo Protocol, is an international human rights instrument established by the African Union that went into effect in 2005.
• It guarantees comprehensive rights to women including
  • The right to take part in the political process,
  • To social and political equality with men,
  • Improved autonomy in their reproductive health decisions, and
  • An end to female genital mutilation.
• It was adopted by the African Union in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2003 in the form of a protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (adopted in 1981, enacted in 1986).
• The Protocol is considered one of the world’s most progressive legal frameworks for women’s rights and was launched 20 years ago in 2003.
• The Protocol has a target of universal ratification in Africa by 2028. However, with just five years until the target year, there are still 12 countries that are yet to ratify this important legal instrument.
• In two decades (2003-2022), women’s labour force participation rate (LFPR) in most African nations as compared to that of men remains low.
  • In 24 countries, the share of women in the labour force has decreased.
• So, there is an urgent need for Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Somalia and Sudan to renew their commitments and ratify the Maputo Protocol in order to deliver on their promises to the women and girls in their countries.
• There has been an improvement in women’s participation in the political and decision-making processes.
• In most of the AU states, women’s representation in Parliament has increased.
• For example in Rwanda, women’s share in Chamber of Deputies or Lower House increased to 61.3 per cent in April 2023 from 25.7 per cent in April 2003.

Challenges remain:

• When 54 per cent of the AU states mandate equal remuneration for equal work or fair / just pay as per Article 13 of the Protocol, 46 per cent do not. These are: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic and DR Congo.
• Women’s economic rights and opportunities and access to social welfare and protection are significantly affected by external factors such as conflict, COVID-19, the pandemic and climate change.
• Up to 10 million more girls are at risk of becoming child brides by 2030.