Maputo Protocol Book Launch

The centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and the Faculty of Law, University of Nairobi cordially launched two publications recently published by the Pretoria University Law Press. The two publications was launched in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). The Maputo Protocol turns 20 on 11 July 2023.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, RIE Prof Margaret Hutchinson, officially opened the launch which took  place on 13 July 2023 at the Faculty of Law, University of Nairobi.

The books launched include:

1. The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa: A Commentary Edited by Annika Rudman, Trésor Makunya and Celestine Nyamu Musembi.

This Commentary aims to provide a systematic commentary of provisions of the Women’s Rights Protocol to elucidate their meaning and implications in improving women’s rights in Africa. It traces the legal, political, and economic foundation/justifications of the Protocol and its provisions. It analyses normative standards developed and institutional efforts made by the African Commission, the African Court and AU states to improve the protection of women’s rights in Africa.

2. The Impact of the Maputo Protocol in selected African Countries Edited by Susan Mutambasere, Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz and Davina Murden.

This publication is an update to the collection of essays previously published by the Centre for Human Rights assessing the impact of the African Charter and the Maputo Protocol (previously published in 2012 and 2016). In this edition, the focus is only on the Maputo Protocol and traces the impact of the instrument on the legislative and policy framework, judiciary, academia and general impact on the women in 16 African Countries.