SOAWR Annual Review and Agenda-Setting Workshop
Theme: “Spreading our Wings: A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Women’s Rights”
5-7 October 2009, Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, KenyaCOMMUNIQUÉ
We, the undersigned members of the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR), a pan African Coalition of organisations working for the promotion and protection of women’s human rights in Africa: Having assembled in Nairobi, Kenya from 5th-7th October, in the spirit of partnership as SOAWR Coalition members, with representation from the African Union Commission (AUC), and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); Recalling the African Union (AU) member states’ commitments in the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) in 2004 to achieve ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of
Women in Africa (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol) and usher in an era of domesticating and implementing the Protocol as well as other national, regional and international instruments on gender equality by all States Parties; Reaffirming that implementation of the Protocol is imperative to the realisation and enjoyment of women’s rights and the achievement of Africa’s development goals and aspirations; Concerned that despite the significance of this Protocol in the development process of Africa, as of October 2009 twenty-six (26) member states have not ratified the Protocol, including five (5) member sates that have not even signed on to the Protocol;
Further concerned by the democratic and economic recession in Africa characterized by: enactment of laws that curtail citizens, civil society and media freedoms; adoption and implementation of discriminatory laws such as indecent dressing laws; high levels of unemployment; food insecurity; and discrimination and attacks against sexual minorities; which individually and collectively affect the implementation of the Protocol and the advancement of women’s rights in the region; Gravely concerned about the threat to lives of human rights defenders and infringements of freedoms of association that impact the promotion, realisation and enjoyment of human rights and women’s rights in some AU member states;
Considering the great opportunity presented by the African Women’s Decade (2010- 2020) that will be formally launched in June/ July 2010 to facilitate the full and accelerated implementation of the Protocol and achievement of agreed gender
equality targets at different levels;
Acknowledging that the full and accelerated implementation of the Protocol can only be achieved by using a Multi-Sectoral Approach which ensures that all organs of the African Union and governments as well as civil society actors and the private sector work together to promote the realisation of the rights guaranteed in the Protocol;
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i work in the field of human rights in Nigeria with an organization called Access to Justice. we are a justice advocacy group whose work ensures that all individuals have equal and non-discriminatory access to legal institutions and remedies and to promote the rights of all to impartial justice. we confront systemic abuses as well as institutional disregard for the rule of law and the entrenchment of citizens rights. i would like to become even more involved in the special area of womens rights as i realise as an actor in the field that much affirmative action must be carried out in the area of women and childrens rights in Africa. could you involve me in future trainings, workshops and conferences on the subject.