AU adopts Convention on Ending Violence Against Wo...

AU adopts Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

Munyaradzi Blessing Doma

Zim Now Reporter

The African Union summit, held from February 15 to 16 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marked a significant milestone in the protection of women and girls with the adoption of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.

The convention, first developed in February 2023 and reaffirmed last year, was officially adopted at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. This landmark agreement aims to establish a legally binding framework to prevent, eliminate, and respond to all forms of violence against women and girls across Africa.

Honourable Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, hailed the adoption as a “historic milestone in our collective fight for gender equality and human dignity.”

She emphasized that the convention reaffirms Africa’s commitment to eliminating all forms of violence that have long silenced, oppressed, and harmed women and girls across the continent.

She further stated that the next step is advocating for ratification to ensure the convention’s speedy entry into force and its full implementation.

The convention seeks to address the root causes of gender-based violence, strengthen legal and institutional mechanisms for protection, and promote a culture of respect for human rights and gender equality.

It also aims to ensure a unified approach among state parties in eliminating violence. The AU recognizes that violence against women and girls occurs in various settings, including homes, schools, workplaces, prisons, security institutions, conflict zones, and online platforms. It is often driven by deep-rooted patriarchal systems and power imbalances that sustain gender inequality.

This convention builds upon existing regional and global frameworks, such as the Maputo Protocol (Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa), the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The AU emphasized that addressing gender-based violence is not just about protection but also about creating safe, supportive environments where women and girls can thrive and fully contribute to society.

With adoption secured, the next step is ratification by AU member states to ensure the convention becomes legally binding and translates into real protections for women and girls across Africa.