Arusha. A new wave of hope is emerging for women across Africa as the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights takes bold steps to address gender-based violence (GBV) and women’s rights violations through the continent’s legal systems.
“We want all women in Africa to be aware that they have the right to easy access to the Court, notwithstanding the complex procedures and financial challenges that may arise,” said Advocacy Programme Manager at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), Mary Izobo.
She was speaking during a high-level conference held at the Court’s premises in Arusha, which focused on enhancing women’s engagement with the institution and sought to break down the barriers that have historically limited access to justice.
Ms Izobo highlighted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CSVR and the African Court as a milestone achievement.
“Through this partnership, we have been able to engage grassroots communities, reaching underserved and marginalised groups of women who are often unaware of their rights,” she said. “Our efforts are directed towards reforms that simplify access to the Court and ensure equitable justice for women.”
Deputy Registrar of the African Court, Grace Kakai, said the conference was designed to confront barriers such as lack of awareness and women’s under-representation in the legal profession.
She noted that the forum also aimed to strengthen networking and partnerships, building on the outcomes of the Judicial Seminar held earlier this year under the theme Advancing Justice for Women Through Reparations.
Stark statistics
According to the World Bank, more than 42 percent of women and girls in Eastern and Southern Africa experience GBV in their lifetimes. Abuse takes many forms—psychological, physical, and sexual—often resulting in death or permanent disability.
UN Women reports that globally, nearly 45,000 women and girls are killed each year by intimate partners or family members, an average of five every hour. In 2020, out of every 10 victims of homicide detected worldwide, four were women and two were girls. More than 90 percent of those trafficked for sexual exploitation were female.
Yet many cases remain unreported or resolved informally at family level, leaving survivors without access to legal remedies.
Deputy Executive Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), Michael Nyarko, underscored the need for stronger legal aid.
“The Judicial Seminar emphasised the importance of raising awareness of the Court’s procedures and enhancing support for indigent applicants through the Court’s Legal Aid Scheme,” he said.
While at least 162 countries have passed domestic violence laws and 147 have workplace sexual harassment laws, Mr Nyarko cautioned that the existence of legislation does not guarantee compliance with international standards or effective enforcement.
“In Africa, women’s protection is enshrined in the African Union Charter,” he added. “But when it comes to advocating and standing for women and child rights, all AU member states must take responsibility and be held accountable.”
Strengthening justice
The two-day conference, held from September 3–4, brought together stakeholders including lawyers under the Court’s Legal Aid Scheme, civil society organisations, and gender-focused NGOs.
Its overarching goal was to strengthen the knowledge and skills of participants in navigating the Court’s procedures and jurisprudence, ensuring that women across Africa can claim their rightful place in the justice system.
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