Pan-African Girlhood Report 2020: How COVID-19 is putting progress in peril

In Africa, the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (known as ‘the Maputo Protocol’) was adopted on 11 July 2003 to ensure and advance African Women’s Rights.  Close to two decades since the adoption, this comprehensive and progressive human rights instrument still remains under threat.  

Lack of legal protection to protect women from domestic violence and sexual abuse, as well as gender inequality when it comes to accessing political and economic opportunities, are some of the remaining challenges faced by girls and women across Africa.

Today, COVID-19 is exposing and exacerbating the risks of gender equality.  But it is not too late to protect a generation of progress for girls. The COVID-19 crisis has made 2020 an even more critical year for girls and their allies to change the course of history. That work starts with the way African leaders and communities will respond to the pandemic and will continue with the commitments we make as we accelerate progress to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals and gender equality by 2030 and the African Union – Agenda 2063.