Explainer: What you need to know about Maputo Protocol conference
The Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action is hosting the 20th anniversary of the Maputo Protocol on women's rights celebrations.
The two-day event is ongoing at Movenpick Hotel, Nairobi.
Hundreds of delegates from African Union member States and others from overseas are attending.
Gender and Affirmative Action Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa during the event's opening ceremony said she is elated that Kenya is the hosting country.
What is the Maputo protocol?
The Maputo Protocol refers to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women.
It was adopted by several African countries in the Mozambique capital, Maputo and came in force two years later.
To date, almost 50 countries in Africa have signed the Protocol while at least 40 of them, including Kenya, have ratified it.
The Protocol is the most important international treaty that addresses virtually all critical aspects that impact the welfare of women in Africa.
Kenya signed the Maputo Protocol on February 11, 2004, and ratified it on October 27, 2010.
The Protocol is the most important international treaty that addresses virtually all critical aspects that impact the welfare of women in Africa.
These include equality and non-discrimination on the basis of gender, protection against violence, rights pertaining to marriage, health, and reproductive rights, economic, social and cultural rights among others.
The Protocol obligates member-states not only to sign it, but to also domesticate and implement required legislations to actualise the rights and protection of women.
Further, they are obligated to file national reports after every two years to show progress made after effecting the Protocol.
How Kenya stands to benefit
Jumwa said that the event is instrumental in evaluating the progress made toward women's rights protection while taking stock of the achievements made.
The CS also said it would provide a platform to formulate strategies to address challenges that still hinder the rights and role of women in African societies.
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa Janet Ramatoulie called on all African countries to adopt and ratify the Maputo Protocol.
She spoke on Monday during celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the treaty on the rights of women in Africa.
She added that all women in Africa deserve the protection that the Maputo Protocol provides for them and said that adopting and ratifying it will improve justice systems for the countries that do so.
"The need to ratify the protocol is seen when we consider the persistent gender inequality that exists in many African nations," she said.
Ramatoulie urged African states to look at the benefits they could reap from ratifying the protocol. BY THE STAR
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