“When I witness the resilience of women all over the world, rising above the most difficult situations, I am reminded that I can never give up.” — Zawadi Nyong’o, Kenyan Feminist Leader.
Twenty-three years ago, on 11 July, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, commonly known as the Maputo Protocol, set out a bold vision for women’s rights and gender equality across the continent. Since then, Africa has seen stronger legal protections and more impactful participation by women and girls in leadership, education, and business. Today, we celebrate these hard-won gains, while recognising that support for women’s rights is under growing pressure and differing perspectives are becoming ever more prominent.