Awards
The Maputo Protocol 20 for 20 Solidarity Awards
The Maputo Protocol 20 for 20 Solidarity Awards nominations are open. The inaugural awards are spearheaded by the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) coalition to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Maputo Protocol.
The awards recognize those who have gone before us and those who continue to steer the numerous complexities that come with advocating for women and girl’s rights in Africa. We are also taking an opportunity to celebrate those organizations that have taken bold steps in advocating for the adoption, ratification, and domestication of the Maputo Protocol using various platforms of change.
Who Qualifies?
The Awards will recognize the contribution of 20 state actors and non-state actors, including organizations, key institutions, and individuals. Nominations are open to individuals, civil society organizations, institutions, oversight bodies, corporates, policy makers, and media.
You can self-nominate or nominate and individual, organization or institution that you believe are deserving.
Award Nominations have now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination!
Award Categories
There are 10 award categories through which you can help us recognize advances in realizing the provisions that have been set out in the Maputo Protocol.
Women’s rights activists who were instrumental in the adoption of the Maputo Protocol, including the drafting and negotiation of the treaty, have contributed to the ratification and accession of the Maputo Protocol by one or more AU Member States, and have led or contributed to the actual lifting of reservations by governments, and to law reform and enforcement, nationally or regionally.
Recognizing the long-standing contribution and work of women’s rights activists that have worked on the advancement of the Maputo Protocol for a minimum of 15 years, consistently contributed to the advancement of the Maputo Protocol at national, regional and / or continental levels.
Women’s rights activists who have contributed through the legal representation of women and girls on the rights under the Maputo Protocol- with notable progressive decisions from national, regional, and continental judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, contributing to the advancement of the rights enumerated under the substantive Articles 2 through to 24 of the Maputo Protocol .
Women’s rights champions who have demonstrated significant and tangible contributions towards the advancement of women’s economic, social, and cultural rights including the promotion or advancement of the rights under Article 12 – Right to Education, Article 13 – Economic, Social Welfare Rights which include Women’s financial and economic empowerment and inclusion, Article 15 – Right to Food Security, Article 16 – Right to Adequate Housing, Article 18 – Right to a Health and Sustainable Environment, and Article 19 – Right to Sustainable Development.
Renowned champions who have advocated for and contributed to the realization of the enjoyment of sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as provided for under Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol, including those who have contributed to Normative change – reform of laws and policies on SRHR, Institutional change – advocacy for or set up of relevant institutions, Attitudinal change – change in society’s perception and attitude towards SRHR-related topics or services, including fostering public debate on SRHR.
Champions of gender equality in the family who have demonstrable achievements in advancing the following rights- Marriage (Article 6) – including ending child, early, and forced marriage, Separation, divorce or annulment of marriage (Article 7) – including matrimonial property rights, Right to a nationality (Article 6 (g) and (h), Inheritance rights (Article 20).
Persons who have demonstrated admirable advocacy and achievements in the promotion, protection, and enjoyment of the rights of women and girls under Articles 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Maputo Protocol, by advocating for: Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Ending Harmful Practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), widow inheritance, child marriage, forced marriages etc., Protection of Women in Armed Conflicts (Article 11).
Women’s rights champions who have demonstrated significant and tangible contributions towards the advancement of women’s right to participate in political and decision-making processes including Equal participation of women in political processes (Article 9), Right to Peace (Article 10), and Right of women to participate in the determination and formulation of cultural policies (Article 17).
Education, disability rights, SOGIE, women with special needs: Persons who have championed the rights of women in special or marginalized groups or communities including The Rights of Elderly Women (Article 22), The Rights of Women with Disabilities (Article 23), The Rights of Women in Distress (Article 24), The Right to Education e.g. for adolescent mothers, girls with special needs, The Rights of Women within ethnic minority groups and communities.
Young and upcoming women under the age of 35 years who meet the following criteria: demonstrable contributions towards the advancement of the Maputo Protocol for a minimum of 3 years (i.e. at least since 2020), and those who have consistently contributed to the advancement of the Maputo Protocol at national, regional and / or continental levels.
