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Joint Statement on the Occasion of the Pan-African Women’s Day
This 31st of July 2023 marks the Pan-African Women’s Day, a celebration and an ode to the Foremothers of the Continent as well as the beautiful women of Africa, who work tirelessly to improve their own lives and the lives of others. The day marks 61 years since the formation of the African Union’s first ever women’s collective on the Continent- the Pan-African Women’s Organisation (PAWO), and comes at a time when we are still celebrating 20 years since the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
20 for 20 Solidarity Awards: Leading women’s rights activists honoured for their groundbreaking work advancing women’s rights in Africa
KENYA, Nairobi, July 21, 2023 The 20 for 20 Solidarity Awards ceremony took place on July 11, 2023, honouring five outstanding women’s rights activists and four leading civil society organisations for their remarkable efforts in advocating for the ratification and implementation of the Maputo Protocol, the groundbreaking legal framework adopted on July 11, 2003, by the African Union (AU) to address specific challenges faced by women and girls across Africa. The gala event was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, by Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR) with international women’s rights organisation Equality Now to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the
SOAWR Members conduct training on State Reporting on the Maputo Protocol in Tunisia
From the 15th – 17th of June 2023, SOAWR Members Kadirat and the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) – University of Pretoria conducted a training workshop with Tunisian Government ministers and stakeholders on State Reporting on The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol). Samia Melki Fessi, the founder of Kadirat, stated that “what made this great partnership with CHR a reality is the SOAWR network.” The training was reported on by the Tunisian publication Leaders (available in French and Arabic), concluding: “Combining theoretical learning with the
South Sudan has Ratified the Maputo Protocol!
Wednesday, 7th June 2023 Today, the Honourable Minister of Gender Child and Social Welfare of South Sudan announced that they had completed the ratification process of the Maputo Protocol by depositing the instrument to the African Union. The SOAWR Coalition congratulates South Sudan and the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity on this momentous achievement just one month in advance of the 20th Anniversary of the Maputo Protocol. Source: Twitter The SOAWR Coalition would also like to commend the determined and diligent efforts of our member organisations who have been working tirelessly towards this milestone. You can read more about
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#MaputoAt23: Keep the Fire Burning 🔥
Today, 11 July 2026, marks 23 years since African governments made a promise to the women and girls of this continent. On this day in 2003, the African Union adopted
Uganda Feminist Forum calls for an end to intimidation and violence against Ugandans
July 2, 2026 “A Nation that Silences its Bravest Daughters Betrays its Future.” The SOAWR Coalition stands in solidarity with our sisters and partners in Uganda. We are extremely concerned
SOAWR’s Statement at the 87th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR
See SOAWR’s full statement as read on May 12th, 2026 at the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, The Gambia. Read the
SOAWR at CSW70
We are delighted to invite you to join the SOAWR Coalition and our member organisations at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New