African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
87th Ordinary Session
Banjul, from 24 April to 20 May 2026
Intersession Report
Presented by Honorable Commissioner Janet R. Sallah-Njie
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa
INTRODUCTION
1. In accordance with Rules 25(3) and 64 of the Rules of Procedure (2020) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) and in line with its Resolution ACHPR/res.38 (XXV) 99 of 5 May 1999, I present this Report in my capacity as the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (the SRRWA). The Report also covers my activities undertaken as a Member of the Commission during the period under review.
PART ONE: ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN AS A COMMISSIONER
A. Virtual 86th Ordinary Session (Private)
2. From 8 to 13 December 2025, I attended the 39th Extraordinary Session of the Commission, held virtually, during which outstanding matters were considered.
3. From February 23 to March 9, I attended the Commission's 86th Ordinary Session (Private), convened virtually to consider Communications, outstanding Reports, and other matters.
4. From 11 to 12 February 2026, I attended the 48th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union Commission. The Session deliberated on a number of key institutional and policy matters, including consideration of the Report of the 51st Ordinary Session of the PRC; the conduct of elections and appointments to AU organs and institutions; and consideration of draft legal instruments and broader institutional governance matters.
5. From 14 to 15 February 2026, I attended the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States. The Assembly considered a range of strategic continental priorities, including reports on progress under the three thematic agenda areas of the African Union; review of the report on African Union Institutional Reforms and the Annual Report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, among other key policy and governance matters.
PART TWO: COUNTRY MONITORING
A. Malawi
Joint Letter of Commendation on the High Court Ruling Affirming Access to Safe Abortion Services for Minor Survivors of Sexual Violence in Malawi
6. On 19 January 2026, in my capacity as the SRRWA, together with the Commissioner Rapporteur for the Human Rights Situation in Malawi, we issued a joint letter of commendation welcoming the High Court’s landmark decision affirming access to safe abortion services for minors affected by sexual violence.
B. Uganda
Letter of Concern Regarding Alleged Human Rights Violations Against Karimojong Women and Children in Uganda
7. On 10 March 2026, in my capacity as the SRRWA, together with the Commissioner Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Uganda and the Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons, and Migrants in Africa, we issued a joint Letter of Concern regarding alleged human rights violations against Karimojong women and children in Uganda. The letter highlighted alleged forced relocations, arbitrary arrests, detention, family separation, and inhumane treatment, and emphasized Uganda’s obligations under the African Charter, the Maputo Protocol, and the Kampala Convention, including the need to protect rights, ensure family reunification, and address the root causes of displacement.
C. Equatorial Guinea
Joint Letter of Commendation for the Signing of the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG)
8. On 14 March 2026, I, jointly with the County Rapporteur to Equatorial Guinea, sent a letter of commendation to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for being the 8th State to sign the AUCEVAWG. In the letter, while encouraging the steps taken in signing the Convention, we highlighted that the real impact of the Convention can be only seen following ratification and implementation.
D. Zimbabwe
9. From 30 March to 2 April 2026, pursuant to Article 45(1) of the African Charter, in my capacity as Country Rapporteur for the Republic of Zimbabwe and Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, together with Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela, Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa, and Honourable Commissioner Selma Sassi Safer, Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and Migrants in Africa, undertook a Promotion Mission to the Republic of Zimbabwe from 30 March to 2 April 2026.
PART THREE: ACTIVITIES AS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA
A. Regional Consultation on the Advocacy for Withdrawing Reservation to some Provisions of the Maputo Protocol
10. On 25 November 2025, together with Equality Now, I organized a regional consultation on the above framework, which brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the region. The consultation provided a platform for in-depth discussion on the subject and enabled participants to share experiences, perspectives, and recommendations. The inputs received will contribute to strengthening and further refining the framework.
B. Evaluation, Assessment, and Planning Meeting with Partners
11. On 3 December 2025, I convened a meeting with all my partners to evaluate and assess the activities of the Mechanism. The purpose was to review our 2025 achievements, identify challenges, and collaboratively plan for 2026, ensuring a coordinated approach that avoids duplication.
C. Sisterhood Beyond Borders: Mobilising the Pan-African Feminist Movement to End Sexual Violence
12. On 10 December 2025, I participated in and delivered an intervention at the above-mentioned meeting organized by Baobab for Women’s Human Rights (BAOBAB). My intervention focused on the AUCEVAWG as a key continental legal instrument, highlighting its role in strengthening prevention, protection, and accountability mechanisms, and underscoring the importance of its ratification and effective implementation by Member States.
D. "From Pledge to Action to fulfill Beijing +30 Review Commitments in the Arab States: Sharing Knowledge on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.”
Amman, Jordan, 8 - 9 December 2025, organized by UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States, in partnership with Jordan, under the ”Ajyal Egalité Program.”
13. On 8 December 2025, I participated in the above Conference, through a video presentation sharing the perspective of the African Union on ending violence against women and girls, with particular focus on the AUCEVAWG. The Conference brought together government practitioners and experts from the region to discuss progress made and share solutions to remaining challenges to achieving Beijing +30 review commitments to end VAWG.
E. 6th High-Level Africa Forum on Women, Peace and Security (WPS)
14. From 9 to 10 December 2025, I participated in the above high-level forum, where my intervention focused on the AUCEVAWG. In this meeting, I highlighted the relevance of the Convention as a comprehensive continental legal framework for addressing longstanding, emerging, and conflict-related violations against women and girls across the continent.
F. National Conference on Women’s Political Participation and Representation in The Gambia
15. On 15 December 2025, I participated in and delivered a keynote address at the above convening. My intervention focused on enhancing women’s political participation and representation in The Gambia, highlighting the need for inclusive policies, capacity-building initiatives, and the removal of barriers that limit women’s engagement in decision-making.
G. Engagements on Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Malawi
i. Courtesy Meeting with the Minister of Justice of Malawi
16. On 29 January 2026, I held a courtesy meeting with Charles Mhango, Minister of Justice of Malawi. The meeting focused on the High Court’s progressive decision expanding access to safe abortion, particularly for minors who are survivors of sexual violence. I commended this landmark ruling and encouraged the Government to sign and ratify the AUCEVAW.
ii. High-Level Dissemination on the Positive High Court Judgment
17. On 30 January 2026, I delivered a keynote at the above-mentioned high-level dissemination meeting attended by senior officials, including the Attorney General, Minister of Health, parliamentarians, and the Malawi Human Rights Commission. I emphasized that while the court’s decision is progressive, meaningful change requires deliberate, coordinated action to ensure implementation at all levels.
iii. National Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Malawi
18. On 31 January 2026, I delivered a keynote address at the National Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The address highlighted that SRHR are essential to women’s dignity and full participation in society. I noted Malawi’s legal progress while recognizing ongoing challenges in access and implementation. The presentation also emphasized the critical role of judicial decisions and strategic litigation in safeguarding these rights, calling for coordinated, rights-based, and accountable action to ensure full realization of SRHR.
H. Advocacy on the AUCEVAWG: Regional Dissemination and Advocacy Workshop on the AUCEVAWG
19. From 3 to 4 February 2026, my mandate in collaboration with Lawyers Without Borders, the AU WGYD, the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, and the African Meeting for the Defence of Human Rights, convened the Regional Dissemination and Advocacy Workshop on the AUCEVAWG in Dakar, Senegal. During the workshop, I delivered an address unpacking the Convention and underscoring the urgency of its ratification by AU Member States.
I. GIMAC and Related Meetings on the Margins of the African Union Summit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
i. 42nd GIMAC CSO Pre-Summit Meeting
20. On 8 February 2026, I participated as a Panellist in the High-Level Panel Discussion at the 42nd GIMAC CSO Pre-Summit Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on “Water, Sanitation and Gender Justice: What Must Change in 2026.”
21. During the same meeting, I also delivered a technical briefing on “Building a Cohesive Advocacy Architecture on the AU-CEVAWG,” outlining the Roadmap for its signature, ratification, domestication, and implementation, and highlighting its complementarity with the Maputo Protocol.
22. Additionally, I served as the keynote speaker in an interactive Fireside Chat with youth advocates, emphasizing their strategic role in accelerating signature and ratification at the national level, generating political momentum, engaging decision-makers, and strengthening accountability to ensure continental commitments translate into tangible protection and justice for women and girls.
ii. ECOSOCC Civil Society Pre-Summit on the 2026 AU Theme
23. On 9 February 2026, I delivered an intervention at the ECOSOCC Civil Society Pre-Summit on the 2026 AU Theme of the Year titled: “The Right to Sanitation with a Focus on Gender and Youth – Perspectives of the African Human Rights System.” In my intervention, I emphasized that sanitation must be understood as a human rights imperative intrinsically linked to dignity, health, equality, and protection from gender-based violence.
iii. High-Level Breakfast Meeting on Financing and Reaffirming Africa’s Gender Commitments
24. On 13 February 2026, I participated as a speaker in the High-Level Breakfast Meeting on Financing and Reaffirming Africa’s Gender Commitments, which was convened by the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E John Mahama, in collaboration with AUC-WGYD. In my intervention, I recalled that under the African Charter and the Maputo Protocol, States are legally obligated to adopt legislative, administrative, and budgetary measures to give full effect to women’s rights, including their economic and social rights.
iv. Fireside Conversation with Africa’s Female Presidents
25. On 13 February 2026, I participated in the Fireside Conversation with Africa’s Female Presidents, an intergenerational dialogue on women’s leadership, governance, and accountability convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The engagement was convened by UN Women and the AU Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, the Government of the Republic of Namibia, Pan-African Women's Organization (PAWO), and African Women Leaders Network (AWLN).
v. Strategic Engagement with the AU Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD)
26. On 12 February 2026, I held a strategic engagement with the AU Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) in Addis Ababa to advance coordination on the Roadmap for signature, ratification, domestication, and implementation of the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG).
vi. Strategic Engagements with UN Women
27. On 10 February 2026, I held a courtesy meeting with UN Women in Addis Ababa to strengthen collaboration towards the implementation of the AU-CEVAWG Roadmap.
28. On the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, I further engaged with UN Women to consolidate strategic cooperation in accelerating efforts to end violence against women and girls across the continent. Both institutions reaffirmed the importance of strengthened partnerships, coordinated advocacy, and enhanced State accountability to ensure that continental commitments translate into tangible protection, prevention, and justice for women and girls in Africa.
J. Engagements at CSW70
i. ODAS-CATALYSTS Side Event
29. On 9 March 2026, I delivered a keynote at the ODAS-CATALYSTS side event held during the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. The event convened key stakeholders to examine Africa’s legal framework on sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly access to safe abortion. I highlighted the Maputo Protocol as a progressive and binding instrument, while noting ongoing challenges related to criminalisation and implementation gaps.
ii. Welcome Dinner with the Center for Reproductive Rights
30. On Monday, 9 March 2026, I attended a welcome dinner with the Center for Reproductive Rights delegation to the CSW70. The dinner provided an opportunity to engage with colleagues and partners, strengthen relationships, and discuss key priorities and strategies for advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights across the continent.
iii. EDVAW Platform Internal Meeting
31. On Tuesday, 10 March 2026, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM, I participated in an internal meeting of the EDVAW Platform, which included reporting on activities conducted by each mechanism during the intermeeting period. The session focused on reviewing progress, coordinating ongoing initiatives, and planning collaborative actions to advance the elimination of discrimination and violence against women.
iv. Commitment to Action: Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls in Africa through Legal Reform
32. On 10 March 2026, I delivered the keynote at the abovementioned event organized by the Center for Reproductive Rights in collaboration with the Governments of Rwanda, Cabo Verde, Tunisia, and the Health Development Initiative in New York during CSW70. I highlighted the Maputo Protocol, legal reforms expanding reproductive health and safe abortion access, ongoing challenges, and the importance of accountability, youth engagement, and partnerships to make human rights protections a reality for women and girls in Africa.
v. Ensuring Girls’ Future” reception and photo exhibition
33. On 10 March 2026, I delivered welcoming remarks at the photo exhibition hosted by Ipas and CanWaCH in New York. In my remarks, I highlighted the challenges African girls face, emphasizing that girls’ rights are human rights. I also underscored the Maputo Protocol’s role in protecting these rights and called for collective action, stronger legal enforcement, and partnerships to ensure every girl can access education, healthcare, and opportunities to thrive.
vi. UN Women High-Level Meeting on violence against women and girls
34. On 12 March 2026, I served as a panelist at the UN Women High-Level Meeting on Violence Against Women and Girls, highlighting that effective access to justice requires coordinated governance, operational collaboration, and gender-responsive budgeting. I emphasized the role of international and regional frameworks like the Maputo Protocol and CEDAW, shared best practices such as Rwanda’s Isange One Stop Centres.
vii. Women’s Access to Justice Free from Legal Retaliation
35. On 12 March 2026, at the above EDVAW Platform and UN Women Side Event, I spoke on the urgent need to protect human rights defenders (HRDs) and women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from threats, judicial harassment, and misuse of laws. I highlighted key African Commission instruments and called for stronger legal frameworks and judicial independence to ensure HRDs and WHRDs can operate safely and advance justice for women and girls in Africa.
viii. Meeting of the African Ministers of gender and Women's Affairs with the Africa Group
36. On 13 March 2026, I delivered the opening remarks at the African Union Ministerial Consultation Meeting with the Africa Group in New York. I emphasized the importance of a unified African position at CSW70, highlighted the AU-CEVAWG as a key tool to strengthen protections against violence, and called for accelerated ratification, implementation, and collective action to advance justice for women and girls across the continent.
ix. Strengthening Justice, Survivor-Centered Services and Community Prevention to End Violence against women and girls: The Integrated National Response
37. On 10 March 2026, at the above High-Level Side Event in The Gambia, I spoke on strengthening integrated national responses to end violence against women and girls. I highlighted the Maputo Protocol and the need for survivor-centered services, accessible justice, and multisectoral collaboration. I commended The Gambia’s legal reforms while stressing that effective implementation, prevention, and sustained partnerships are essential to ensure women and girls live free from violence.
K. International Women’s Rights Day
38. On 8 March 2026, I issued a statement for International Women’s Day under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” I highlighted Africa’s progress in women’s rights, including the Maputo Protocol and the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, while noting persistent barriers to justice.
L. Forum of First Ladies of SWEDD+ countries on zero tolerance of gender-based violence “ From Commitment to Action: Regional Leadership to End Gender-Based Violence in SWEDD+ Countries
39. On 10 April 2026, I participated and delivered a solidarity statement at the above meeting, which took place in Banjul, The Gambia. I commend the leadership of the First Ladies of the SWEDD+ countries, through their collective resolve to convene a forum, to build an interregional consensus on zero tolerance for gender-based violence; adopt a regional roadmap; establish a framework for implementation and monitoring; and endorse a joint declaration to guide sustained action across West and Central Africa.
L. Regional Consultation on CEDAW General Recommendation No. 40 (Equal and Inclusive Representation of Women in Decision-Making Systems
40. On 18 and 19 April 2024, I participated virtually as a discussant in the Regional Consultation on the elaboration of CEDAW General Recommendation No. 40 on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems for West, East, Central, and Southern Africa, organized by UN Women and held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I commend UN Women for convening this important regional consultation, which brought together experts and stakeholders to share expertise and contribute to the development of General Recommendation No. 40, thereby advancing the goal of equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems across all regions of Africa.
M. Virtual E-Launch of Toolkits on General Comment No. 6 of the Maputo Protocol
41. On 21 April 2026, I participated and delivered a keynote address at the virtual e-launch of toolkits (a narrative guide and a short video) designed to support the understanding and implementation of General Comment No. 6 on Article 7(d) of the Maputo Protocol, organized by the Initiative for Gender Equality and Development in Africa (IGED-Africa) in collaboration with Equality Now. I commend the leadership of IGED-Africa and Equality Now for developing these practical, user-friendly toolkits to raise awareness of the General Comment, simplify its content for a wider audience, and advance women's rights in Africa—particularly regarding property distribution between spouses upon divorce, recognition of unpaid care work for African women, and access to justice. In my keynote address, I reaffirmed the mandate's commitment to supporting the domestication and implementation of the Maputo Protocol and General Comment No. 6, and I called on African States to take concrete steps to implement Article 7(d), including addressing barriers to justice such as limited legal literacy, high litigation costs, harmful social norms, and weak enforcement of court decisions, while providing vital resources for advocacy, training, and capacity-building on family law reform and gender equality across the continent.
N. Launch of the AUCEVAWG Roadmap
42. On 6 May 2026, I delivered opening remarks and a presentation at the Launch of the AUCEVAWG Roadmap, held online and organized by AUWGYD in collaboration with my office. During the launch, I highlighted the importance of coordinated continental efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls and emphasized the role of accountability mechanisms in ensuring implementation.
O. NGO Forum
43. During the NGO Forum held prior to the 87th Ordinary Session, I participated in the following meetings:
A. Launch of the Capacity Strengthening Handbook
44. On 7 May 2026, I delivered a keynote address at the launch of the Capacity Strengthening Handbook during the NGO Forum, organized by African Renaissance. In my address, I underscored the need for strengthening both institutional and grassroots capacities to effectively respond to human rights challenges, particularly in relation to gender equality and protection frameworks.
B. Beyond Ceasefires: Countering Backlash Through Feminist Approaches to Peace and Justice
45. On 8 May 2026, I participated as a panelist in the abovementioned panel, organized by SIHA. During this engagement, I emphasized the importance of feminist approaches in sustaining peace and addressing systemic inequalities that fuel conflict and injustice.
C. Defending Rights in Hostile Contexts: Attacks on Human Rights Actors Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Context of Shrinking Civic Space and Gender Backlash
46. On 9 May 2026, I served as a panelist in the above discussion, organized by OHCHR in collaboration with IPPF Africa. The session provided a platform to address the increasing risks faced by human rights defenders. I contributed insights on protection mechanisms and highlighted the importance of safeguarding civic space.
PART FOUR: BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA
A. Developments
47. During the intersession period, I noted the following developments and concerns on the situation of women and girls on the continent:
40th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
48. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Charter. As the continent’s foundational human rights instrument, the African Charter laid the normative groundwork for the adoption of subsequent legal frameworks, such as the Maputo Protocol. In commemorating this significant milestone, it is important to acknowledge that Member States have undertaken various measures to operationalize the provisions of the African Charter within their domestic and sub-regional contexts.
Violence against women and girls
49. The adoption of the AU-CEVAWG in February 2025 was a bold and necessary step towards establishing a framework that would assist Member States with eradicating violence against women and girls. In this regard, it is commendable that 8 Member States have already declared their commitment towards improving protections for women and girls on the continent.
50. Notwithstanding the adoption of the AU-CEVAWG and the expressions of commitment towards its operationalization, we continue to observe an escalation of VAWG—manifesting in multiple forms, including gender-based and sexual violence during conflict, femicide, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
Gender-based and sexual violence during conflict
51. It is disheartening that, as a continent, we continue to be confronted with the reality that women and girls are bearing the brunt of protracted armed conflicts. In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, recent reports indicate that sexual violence—which has been described as an ‘epidemic’ —has escalated, with armed groups like the Rwanda-backed M23 using sexual violence as a weapon of war against women and girls. Reports further indicate that infants as young as 1 year old and women as old as seventy-five have been the victims of such violence. In Sudan—where the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan has revealed evidence of the commission of acts of genocide in El-Fasher— rape and sexual violence remain ‘part of everyday life.’ Women and girls seeking assistance from Médecins Sans Frontiéres clinics have reported being raped while undertaking everyday tasks necessary for survival—such as collecting firewood and water, or working in the fields. What is equally concerning is that women belonging to the Zaghawa and Fur minority ethnic groups are being targeted and subjected to sexual violence. Sexual violence against women and girls is not only intended to inflict unimaginable physical pain on the victims and survivors, but perpetrators also aim to cause humiliation, leading to ostracization and a life lived in shame. Victims and survivors are facing the most heinous violations of their dignity, privacy, and bodily security in environments where international humanitarian law is being blatantly disregarded, and within climates of complete impunity. As a consequence, the bodies of women and girls continue to serve as sites of conflict.
52. Additionally, the findings of the ACHPR Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, conducted virtually from June 2024 to March 2025, paint an even more harrowing picture of gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence. The Mission documented that sexual violence in Sudan was widespread and systematic, carried out by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with the RSF responsible for the majority of cases. Girls as young as 13 years and women as old as 60 years were subjected to rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, and sexual exploitation. The Mission recorded that women were raped in their homes—often in the presence of family members—in public spaces, in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, and while fleeing attacks. In one harrowing account, the RSF abducted 17 girls from Fayu, South Kordofan, holding them for over three months alongside 33 other girls in makeshift pens constructed with wires and branches, where they were chained, kept in animal-like conditions, and raped daily. The Mission further found that women from the Massalit, Nuba, and Zaghawa communities were specifically targeted with ethnic slurs—such as "if you are Nuba, we shall rape you to death"—before being subjected to sexual violence. The FFM concluded that the widespread and systematic nature of these acts, including the use of sexual violence as a form of torture and as a weapon of war, constitutes grave violations of Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter, as well as Articles 3, 4, and 11 of the Maputo Protocol, and that the state of Sudan has failed in its obligation to protect women and girls from such atrocities.
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence
53. A rise in young internet users has resulted in elevated levels of online violence, especially perpetrated against women and girls. Research into the experiences of women and girls in Ethiopia, for example, illustrates that they suffer various forms of TFGBV, including hate speech, non-consensual dissemination of intimate images, and harassment. Equally concerning is the fact that women in politics, human rights activists, journalists, and women with public profiles are increasingly the targets of online violence. The impact of TFGBV on women and girls is significant, and the implications are far-reaching, in that it has the potential to negatively impact mental health, encourage physical attacks against survivors, and lead to women and girls withdrawing from public life—due to fear and shame. As a consequence of this reality, greater efforts are urgently needed to combat the growing trend of TFGBV on the continent, and to protect women and girls from yet another form of violence that has devastating consequences for their well-being.
Enduring and emerging challenges to the protection of women and girls’ rights
54. Ensuring that women and girls have equal access to and enjoyment of their fundamental human rights is an ongoing battle. In this regard, there exist struggles of a seemingly enduring nature that are slowing down the pace of progression towards the tangible enjoyment of fundamental human rights and freedoms. One of these struggles relates to the realization of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) on the continent—an area in which progress as well as setbacks are evident.
55. Together with existing struggles, I have also observed emerging areas of concern that threaten the well-being of women and girls. In particular, I refer to the destructive effects of climate change and the disparate impact that climate disasters have on women and girls.
Progress and setbacks in the realization of sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls
56. In January of this year, the Southern African Development Community launched its 2025 biennial scorecard, which tracks progress towards the realization of SRHR across 16 Southern African countries. The ultimate aim of the scorecard is to compare the gains and losses of Member States against the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets. The scorecard identifies many areas in which great progress has been made, including a decline in adolescent birth rates in twelve Member States, including Angola, the DRC, and Namibia; and a reduction in maternal mortality in 6 Member States, including Malawi and Mozambique.
57. Notwithstanding the successes achieved in vital areas of SRHR, the scorecard also identifies areas of concern in which Southern Africa has struggled to meet its SDG targets. These areas include GBV, where states have struggled to effectively implement relevant laws and policies and to integrate SRHR, HIV, and GBV services. family planning, in respect of which 9 Member States have failed to meet the contraceptive needs of women. These Member States include Comoros, Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa. and the legalization and provision of abortion services, in respect of which abortion is either generally illegal or completely illegal in 2 Member States. These states are the Comoros (which has ratified the Maputo Protocol) and Madagascar (which has signed the Maputo Protocol).
58. The realization of SRHR for women and girls remains a challenge not only in Southern Africa but across the continent. Research published in March of this year, which synthesizes the results of 24 studies undertaken in the past 3 years, identifies challenges within family planning, abortion care, and SRHR, as it relates to HIV. Regarding family planning, women in Tanzania, for example, face social pressure that limits their ability to autonomously make decisions about their own family planning. Regarding abortion care, one of the studies showed that only 21.1% of women in Uganda included in the sample reported having received comprehensive post-abortion care packages. Finally, regarding SRHR as it relates to HIV, one of the studies indicates that only about 8.2% of women in Burkina Faso had knowledge of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Climate crises and gender inequality
59. In recent reports, experts assert that although climate change may be a global issue, it is certainly not gender-neutral. Climate crises have a greater impact on women and girls as they escalate the burdens of unpaid care work, which is primarily undertaken by women and girls. In this regard, because women frequently bear the burden of managing households and undertaking long journeys to fetch firewood and water, unpredictable weather patterns threaten the health of these women and girls, as well as expose them to the risk of GBV. Further, because of unequal laws, policies, and norms that restrict or prevent women’s equitable access to resources—such as land ownership, credit, technology, and employment—women are unlikely to easily adapt to climate crises.
60. Another stark reality is the fact that climate crises are thrusting people into poverty, and the majority of these people are women. In rural and northern regions of Ghana, for example, persistent droughts and erratic rainfall have made it difficult for the agricultural sector to thrive, which disproportionately impacts women as they constitute the vast majority of subsistence farmers in these regions. Food shortages have also adversely impacted girls’ realization of the right to education, as families faced with these struggles are often forced to withdraw girls from school, in order that they may share the burdens of ensuring the survival of the household.
61. It is with this acute understanding of the additional burdens borne by women and girls because of climate change that I commend the efforts of the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU) in requesting an Advisory Opinion from the African Court on the obligations of Member States with respect to the climate change crisis. The request underscores that, among other things, climate change exacerbates ‘existing inequalities’—thus increasing the risk to which specific vulnerable groups, such as women, are exposed. The matter is yet to be decided by the African Court, but it is my hope that the African Court is able to shed much-needed light on the plight of women and girls facing dangers created by climate crises.
Ongoing Backlash and Threat of Rollback and Regression on Gains in Women’s Rights Protection
62. Across the African continent, hard-won gains in women’s rights protection are facing a concerted and well-funded backlash. This regression is manifested through multiple, interconnected pressures: the shrinking of civic space, the weaponization of legal systems, the rise of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and severe funding cuts to women’s rights organizations. The civic space in which African women live, organize, and advocate is steadily shrinking, with women human rights defenders facing heightened violence, online and offline harassment, restrictive laws, and deep funding cuts that undermine their ability to mobilise and protect hard-won gains.
B. Positive developments
Development of the Child-Friendly version of the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
63. I would like to commend the African Union (AU) Liaison Office, together with the AU Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, for the development of a version of the AU-CEVAWG that is accessible to children. The AU-CEVAWG establishes a necessary continental framework for combating VAWG, and yet some of the beneficiaries of this important instrument—being young girls—were running the risk of failing to understand their own rights and, therefore, failing to advocate for themselves. The simplified text and visuals of this publication will ensure that women and girls feel empowered through knowledge of the AU-CEVAWG, enabling them to fight VAWG within their own communities.
Equatorial Guinea
64. I extend my sincere congratulations to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for signing the AU-CEVAWG earlier this year. Equatorial Guinea now joins 7 other Member States that have declared their commitment to strengthening their domestic legal frameworks. May other Member States that are yet to sign the AU-CEVAWG be encouraged by this commendable act, and proceed to make the same commitment towards making the continent a safer place for all women and girls.
South Africa
65. It is encouraging to note that in November 2025, the South African government declared gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) a ‘National Disaster’. This classification reflects the South African government’s acknowledgement of the severity of the crisis and underscores the urgency with which interventions must be undertaken. This is a significant step, as this designation triggers binding obligations across all spheres of the government and mandates the government to accelerate existing systems that have been put in place to combat GBVF.
Kenya
66. I would like to commend the Nairobi City County Government for its approval of a policy that grants monthly paid menstrual leave to women. The policy provides women with 2 days leave per month, and is implemented in recognition of menstrual pain as a legitimate workplace health issue. It is further implemented as part of efforts towards the improvement of women’s participation in work, education, and community life.
Libya
67. Libya’s efforts towards increasing women’s political participation in the country must be commended. In March of this year, the High Elections Commission announced that the seats allocated to women in municipal councils had increased from a hundred and four seats (during the period between 2012 and 2023) to two hundred and five seats (in the period between 2024 and 2025). Female representation is just as important at the local government level as it is at the national level, and increased representation is a step towards ensuring that women are part of decision-making processes and have a voice in the development of programs, in addressing issues related to infrastructure, and service delivery.
C. Noted challenges
Burkina Faso
68. It is troubling to observe that violence against civilians perpetrated by terrorist-linked groups in Burkina Faso is on the rise. At least three separate incidents have been documented during the period between 29 January and 22 February of this year, with one of these incidents involving the abduction of 9 women near the northern village of Solle. Islamist militant groups abducted the women, threatened to rape and kill them, and proceeded to release them on the following day. Incidents of abductions such as this one form part of a pattern that has emerged in many other parts of the region, and which should be disturbed.
Burundi
69. I was disheartened to learn of the sexual assault and murder of a young woman, Renilde Niyonkuru, whose body was reportedly found in a cornfield on Burengo Hill in the Matongo commune of Butanyerera province, in Burundi, on 13 December 2025. Initial reports indicated that the perpetrators were likely to have been two men belonging to the Imbonerakure—the youth wing of Burundi’s ruling party. This is yet another indicator of an ever-increasing pattern of GBV that is gripping parts of the continent.
Central African Republic
70. I was deeply troubled to learn of the brutal torture of a woman (whose identity remains protected) at the hands of law enforcement at Ndélé police station, in the Bamingui-Bangoran prefecture, in December of 2025. The woman had been detained following a dispute between herself and a neighbor, and she was subsequently tortured by police officers after she refused the sexual advances of one of the investigators. She suffered severe injuries to her back and chest and required urgent medical attention. The police officers reportedly took no responsibility for her medical care, resulting in her family’s intervention to remove the woman from the police station. This blatant violation of the female detainee’s rights to dignity, personal security, and the right not to be subjected to torture is a reflection of the country’s struggles with the prevalence of GBV. and harmful patriarchal norms.
Nigeria
71. I was alarmed to learn that in March of this year, 7 members of a family, including a pregnant woman, a nursing mother, and her child, were abducted by suspected bandits in Sabon Gero community in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The bandits had allegedly demanded a ransom from the head of the household before the abduction, but such demands had not been met. This incident, unfortunately, reflects an existing pattern of abductions in Nigeria in which perpetrators use abduction either to foreground their goals or for financial gain. The prevalence of abductions in the country has disproportionately impacted women and girls, who have experienced sexual and GBV as a consequence. School-going girls have been particularly at risk of abductions, which usually occur while the girls are attending classes and exercising their right to education.
Uganda
72. I am disheartened to learn that cases of GBV against women and girls, as well as teenage pregnancies in Uganda, are rising at an alarming rate. Recent reports and studies indicate that 77% of girls in Uganda have been victims of sexual violence, and that Uganda has a 25% prevalence rate of teenage pregnancies. A 2025 study that considered the factors associated with teenage pregnancy among young girls in a district in eastern Uganda found that child marriage was among the contributing factors. Reports also indicate that the prevalence of GBV and teenage pregnancies is higher in rural areas, and so too are the cases of unreported incidents.
South Sudan
73. It is alarming that conflict in South Sudan is having devastating effects on access to basic needs such as water and sanitation for women and girls who have been displaced by the conflict. According to statistics released by the Norwegian Refugee Council, 20% of women in South Sudan have no access to toilets or latrines, and women and girls are placing themselves at risk of violence by having to travel long distances to fetch water. It is evident that the conflict in South Sudan, much like many other conflicts across the region, continues to disproportionately impact women and girls.
Democratic Republic of Congo
74. I am extremely concerned about the violence that is occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), especially within parts of the eastern region of the DRC. In the M23-occupied city of Uvira, for example, recent reports show an escalation of sexual violence against women and girls, with women and girls being targeted while undertaking tasks such as searching for food on their isolated farmlands. This alarming state of affairs is exacerbated by the absence of medical care and support for survivors of sexual violence.
PART FIVE: RECOMMENDATIONS
On the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
75. I urge the Member States to take this occasion not only to acknowledge and celebrate the progress achieved in operationalizing the provisions of the African Charter, but also soberly reflect on the challenges that persist. I urge Member States to reaffirm their commitment to the protection of the fundamental human rights enshrined in the African Charter by evaluating their compliance with obligations arising under the regional human rights instruments to which they are party, and identifying measures to address critical, existing gaps in implementation.
76. It is with particular reference to the protection of women and girls that I further urge remaining Member States to ratify the Maputo Protocol, as a means of giving effect to the provisions of the African Charter. To Member States that have already ratified the Maputo Protocol, I urge renewed efforts towards strengthening domestic institutions to improve implementation.
On gender-based and sexual violence in conflict
77. I urge all Member States to reaffirm and solidify their commitment towards eradicating all forms of VAWG, including conflict-related gender-based and sexual violence, by signing the AU-CEVAWG (if they have not already done so). Member States are to further recall and give full effect to their obligations under the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), by preventing, investigating, and prosecuting perpetrators of VAWG.
78. I further urge Member States to take action to combat impunity by strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, and to ensure that survivors receive the necessary care that they need. This includes ensuring the provision of necessary medical and trauma-informed support to survivors, effective mechanisms for reporting incidences of violence, and counselling services.
On technology-facilitated gender-based violence
79. I urge Member States to increase their efforts towards preventing and responding to TFGBV by undertaking public awareness and sensitization initiatives that emphasize the seriousness of such conduct, and that challenge harmful gender stereotypes that perpetuate the conduct. I further urge Member States to adopt and enforce domestic legislation that explicitly criminalizes all forms of TFGBV, while ensuring consistency with their obligations under the Maputo Protocol and the AU-CEVAWG (where applicable). I call on Member States to undertake capacity building with law enforcement to train them on how to employ survivor-centered approaches to their work, in order to foster an environment in which women and girls are able to report incidents without fear of being shamed. Finally, I urge Member States to undertake targeted campaigns aimed at eliminating stigma, victim-blaming and shaming, and social exclusion—so that we may encourage reporting and ensure access to justice.
On progress and setbacks in the realization of sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls
80. I urge Member States to ensure consistency between their domestic legal and policy frameworks and the Maputo Protocol, to ensure equal and unhindered access to SRHR. To do this, I urge Member States to reform restrictive abortion laws, in line with Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol, and to adopt legislation that guarantees the provision of safe abortion and post-abortion services. I urge Member States to prioritize the integration of SRHR, HIV, and GBV services within their healthcare systems, and to expand access to contraception—especially for women and girls in rural and underserved communities.
81. Finally, I urge Member States to address the structural and social barriers that prevent access to SRHR by undertaking community-based initiatives that will combat gender norms, stigma, and discrimination. Member States must also ensure that accurate, age-appropriate information about SRHR is made available to all women and girls.
On climate crises and gender inequality
82. I urge Member States to be proactive in their adoption of gender-responsive climate policies that address the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls. Member States are to improve knowledge-production in this regard by improving data collection in order to facilitate the making of informed decisions about policy responses. Member States are urged to ensure that women and girls have equitable access to resources necessary for their livelihoods, as well as the livelihoods of their families, which include access to land, credit, and technology. Member States are to integrate protection measures into their responses to climate crises, such as through improving infrastructure that provides access to water, energy, and sanitation, so that the risk of exposure to GBV for women and girls can be reduced.
83. Finally, I call on Member States to support the economic resilience of women through investing in climate-resilient agriculture, and ensuring that girls can remain in school notwithstanding climate crises.
On backlash and regression/rollback on Women’s Rights Protection
84. I recommend urgent action to counter the backlash against women's rights. Member States are urged to repeal laws that restrict civic space, criminalize technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and protect women human rights defenders from harassment and attack. I also urge development partners to reverse funding cuts to women's rights organizations through multi-year, flexible financing and recommend the establishment of a continental rapid response fund to provide emergency support to feminist groups and defenders under threat.
Government of Burkina Faso
85. I call on the Government of Burkina Faso to strengthen its responses to the security threats posed by terror and militant groups within the country. Responses are to include the effective identification of such groups, the strengthening of justice systems to ensure the swift apprehension and prosecution of such groups, and the implementation of measures to address the root causes of violent extremism. Further, I strongly urge the government to ensure that women and girls are especially protected from violence perpetrated by these groups, by implementing preventative measures, and ensuring the provision of health care services—including trauma counselling—to survivors of abduction and violent harassment.
Government of Burundi
86. I urge the Government of Burundi to ensure that the perpetrators of the sexual assault and murder of Renilde Niyonkuru are held accountable for their heinous criminal conduct. Further, I call on the government to take proactive steps towards preventing violent crimes, especially against women and girls, by strengthening the implementation of existing laws and policies on GBV, as well as implementing measures to ensure effective enforcement of the law and access to justice for victims of violent crime.
Government of CAR
87. I strongly urge the Government of CAR to ensure that the law enforcement officers responsible for the torture of the female detainee are apprehended and successfully prosecuted. It is of the utmost importance that the government also ensures greater oversight of law enforcement in the fulfilment of their duties, especially when law enforcement comes into contact with vulnerable groups such as women and young girls. It is equally important that the government proactively tackles the root causes of GBV, which include damaging patriarchal norms that continue to justify and sustain VAWG.
Government of Nigeria
88. I call on the Government of Nigeria to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators who carried out the abduction of the women and children. I urge the government to take serious notice of the prevalence of abductions in the country, and the extent to which such occurrences threaten the safety and security of the population as a whole, and of women and girls in particular. I further urge the government to improve the readiness of law enforcement to respond to threats of abductions and to actual abductions, especially within the regions in the country where individuals, including women and girls, are most vulnerable. Finally, I urge the government to equip law enforcement with the resources necessary to effectively investigate, apprehend, and bring to justice perpetrators of abductions.
Government of Uganda
89. I strongly urge the Government of Uganda to take proactive steps towards investigating all of the root causes of teenage pregnancy in Uganda. I urge the government to honor its commitments under the Maputo Protocol and to improve efforts towards eradicating forced and child marriages; and to improve its provision of accessible pregnancy preventative methods, devices, and medications, as well as enhance its provision of sexual health education among adolescents. I further urge the government to effectively implement existing laws and policies that aim to combat GBV, ensuring that such legal frameworks effectively address harmful norms and cultures that reinforce gender stereotypes and undermine the safety and inherent dignity of women and girls. Finally, I call on the government to ensure the existence of an environment in which women and girls feel empowered to report GBV, and to ensure equal access to justice for women and girls living in both urban and rural communities.
Government of South Sudan
90. I urge the Government of South Sudan, in effective coordination with humanitarian organisations, to prioritize the urgent expansion and protection of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in areas hosting internally displaced persons. This should include the installation of gender-segregated and well-lit sanitation facilities within displacement sites, and the deployment of mobile water distribution systems, to ensure that women and girls no longer need to embark on long and unsafe journeys to collect water.
91. I further urge the government to integrate protection measures into WASH service delivery, including through community-based safety monitoring mechanisms, and regular risk assessments conducted in consultation with women and girls.
Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo
92. I urge the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to take immediate and sustained action to strengthen protections for women and girls affected by the conflict, especially those residing in the eastern regions of the DRC. I call on the government to do this by enhancing civilian protection measures in agricultural and remote areas where women and girls are most vulnerable.
93. I further urge the government to ensure the expansion and effective functioning of essential services for survivors of sexual violence, including emergency medical care, psychological support, and referral pathways, especially in areas where health systems have been disrupted by the conflict. These efforts should be accompanied by strengthened accountability mechanisms that ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, to address impunity and to reinforce the government’s primary responsibility to protect civilians, especially women and girls.
PART SIX: CONCLUSION
94. As I draw this Intersession Report to a close, I do so with a profound sense of gratitude. The period under review has witnessed both remarkable strides and deeply troubling setbacks in the struggle for the rights of women and girls across our continent. None of the achievements documented in this Report would have been possible without the unwavering dedication, financial support, and strategic collaboration of our partners.
95. I wish to extend my deepest and most sincere appreciation to:
The African Union Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) for your collaboration and support of the mandate, and for your relentless coordination of continental gender agendas.
IPAS and Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, for your steadfast financial, material, and technical support to the mandate over the years;
Equality Now, for your steadfast partnership in convening the regional consultation on withdrawing reservations on some provisions of the Maputo Protocol, and for your tireless advocacy in holding States accountable to their legal obligations;
Baobab for Women's Human Rights, for your relentless mobilization of the Pan-African feminist movement and your commitment to ending sexual violence across the continent;
UN Women, at both headquarters and regional levels, for your continued strategic, technical, and financial support in advancing the AU-CEVAWG Roadmap, strengthening gender-responsive budgeting, and amplifying the voices of women in peace and security;
The Center for Reproductive Rights, for your partnership in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights through strategic litigation, legal reform, and high-level advocacy at CSW70 and beyond;
Lawyers Without Borders for your valued partnership in convening the Regional Dissemination and Advocacy Workshop on the AUCEVAWG, and for your continued advocacy and sustained engagement in promoting its ratification across the continent;
The African Renaissance Trust, for its partnership in the development of the Guidelines on the right to sanitation, with a specific focus on women and girls, as well as technical and financial support to the mechanism;
The EDVAW Platform, for your collaborative spirit and for creating a space where special mechanisms can coordinate, learn, and act together against discrimination and violence.
And finally, to the countless civil society organizations, women human rights defenders, grassroots activists, and survivors who risk their safety and their lives daily to demand justice—you are the conscience of this continent, and this Report is, above all, a testament to your courage.
96. As we look ahead to the next intersession period, the challenges before us remain formidable. I would be remiss if I did not address, with the utmost seriousness, the growing tide of pushback and anti-rights movements emerging across our continent. We are witnessing coordinated efforts by State and non-State actors alike to roll back hard-won gains on the rights of women and girls. I therefore call upon all stakeholders: States, civil society, partners, and the ACHPR itself, to remain resilient, united, and unwavering in the face of this pushback.
