African feminists urge scrutiny of AU convention on violence against women

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

African feminist groups, women’s rights organisations, survivors, legal advocates and civil society movements have called on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to subject the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG) to further scrutiny before recommending it for ratification by African Union member states.

The coalition said it plans to protest outside the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, on Saturday, warning that gains made in advancing women’s rights are increasingly under threat across Africa and globally.

In a statement issued this week, the groups said organised anti-rights movements were challenging established human rights standards, weakening gender equality protections and restricting the rights of women and girls.

“The threat is no longer only the failure to implement good laws. Increasingly, the threat comes from the use of law itself as a tool of regression,” the coalition said.

It argued that any new legal instrument