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5.11. Regional Economic Communities 6. SETTING THE CONTEXT/BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................................ 26
5.11. Regional Economic Communities
■ Develop and adopt women’s rights and gender equality frameworks and/or strengthen the implementation of existing such frameworks. These should be in line with continental and international gender commitments. ■ Strengthen institutional capacities and resources in the implementation of gender commitments. RECs should establish or strengthen regional courts to advance women’s rights and gender equality. ■ Adopt gender-responsive budgets and implement mechanisms to ensure consistent contributions of Member States. ■ Develop mechanisms to monitor accountability and implementation of women’s rights and gender equality frameworks and commitments. ■ Implement or strengthen opportunities and consultative frameworks to enable CSOs, particularly women’s rights organisations and advocates, to engage and participate in developing gender policies, programmes and projects and monitoring State compliance.
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6. SETTING THE CONTEXT/ BACKGROUND
The year 2020 held many important milestones for women’s rights and gender equality. It marked the 10th and final year of the AWD 2020–2020, on “Grassroots Approach to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment,” as well as the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 and the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Furthermore, 17 years ago, the AU Member States adopted the progressive Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (known as the Maputo Protocol) on women’s rights and gender equality, and set 2020 as the deadline for ratification. As of November 2020, 42 countries out of 55 had ratified the Protocol (10 have not ratified and 3 have neither signed nor ratified). 2020 was also the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to, among other things, ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (SDG 3) and achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls (SDG 5).
With the adoption of the AWD, AU Member States showed a renewed commitment to advancing women’s rights and gender equality through the accelerated implementation of gender frameworks. Member States have sought to achieve the AWD objectives through a top-down and bottom-up approach that has placed a specific emphasis on grassroots participation. Over the Decade, African governments progressed and made laudable achievements on the 10 AWD themes. More women are members of parliament and hold ministerial positions, and some countries have achieved parity. Notably, four African countries (Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa) rank among the top 10 countries with the highest representation of women in national parliaments globally. Several countries have achieved parity in secondary and tertiary education. The overall education rate of girls and young women has increased, and more women have received a degree in science and technology. African governments have adopted constitutional provisions on gender equality and non-discrimination and implemented laws, policies and strategies that aim to strengthen women’s rights and empowerment and open up opportunities for women and girls. At the national, regional and continental levels, African governments have implemented campaigns that highlight gender commitments, for example reduction of maternal mortality, and sought to accelerate action to address them.
Women’s rights activists, organisations and grassroots movements played an essential role in advancing women’s rights and empowerment throughout the Decade. Their dedication and commitment have contributed to the adoption of laws, policies and strategies on women’s rights and gender equality. CSO shadow reports have helped hold governments accountable. During the Decade, there was also a noticeable increase in the incidence of youth movements joining and contributing to advancing women’s rights and gender equality, advancing the perspective of the younger generation by voicing their needs and opinions. There has also been a strong movement to include marginalised groups.
Despite the progress made on advancing the AWD objectives over the Decade, challenges and barriers remain that prevent African women and girls from fully enjoying their rights. Implementation and domestication of women’s rights frameworks vary. Conflicting legal systems prevent the effective and full implementation of gender equality and women’s rights laws, allowing discriminatory and harmful practices to continue. African women have unequal access to resources such as land and capital, despite making up a majority of employees in the agriculture sector. Women working in the informal sector lack social protection and rely on uncertain incomes. Moreover, women hold the primary responsibility for unpaid care work. Although women make up half of the population, in more than half of African countries many are unable to participate in the decisions that directly affect them. Women have been excluded from or given limited or token representation in peace-building and conflict prevention mechanisms, resulting in outcomes that have weak or non-existent commitments to women’s rights and gender equality. Women also are excluded from fully participating in governance. More women live in poverty; more girls than boys drop out of school; and women are more likely to face uncertain employment and lack access to financial resources. They also face social and cultural constraints and experience violence and discrimination.
Meanwhile, improvements on women’s rights exist in an unstable environment that threatens to halt or reverse progress made at the national, regional, continental and international levels. Unrest, conflict and wars aggravate the situation for women and girls and reduce the resources and space available for women’s rights activists and organisations, which often face restrictions, threats, violence and intimidation. While the Decade saw spaces open for women and girls’ participation, the reverse is also true, with a rise of conservative, sometimes ultra-conservative, and fundamentalist views.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments have imposed restrictions, shifted their priorities and reallocated resources. The pandemic is augmenting the challenges that remain and deepening existing gender inequalities as women are disproportionately affected. Violations of women’s human rights are increasing. Incidence of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and child marriage is on the rise. Women working in the informal sector are without income and protection. Women who experience violence have no system to provide them with support and protection. As governments impose lockdowns and curfews, girls and young women are prevented from going to school, and in some cases face increasing child marriage. Meanwhile, the changing context is significantly reducing the funding available for CSOs as well as the space within which women’s rights groups can operate. The current environment risks reversing much of the progress made in advancing women and girls’ rights in Africa.
Achieving women’s rights and gender equality is fundamental to fulfilling human rights for all. Implementing women’s empowerment and rights is critical for women and girls to achieve their full potential. The end of the AWD 2010–2020 also signals the beginning of the next Decade, 2020–2030, under the theme of “Financial and Economic Inclusion of African Women.” This is an opportune moment to review the progress made in Africa and the challenges and barriers remaining. Such a review allows for the AU and its Member States to build on the gains made, address the challenges and take action to implement women’s rights commitments fully and achieve the goals set forth.
7. ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA
Ever since the first COVID-19 case in Africa was recorded in Egypt on Valentine’s Day of 2020,1 every country on the continent has recorded cases, with Lesotho the last country to report a case.2 While the virus itself does not discriminate based on gender, the indirect safety, health and economic consequences of the pandemic may affect women disproportionately, particularly where gender inequalities already exist.
In late October 2020, the most affected region of the continent was Southern Africa, with almost 780,000 cases and 20,000 deaths. This was followed by North Africa, with 442,300 cases and 12,700 deaths. The least affected region, with 59,500 cases and 1,100 deaths, was Central Africa. East and West Africa counted 196,700 cases/3,700 deaths and 185,700 cases/2,700 deaths, respectively. South Africa counted over four times as many cases as Morocco, the second worst-hit country (over 706,000 cases and 179,000 cases) and three times as many deaths (18,700 versus 6,100 deaths). Nigeria had the most cases of any West African country (59,500 cases). Egypt had under 104,000 cases but the second-highest death toll (6,000 deaths). In East Africa, Ethiopia counted the most cases, at about 79,400. Cameroon counted the most in Central Africa (almost 21,000).3
