Deadline: 20 November 2010
November 25th is the 5th Anniversary of the entry into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. Equality Now's Africa Regional Office would like to assist Fahamu in coordinating the publication of a special issue of Pambazuka News to commemorate this event. The editors are interested in getting a range of articles or commentaries. Deadline for submissions: November 20, 2010.
The articles should be on the following topics as well as other appropriate ones:
* Given the existence of other international instruments that address human rights and women rights, is the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa significant? Why?
* Women's rights activists often assert that the Protocol is an African instrument that takes into account African sociological realities. How might we think through some of the contentious provisions (i.e. harmful practices, sexual and reproductive rights, inheritance rights…) and what the contention might tell us about human rights in Africa?
* Five years after the Protocol's entry into force, only 29 (Kenya being the most recent) out of the 53 countries in the African Union have ratified it. Why is there such a slow pace? How might civil society contribute to the Protocol's universal ratification and implementation?
Submissions should be a maximum of 3000 words and are due by 20 November 2010. Please contact Brenda Kombo (bkombo@equalitynow.org) for further information.