The African Union is an international organization consisting of member states in the African continent. The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which protects human rights and basic freedoms in the African continent, entered into force on 21 October 1986.
The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa was adopted in July 2003 and entered into force in November 2005. The Protocol requires state parties to take measures to eliminate discrimination against women and guarantees rights to women, such as the right to dignity, access to justice, and right to education.
Additional OAU/AU treaties can be found here: African Union - OAU/AU Treaties, Conventions, Protocols & Charters.
The African Commission may create special mechanisms, such as special rapporteurs, committees, and working groups and determines their mandate. The African Commission established the Special Rapporteur on Rights of Women in Africa. Mission reports, intersession activity reports, adopted resolutions, news, and press releases are all available on its website.
Scholarly commentaries provide article-by-article analysis of a convention, including citations to relevant cases, travaux préparatoires (preparatory works), and other documents.
The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights by
"This volume provides a comprehensive article-by-article legal analysis of the provisions of the Charter as it draws upon the documents adopted by the African Commission, including resolutions, case law, and concluding observations." - Publisher
Use the following resources to find and retrieve materials from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. Coverage dates and search functions vary, so you will need to use a combination of these resources to ensure that your research is comprehensive.
The Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD) is responsible for leading efforts by the African Union to achieve gender equality and promote women's empowerment. The WGDD also ensures that African countries live up to the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (2004). The WGDD website provides access to documents, factsheets, speeches, and other materials.