27th September, MDFC Rwanda, with SRHR-Rwanda coalition members and government partners, celebrated the 21st anniversary of the Maputo Protocol, The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa and the most significant progress made in advancing the rights of women and girls across Africa.
Under the theme, “Celebrating 21 Years of Transformation and Recognition of Women’s Rights in Africa,” MDFC gathered with civil society, government, and key stakeholders to reflect on the remarkable strides made in advancing women’s rights across the continent. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Théophile Mbonera, spoke on Rwanda’s unwavering commitment to the principles of equality and non-discrimination, noting that these values are central to the nation’s progress in safeguarding women’s rights.
He remarked, “The Maputo Protocol has been instrumental in shaping Rwanda’s legal framework, serving as a powerful advocacy tool for the creation of laws and policies that protect the rights of women and girls.”
The Maputo Protocol, adopted in 2003, remains a groundbreaking legal framework promoting gender equality and justice. It enshrines the principles that we have long fought to uphold the rights of African women.
The 2024, celebration focused on reaffirming the collective commitment to ensuring women’s rights to live free from violence, access health, and education, and achieve economic empowerment. This milestone serves as both a reflection on achievements and a renewed commitment to continue the fight for equality and justice for women and girls in Rwanda and beyond.