Egypt Should Immediately Ratify African Women's Rights Treaty

Upon his return from his first African tour, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today urged Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit to ensure Egypt's immediate accession to the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa.

The Assembly of the African Union had in July 2003 opened for ratification the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. More than one year later, the Egyptian government has not yet moved to sign or ratify the treaty, which has been signed by 30 African States and ratified by three out of 15 ratifications needed for the treaty's entry into force.

"There is no excuse for Egypt's delay in joining this important treaty, especially in light of the government's official discourse on respect for women's rights," said Hossam Bahgat, Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.

The Protocol is the first regional treaty on the rights of African women and one of the most progressive treaties on the subject. It combines civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights of women, in addition to their rights to peace, sustainable development, healthy environment, and their rights during armed conflicts.

States parties have a legal obligation under the Protocol to take measures to eradicate violence and harmful practices against women and girls and to promote their rights to dignity, equality, health, adequate housing, political participation and social and economic welfare. The Protocol also grants legal protection for women's reproductive rights, which have been fought for and agreed upon in international documents such as the 1994 Cairo Program of Action and the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action. Special attention is given to vulnerable women such as widows, elderly women, women with disabilities, women heads of families and women in detention.

"Abstaining from joining this treaty sends the wrong message to Egyptian and African women about the government's position on the rights it contains. The new Foreign Minister has repeatedly emphasized Africa's prominence on his list of priorities and these words should now be translated into action."

The EIPR also called on members of the National Council for Women to issue a recommendation for the government on joining the Protocol and to raise the subject with the Foreign Ministry and request and explanation for Egypt's delay in joining the treaty that is obviously consistent with the priorities and programs of the Council, which is headed by the country's First Lady.

Egypt ratified the African Charter on Human and People's Rights in 1984 and has been a party to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women since 1981.