Women’s rights in Africa By; Dr Mahmoud Dugdug

12:26 PM May, 31 2024

Sudanese Online
محمود ابكر دقدق-الدوحه
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Legal Consultant and Human Hights Defender
Human rights norms and standards are generally not respected in Africa, but if we look at the African women’s rights, the situation is even worse, and the challenges are bigger. That means the road to gender equality in Africa is still a long way to go, the level of gender discrimination is the highest. In a March 2023 study, the Organization of European Economic Cooperation (OECD) gave 180 countries a score of 0 to 100 based on four areas – family, access to resources, physical integrity and freedoms civilians - in order to assess their level of discrimination. Africa, with a score of 41, presents a level of discrimination higher than the world average. As a general rule, married women are always subject to the guardianship of their husband, elevated to the rank of head of the family by the codes and laws governing personal relationships. However, most of the new African texts enshrine the woman's capacity to exercise a profession separate from that of her husband, to carry out legal acts, but that is still not enough. The fact remains that these rights are limited, here and there, by certain ambiguous clauses and formulations. Most African legislators have in fact opted for a "soft" restriction of the wife's freedom: the woman can work without authorization from her husband, but he can oppose it if the interests of the family are threatened. Despite the entry into force of new legal instruments, women are often subject to the arbitration of custom. In certain key areas such as inheritance, customary laws still dominate.
That being said one can say that the rights of women in Africa are a complex and multifaceted issue. While there have been significant advancements, many challenges persist. Some of the key issues include:
1. _Gender-based violence_: Domestic violence, sexual assault, and female genital mutilation (FGM) are prevalent in many African countries.
2. _Discrimination_: Women face discrimination in education, employment, and political representation, perpetuating gender inequality.
3. _Reproductive rights_: Access to safe abortion, contraception, and maternal healthcare is often restricted or inadequate.
4. _Early marriage and child marriage_: Many girls are forced into early marriage, denying them education and autonomy.
5. _Inheritance and property rights_: Women often face barriers in inheriting property and accessing land rights.
6. _Political underrepresentation_: Women are underrepresented in political leadership positions, limiting their ability to shape policies and decisions.
7. _Economic empowerment_: Women face challenges in accessing credit, loans, and economic opportunities, perpetuating poverty.
8. _Social and cultural norms_: Harmful traditional practices and gender stereotypes continue to limit women's rights and opportunities.
9. _Conflict and displacement_: Women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
10. _Lack of access to justice_: Women often face barriers in seeking justice and accountability for human rights violations.

Efforts to address these challenges include:
1. _Legal reforms_: Strengthening laws and policies protecting women's rights.
2. _Education and awareness_: Promoting gender equality and challenging harmful social norms.
3. _Economic empowerment programs_: Supporting women's economic autonomy and entrepreneurship.
4. _Political representation initiatives_: Encouraging women's participation in politics and leadership.
5. _Human rights activism_: Advocating for women's rights and accountability for violations.
Progress has been made, but continued efforts are needed to address the persistent gender inequality and human rights challenges faced by women in Africa.

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