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MEMORANDUM ON THE RATIFICATION OF THE AFRICAN UNION CONVENTION ON ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS (AU-CEVAWG) – KENYA
The purpose of this Memorandum is to comply with the legal requirement that mandates the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services – State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action to include the views of the public on the ratification of a treaty where the government intends to ratify a treaty. This requirement is in accordance with the provisions of Article 2(2) and 10(1) & (2) of the Constitution of Kenya as read with Section 7(m) of the Treaty-Making and Ratification Act Cap 4D Laws of Kenya.
Comparative Analysis Report: Maputo Protocol versus African Union Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls
Gender-based violence in the African Union (AU) is rooted in deep structural inequalities – patriarchy, economic insecurity, ethnic strife – and weak legal redressal systems. The AU Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls (CEVAWG, 2025) is the most recent legal framework adopted by the member countries to implement their commitment to preventing, addressing, and eliminating violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Africa.
Comparative Analysis Report: Maputo Protocol versus African Union Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls – Translation Available Here
Gender-based violence in the African Union (AU) is rooted in deep structural inequalities – patriarchy, economic insecurity, ethnic strife – and weak legal redressal systems. The AU Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls (CEVAWG, 2025) is the most recent legal framework adopted by the member countries to implement their commitment to preventing, addressing, and eliminating violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Africa.
Open letter to UN WOMEN on AUCEVAWG
On the final day of the 2026 Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), ISLA has issued an open letter to UN Women raising serious concerns about the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG).
CEVAWG: A Missed Opportunity for South Africa to Lead Meaningfully on Ending Gender-Based Violence
In February 2025, the African Union (AU) Assembly adopted the Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG or ‘the Convention’). The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA), in partnership with Fòs Feminista and Akina Mama wa Afrika, undertook a comprehensive legal analysis of the Convention due to concerns about its alignment with international human rights law standards and treaty-making practice.
Legal Analysis of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
In February 2025, the African Union (AU) Assembly adopted the Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG or ‘the Convention’). The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA), in partnership with Fòs Feminista and Akina Mama wa Afrika, undertook a comprehensive legal analysis of the Convention due to concerns about its alignment with international human rights law standards and treaty-making practice.
CEVAWG Love Letter
As the year draws to a close, we come together to support the #PauseforPurpose campaign. December 10th is International Human Rights Day, which also marks the end of the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women. We, however, understand that this violence does not take a break. The reality is that it often intensifies during this period.
Briefing Paper – Form Over Substance
The paper analyzes the potential of the recently adopted African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Our conclusion is that the Convention falls short in crucial areas.
Unpacking AUCEVAWG Toolit
Adopted in February 2025 at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of
State and Government, the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against
Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG) is the first continental treaty dedicated to addressing
all forms of violence against women and girls.
Objection! The AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, and the Question of Participatory Legitimacy
In February 2025, the African Union (AU) adopted the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG), hailed in some corners as a historic legal instrument addressing gender-based violence across the continent. And yet, for many African feminists, the moment was shocking and bittersweet. The adoption marked the culmination of a drafting process that, by most accounts, was characterised by exclusion and opacity, particularly of the very feminist movements whose decades of advocacy laid the groundwork for such a treaty. This article proffers that the lack of meaningful participation by a cross-section of civil society actors undermines the convention’s political and normative legitimacy, even if its legal validity remains intact.
Podcasts
A Step Forward – But Not Far Enough: AU’s Convention on Ending Violence Under Scrutiny
19 September, 12 pm SAST
Point of View with Phemelo Motene delves into the day’s current affairs, touches on real issues that affect people’s daily lives and shares expert advice on questions posed by the audience. During this segment, Phemelo is joined by ISLA Panel of Expert member – Dr Ruth Nekura – where they discuss the scrutiny surrounding the AUCEVAWG.
Videos
ISLA Conversations -The AU CEVAWG has an Implementation Gap (Article 14)
In February 2024, the African Union adopted a Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG). This should be a moment of celebration and an opportunity to amplify campaigns for ratification. However, we have identified an implementation gap in the Convention. It would be irresponsible to celebrate new human rights standards without clarity on how rights-holders can hold states accountable for failing to prevent and protect women and girls from violence. During this conversation, we explain why Article 14 undermines the struggle to end violence against women and girls.
Briefing Session on AU CEVAWG
The Public Reading of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls
The adoption of a human rights treaty is often a historic moment and an important step in advancing the rights the treaty aims to address. It serves primarily as a legal instrument that establishes standards and creates obligations for states. While the CEVAWG has been celebrated as a progressive step in advancing the rights of women and girls, we have also noted significant gaps in its substance that may impede its ability to achieve its objectives.
The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa, Fòs Feminista, and Akina Mama wa Afrika jointly organised a strategy consultation designed for a comprehensive analysis of the Convention. Over the course of three days, feminist legal scholars, practitioners, and activists examined the Convention in detail, reviewing it line by line and article by article to evaluate its progress and identify any gaps. The intended outcomes of this consultation were to generate recommendations and strategise ways to engage with the CEVAWG.