Since February 9, 2009, the Democratic republic of Congo (DRC) has ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.

The Democratic republic of Congo is the 26th state in the continent to ratify the Protocol to the ACHPR on the rights of women, and the 2nd state in the central Africa region to take this significant step, following Rwanda who did it in 2004.

The campaign is very pleased with this progress. However, it is only a promise that still has to be put into effect. The participants in the « Africa for women's rights » campaign are now waiting for concrete actions, showing the will of Congolese authorities to respect their international commitments. Finally, the campaign calls upon DRC to ratify and respect the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which allows women whose rights are violated to seek redress before a committee of the United Nations.

What is the aim of the Protocol? This regional convention, adopted in Maputo (Mozambique) in 2003, under the aegis of the African Union, following the relentless struggle of African organizations for women's rights defense, came into effect in 2005. This document requires states to ensure women's fundamental rights. Some of the rights and obligations mentioned are particularly relevant in the African context, such as the prohibition of harmful traditional practices (genital mutilation, widowhood rites, wife inheritance, forced and early marriage) or the obligation to provide women with a specific protection in armed conflicts. This Protocol is a significant progress regarding reproductive rights. Five years after its adoption, 27 states still have not ratified it.

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