Women, peace and security: Implementing the Maputo Protocol in Africa

This research paper examines the implementation of the Maputo Protocol—the African Union's framework for women's rights—across Africa, with specific case studies on Malawi, South Sudan, Somalia, and Mozambique. It argues that while the protocol provides a critical legal foundation for gender equality and human security, its practical application is hindered by a lack of political will, the persistence of patriarchal customary laws, and systemic barriers to justice and political participation.

• The Maputo Protocol, adopted in 2003 and entering into force in 2005, serves as a foundational legal framework for women's rights in Africa, committing states to eliminate discrimination and protect women's dignity, life, and security.
• Implementation of the Maputo Protocol is described as slow and patchy, with many African countries failing to domesticate the protocol into national law, risking its status as a "paper tiger" that is irrelevant to women's lived experiences.
• Plural legal systems in Africa often obstruct gender equality because customary and religious laws, which are typically patriarchal and interpreted by men, frequently clash with constitutional equality clauses, particularly regarding private matters like marriage and inheritance.
• Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is endemic across the studied regions, often socially tolerated and perpetrated within domestic relationships. In Africa, 45.6% of women have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence, compared to 35% globally.
• Women face severe barriers to accessing justice, including poverty, illiteracy, fear of reprisals, and a lack of knowledge about protective laws. In Mozambique, it is estimated that only 10% of intimate partner violence cases are reported to the police.
• While political quotas have increased the number of women in parliament, they do not guarantee substantive equality in decision-making. There is a trend of "feminization of deputy positions," where women hold roles with limited power and control.
• Women are consistently excluded from formal peace processes, often relegated to informal roles. However, research indicates that including women as signatories or mediators increases the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least 15 years by 35%.
• Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) processes often fail to recognize female ex-combatants as a distinct group. In Mozambique, women formed only 1.48% of recognized combatants in 1992 and faced gender-insensitive reintegration packages.
• Somalia has the world's highest rate of female genital mutilation (FGM)/cutting at 98%, leading to significant health and reproductive problems.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). Women, peace and security: Implementing the Maputo Protocol in Africa. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper295.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Women, peace and security: Implementing the Maputo Protocol in Africa. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper295.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Women, peace and security: Implementing the Maputo Protocol in Africa |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper295.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndwomen, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Women, peace and security: Implementing the Maputo Protocol in Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper295.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }