The responsivity of the mechanism of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa in combating violence against women

By using the mechanism of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA) as a matrix, this article assesses the responsivity of the mechanism of the SRRWA in combating violence against women (“VAW”). The article argues that the mechanism of the SRRWA has taken up the challenge of contributing, in a substantive manner, to norms development relating to VAW. It finds that although VAW is not an explicit thematic area in the mandate of the SRRWA, compared to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, in practice it features quite distinctly in the work of the mechanism. This is indicative of the modest focus, response and contribution of the mechanism to this intractable human rights issue.