Twenty Years of Triumph, Trial and Tribulation: Reflections on the Mechanism of the African Commission’s Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa

On the occasion of its 25th Ordinary Session held in Bujumbura, Burundi, from 26 April to 5 May 1999, the African Commission adopted resolution ACHPR/res.38 (XXV) 99 on the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA), retrospectively with the appointment taking effect from 31 October 1998. This means that the mechanism of the SRRWA is roughly making twenty years since its initial inception. Coming of age and time, the twenty years of existence of the mechanism of the SRRWA makes it not only one of the oldest (and perhaps most successful) mechanisms of the African Commission; but one that has been the subject of tremendous triumph, trial and tribulation. Over the past two decades, the mechanism has been a product of both progression and regression. By and large the mechanism of the SRRWA has played an appreciable role in the advancement of women’s rights on the African continent. This article aims at taking stock of the achievements and failures of the 20 years of the work of the SRRWA. Although taking pride in the achievements of the mechanism, this article argues for incremental reforms within the mechanism, including the refining of the terms of reference of the mandate; the need for closer cooperation with global and regional systems mechanisms, women at grassroots including women’s rights movements, and mutual support from civil society organisations.