Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights: A Living Document for Women’s Human Rights in Africa

 We commemorated the 21st Anniversary of the #MaputoProtocol!

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) remains one of the most progressive legal instruments providing a comprehensive set of human rights for African women. Unlike any other women’s human rights instrument, it details wide-ranging and substantive human rights for women covering the entire spectrum of civil and political, economic, social and cultural as well as environmental rights. It would not be incorrect to name it the African Bill of Rights of Women’s Human Rights.

In line with the 2024 AU theme of the year, we celebrate Article 12 which guarantees women and girls rights to education and training.

Celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the Maputo Protocol: Linking Our Africa Educates Her Campaign

Hello, my name is Teresa, I am 13 years old, I stopped studying when I was in seventh grade in 2018 due to financial problems. All these kids who are here with me don't study either.

However, I would like to recite a poem about Covid-19:

There are diseases that are worse than diseases

There are diseases that are more than disease

That make things more urgent and more difficult

I fear coronavirus and zeal for my life

Our faith is the vaccine

The pandemic that now dominates the world haunts me

I didn't want this plague

Protect yourself and protect us

There is no evil that lasts forever

Have resilience because everything passes!

After reciting the poem, Teresa decided to leave an appeal to all sponsors and investors:

Coronavirus is one of the reasons that these children do not study. I hope that a sponsor will appear to finance the school for all the girls.

After all we had a basic class in which the children learned to speak English.

The class was so fruitful that at the end of the program, the children shouted in chorus "We want to study, we want to study"!

"We want to study, we want to study"!

"We want to study, we want to study"!

Celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the Maputo Protocol: Linking Our Africa Educates Her Campaign

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, known as the Maputo Protocol, is a landmark treaty that champions the rights of women and girls across the continent. In line with the 2024 AU theme of the year, we celebrate Article 12 of the Maputo Protocol, which guarantees women and girls the right to education and training.

Africa Educates Her Campaign: Ensuring Quality and Safe Education for All Girls

Our Africa Educates Her Campaign aligns perfectly with the values enshrined in the Maputo Protocol. The main goal of the campaign is to ensure all girls have access to quality and safe education by dismantling barriers imposed by Covid-19, poverty, teenage pregnancy, and child marriage. By addressing these challenges, we aim to create an environment where every girl can thrive and succeed.

Reintegration and Advocacy

The campaign works tirelessly to integrate girls who have dropped out of school back into the education system. We advocate at the international, regional, and national levels, putting pressure on governments and the international community to uphold the right to free, quality, public education for everyone.

Partnering with Communities

In addition to our advocacy efforts, we also seek to partner with communities in support of girls’ education. By working together, we can create sustainable solutions that empower girls and ensure their right to education is protected and fulfilled.

Join Us

Join us in celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the Maputo Protocol and support the Africa Educates Her Campaign. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of girls across Africa, ensuring they receive the education they deserve.

Click here to enjoy the successful completion of Africa Educates Her Campaign with Sofonie Dala - Season 3

Our everyday motto is "If a poor girl cannot come to the education, then education must go to her.''

https://she-leads.blogspot.com/2023/10/happy-world-teachers-day.html

Environmental News || Huambo Province Hosts First Environmental Education Forum

Huambo Province Hosts First Environmental Education Forum

The city of Huambo hosted the First Environmental Education Forum this Wednesday, a two-day event bringing together prominent figures from Angola’s environmental sector. This event serves as a platform for reflection, debate, and cooperation, with the presence of various authorities, most notably the Provincial Governor, Lotti Nolika, who welcomed the Secretary of State for the Environment, Iury Santos, representing the Minister, Ana Paula de Carvalho Pereira.

In her welcoming address, Governor Lotti Nolika emphasized the importance of environmental education for the sustainable development of the region. Secretary of State for the Environment, Iury Santos, delivered the opening speech, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of environmental education in Angola. He stressed the importance and urgency of bringing environmental education closer to the people:

"We aim for increasingly present environmental education in schools, with teacher training, the inclusion of environmental themes in curricula, the training of environmental educators, and the dissemination of these issues in the media. To achieve this, we will promote provincial environmental education programs and the establishment of environmental education centers," said Santos.

The opening panel was presented by the Provincial Director of the Environment for Huambo, José Figueiredo, who discussed the "General State of the Environment in Huambo: Challenges of Environmental Education."

Other topics discussed included "Environmental Education in Angola: Challenges and Opportunities" and "Environmental Education in Schools: Cooperation and New Perspectives in the Lusophone Context," the latter presented online. There was also an online presentation by Joaquim Pinto, President of ASPEA and General Coordinator of REDELUSO, on the "Guidelines of National Environmental Education Strategies of CPLP Member States Post-Lubango Declaration."

The forum was marked by a rich exchange of ideas and experiences among national and international participants (some attending in a hybrid format). In addition to provincial and national environmental sector officials, members of civil society and the Kings of Huambo and Ovassambo also attended the event.