Source: Coastweek
As the gap between promise and delivery of continental and international treaties grows larger, African women and girls are growing cynical by the day.
The entry into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women on Nov. 25, 2010 provided an opportunity to enact legislative frameworks across the continent that build and extend the freedoms of women.

Though African governments have expressed commitment towards gender equality, women's empowerment and women's rights, many counties stand accused of dragging their feet or their unwillingness to move to the implementation stage.

This is the picture that emerged this week during a workshop organized in Nairobi to train trainers on the multi-sectoral framework that aims to develop a core team of resource persons and staff that can offer technical support to African governments in the development of strategies for the implementation of the Protocol on the elimination of discrimination against women.

A team of resource persons identified a multi-sectoral approach to delivering on women's rights as a commitment that reflects the reality that women's rights cut across all sectors and development priorities in national development strategies.

Jean Flora Gayatesu from the AU Directorate of Women Gender said though a total of 32 African countries have already ratified the Protocol, the implementation stage has proved easier said than done.

"The elimination of discrimination against women and securing women's rights require involvement of gender responsive actions by different stakeholders including governments, civil society organizations and individuals in communities and households. It is therefore necessary to integrate women's rights into all sectors of government and development to put an end to violations and lost opportunities as a result of weak implementation strategies," Gayatesu said on Thursday in Nairobi .

"As the gap between promise and delivery of continental and international treaties grows larger, African women and girls are growing cynical by the day." She said if this is to be reversed, both governments and civil societies need to act now to stem the neglect of women's rights.

According to Gayatesu, the adoption and use of such multi- sectoral approach will represent significant progress in ensuring women's full enjoyment of their human rights.

Kodwa Tyiso, a training and development manager with the South African-based People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) South Africa though many national constitutions guarantee equality of rights among all citizens, the same is not reflected on the ground.

"In South Africa , national machineries have been established at different levels to provide leadership within government on issues of women's rights and empowerment. However, it remains just that, on paper."

Josephat Ireri, an officer at Kenya 's Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development said though the implementation of the Protocol could be slow, many African governments have taken bold steps towards delivering on the commitments of towards gender equality and women's empowerment and rights.

He said Kenya has legislated on specific issues on women's rights and empowerment and cites the inheritance and property rights, marriage and divorce, and the criminalization of certain forms of violence against women as having been enacted in the Kenyan Constitution.

"Affirmative action in the public service is also firmly rooted in the Constitution and all government institutions are required by law to observe the 30 percent gender target when filling positions."

Ireri said CEOs in all institutions in Kenya will be held personally and institutionally accountable in implementing affirmative action in their respective establishments.

He clarified that gender equality is not about people being at par but about having equal opportunities.

• Kenya