African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights published a Joint Press Statement on the Signing of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls by Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Liberia, and The Gambia
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), commends the Member States of the African Union (AU) for signing the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU Convention) on the margins of the AU 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting which took place in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from 10 to 13 July 2025. The Member States are Angola, Burundi, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia, and The Gambia.
The AU Convention was adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU during its 38th Ordinary Session in February 2025. This groundbreaking instrument represents the first pan-African legally binding framework exclusively focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls across the continent.
This historic step by these Member States in signing the AU Convention marks a pivotal moment in the continental effort to end violence against women and girls. As the first legal instrument dedicated solely to this cause across public and private spheres, the AU Convention represents a transformative framework for action.
