Edited by Roselynn Musa, Faiza Mohamed, Firoze Manji, this book is the fruits of the labours of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR), a coalition of more than 20 gender, human rights and development NGOs in Africa, including the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, FEMNET, Association des Juristes Maliennes, Equality Now, Fahamu, Fundação para o desenvolvimento da Comunidade (an organisation founded by Graça Machel in Mozambique), Oxfam GB and Women in Law and Development in Africa. The book is published with the full endorsement and support of the African Union Women, Gender and Development Directorate.

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on Women's Rights grew out of a recognition that the African Union's Charter does not adequately address issues that affect women. It is arguably one of Africa's most ground-breaking and progressive rights instruments for gender equality, providing a comprehensive legal framework covering a broad range of women's social and economic rights, such as the reproductive right to abortion, and the legal prohibition of genital mutilation.

The papers in this book are the product of a conference jointly convened by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights and the Solidarity for African Women's Rights coalition that was held in Addis Ababa in September 2005. The primary aim of the conference was to shift the focus from the ratification of the Protocol to ensuring the meaningful implementation of its provisions. Some examples of topics covered are: the campaign for ratification, a report of the Addis Ababa meeting, SADC and the Protocol, NEPAD and women's rights, HIV/AIDS: a challenge to implementation; and challenge of harmonising the Protocol with national laws.

1904855660 172pp. 2006 Solidarity for African Women's Rights coalition £14.95 ISBN-13: 978-1-904855-66-8. The French edition will be published shortly.