Following the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa by the AU Summit in Maputo, July 11 2003, 29 countries have signed the Protocol. However, 15 countries need to ratify it for it to come into force. The Comoros became the first country to ratify the Protocol on 18/03/2004 and deposited its instrument of ratification with the AU Commission on 16/04/2004. Femnet (http://www.femnet.or.ke) urges women's organisations at national level in lobbying your governments through the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Gender to sign and ratify the Protocol in order to safeguard, protect and promote women's rights in Africa. For more details on the Protocol visit the AU website at www.africa-union.org.