Abstract

BANDA, Fareda. Building on a global movement: Violence against women in the African context. Afr. hum. rights law j. [online]. 2008, vol.8, n.1, pp.1-22. ISSN 1996-2096.

This article celebrates the gains that have been made by women in the field of human rights as they pertain to issues of violence. It provides an overview of international and regional initiatives illustrated with reference to case law. The focus of the article is on provisions in the African Protocol on Women's Rights tackling violence. While acknowledging that normative recognition of rights is not by itself the panacea for the pervasive discrimination that affects women, the article argues that the almost universal recognition of violence against women as constituting a violation of their fundamental rights is cause for celebration, not least because it provides the framework for dealing with the problem and provides states with concrete goals.

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