Policy & Practice

A world of resources

Explore in-depth resources on women’s rights issues, including sexual violence, sexual exploitation, harmful practices, and legal discrimination from our expert network of lawyers and activists.

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Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on Agenda Item 5 of the 87th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR

As the African Commission adopts a new Advocacy Framework to strengthen implementation of the Maputo Protocol, a parallel effort to introduce a regressive Charter risks undermining decades of progress. Equality Now calls for decisive action to safeguard existing protections, ensure accountability from Member States, and work collaboratively with community leaders to advance a future where the rights of women and girls are fully realised.

Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on Agenda Item 5 of the 87th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR intervention on the activity report of the Special Rapporteur on refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and migrants in Africa

Equality Now’s shadow report calls for urgent reform of discriminatory nationality laws across Africa that deny women equal rights to confer citizenship to their children and spouses. These laws heighten the risk of statelessness, poverty, family separation, and violence, undermining the fundamental right to nationality.

Grounded in regional advocacy and human rights standards, the report urges African Union Member States to enshrine gender equality in nationality laws, centre affected communities in reform processes, and sign and ratify the AU Nationality Protocol without delay.

Guide to advocating for women’s rights using international human rights mechanisms

Our Guide To Advocating For Women’s Rights Using International Human Rights Mechanisms offers information on the available mechanisms and different methods of engagement at the international level

Explore by topic

From discrimination in the law to ending sexual violence and harmful practices, explore resources from our worldwide expert team.

Achieve legal equality

In every part of the world, women and girls are prevented from fully participating in society by discrimination in the law.

End child marriage

Child, early, and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU) affect millions of girls globally.

End female genital mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) affects at least 230 million women and girls globally.

End harmful practices

Harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and child marriage, deny millions of women and girls their fundamental rights.

End online sexual exploitation and abuse

The internet and digital technology have opened new possibilities for human progress and also new opportunities for harm.

End sexual exploitation

The sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls, in both physical and digital spaces, is on a disturbing upward trajectory.

End sexual violence

Sexual violence is a human rights violation that impacts millions of people around the world. The vast majority of victims are women and girls, while almost all perpetrators are men.

Family law

The laws that restrict women’s property, marriage and inheritance rights are among the least reformed areas of law globally.

Nationality law

Women in over 45 countries still cannot pass their nationality to children or spouses on equal terms with men.

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Global backlash against women’s and girls’ rights – Words and Deeds update, September 2025

Equality Now’s Words & Deeds 2025 update highlights rising global threats to women’s and girls’ rights, including regressive laws, misuse of multilateral systems, increased risks for defenders and disinformation, documenting legal and policy rollbacks that undermine gender equality.

Reforming rape laws in Arab States: A comparative analysis of legal frameworks across 22 LAS countries

A ground-breaking legal analysis of rape laws in 22 Arab States, calling for consent-based legal reforms and justice-centred accountability for survivors.

Words and Deeds: Holding governments accountable in the Beijing+30 review process

This is the sixth edition in our Words & Deeds series that exposes how governments have failed to repeal or amend sex-discriminatory laws and highlights the urgent reforms to achieve full legal equality for women and girls.

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