Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa Janet Ramatoulie has called on all African countries to adopt and ratify the Maputo Protocol.
She spoke on Monday during celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the treaty on the rights of women in Africa which were held at the Movenpick hotel in Nairobi.
Ramatoulie noted that 44 member states of the African Union have already ratified the Maputo Protocol.
"While the fact that 44 member states of the AU have ratified the Maputo Protocol is commendable and encouraging, a more perfect number would be all 55 states of the African Union," she said.
She added that all women in Africa deserve the protection that the Maputo Protocol provides for them.
Ramatoulie said adopting and ratifying the Maputo Protocol will improve justice systems for the countries that do so.
"The need to ratify the protocol is seen when we consider the persistent gender inequality that exists in many African nations," she said.
Ramatoulie urged African states to look at the benefits they could reap from ratifying the protocol.
The Maputo Protocol refers to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women.
It was adopted by several African countries in the Mozambique capital, Maputo and came in force two years later.
To date, almost 50 countries in Africa have signed the treaty while at least 40 of them, including Kenya, have ratified it.
The Protocol is the most important international treaty that addresses virtually all critical aspects that impact the welfare of women in Africa.
These include equality and non-discrimination, protection against violence, rights pertaining to marriage, health and reproductive rights, economic, social and cultural rights among others.
The Protocol obligates member-states not only to sign it, but to also domesticate and implement required legislations to actualise the rights and protection of women.
