The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), through the Country Rapporteur for the Republic of Ghana and Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, commends the Republic of Ghana for its ratification of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG), following parliamentary approval by Resolution on 30 July 2026.
The Commission applauds Ghana’s leadership in taking this bold and exemplary measure, which reflects an unequivocal commitment to addressing the structural and deeply rooted patterns of violence and discrimination that women and girls continue to endure across the continent.
This historic step makes Ghana the second African Union Member State to ratify the AUCEVAWG, following The Gambia. As the first continental legal instrument dedicated exclusively to ending violence against women and girls in both public and private spheres, the AUCEVAWG represents a landmark in the protection of women’s rights.
The Commission further considers this ratification a significant milestone in the advancement of women’s rights in Africa and a signal of political will towards building a continent where the dignity, safety, and rights of all women and girls are fully protected, respected, and fulfilled.
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The Commission therefore encourages the Government of Ghana to proceed without delay to deposit the instruments of ratification with the African Union Commission and take the necessary legislative and institutional measures to ensure the Convention’s effective implementation.
And also urges Ghana use its leadership role to advocate for wider ratification across the continent, share its experiences and best practices, and inspire other Member States to follow suit, particularly in accelerating the attainment of the fifteen (15) ratifications required for the Convention’s entry into force.
The Commission reaffirms its readiness to support Ghana and other Member States in the ratification and implementation processes and reiterates the Commission’s commitment to advancing the rights and dignity of women and girls across the continent. By becoming the second State to ratify the AUCEVAWG, Ghana has positioned itself as one of the champions of this landmark instrument.
The Commission is a steadfast partner to all States in the journey towards eliminating gender‑based violence across the continent, and is ready to provide technical guidance, facilitate constructive dialogue, and promote best practices to ensure that commitments made at the continental level are translated into transformative change in the daily lives of women and girls.
The Commission further calls upon all Member States of the African Union to follow this example and demonstrate a shared commitment to ending violence against women and girls by signing, ratifying, and implementing the AUCEVAWG in line with their human rights obligations, including under the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.
