Ver. 3.2
December 2025
Table of Contents
| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | 4 |
|---|---|
| LIST OF ACRONYMS | 10 |
| CHAPTER ONE | 12 |
| INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY | 12 |
| 1.1. Background and Rationale of the Analytical Study | 12 |
| 1.2. Research Questions | 14 |
| 1.3. Definition of terms | 15 |
| 1.4. Scope of the study | 16 |
| 1.5. Analytical framework | 16 |
| 1.6. Methodology and approach | 20 |
| 1.7. Data analysis | 28 |
| 1.8. Limitations | 29 |
| 1.9. Roadmap | 30 |
| Part I: The Foundational Landscape for Women's Rights Litigation | 32 |
| CHAPTER TWO | 33 |
| THE LIVED REALITY: A CALL TO ACTION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS' RIGHTS | 33 |
| CHAPTER THREE | 38 |
| AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ARCHITECTURE: A REVIEW OF INSTRUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS | 38 |
| 3.1 Selected African Human Rights Treaties | 38 |
| 3.2 The Three Human Rights Organs: An Overview | 47 |
| CHAPTER FOUR | 55 |
| STRATEGIC LITIGATION | 55 |
| 4.1 Definition of Strategic Litigation | 55 |
| 4.2 Conditions for Effective Strategic Litigation | 56 |
| 4.3 Strategic Litigation as a Tool for Social Change in Africa | 57 |
| 4.4 The Impact of Strategic Litigation in Africa | 58 |
| 4.5 Why Strategic Litigation Matters for Women's and Girls' Rights | 60 |
| Part II: Jurisprudence and Case Studies | 61 |
| CHAPTER FIVE | 62 |
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| JURISPRUDENCE AND CASE STUDIES in Africa | 62 |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Selected case studies | 62 |
| 5.2 Trends and Patterns | 83 |
| 5.3 Gaps in Litigation and Protection | 84 |
| Part III: The Roadblocks to Justice: Systemic, Procedural, and Socio-Cultural Barriers | 93 |
| CHAPTER SIX | 94 |
| OBSTACLES TO GENDER JUSTICE | 94 |
| 6.1 The Political and Economic Barriers | 94 |
| 6.2 Procedural and institutional complexities | 98 |
| 6.3 The Socio-Cultural and Practical Barrier: The Fear of Claims-Making | 106 |
| 6.4 The rural-urban divide and the social dynamics of voice | 110 |
| CHAPTER SEVEN | 112 |
| RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION | 112 |
| 7.1 Recommendations | 112 |
| 7.2 Conclusion | 124 |
| ANNEX 1: CONSOLIDATED LIST OF CASES | 124 |
| Annex 2: MEMBERS OF THE TECHNICAL REFERENCE GROUP (TRG) | 127 |
| Annex 3: VALIDATION WORKSHOP MEETING ATTENDANCE LIST (23-24 SEPTEMBER 2025), ACCRA, GHANA | 129 |
| BIBLIOGRAPHY | 131 |
| ENDNOTES | 141 |
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Ver. 3.2