Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) was inaugurated in 2004 as a regional network of more than 20 civil society

Civil society

Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...

 organizations working on the issue of women’s rights

Feminism

Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...

. A particular focus is violence against women

Violence against women

Violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women...

with a concentration on gaining signatories and ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Protocol).

Report of the Review and Agenda Setting Workshop, September 11-13, 2006