Ntombizozuko, Dyani

In the face of evidence that links sexual violence against women to armed conflict in Africa, the author asks: can the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa change the situation? The author examines the treatment of sexual violence against women during armed conflict in international humanitarian law generally, and then analyzes the provisions in the Protocol that specifically address violence against women. The author argues that states are obligated to protect women from sexual violence during armed conflict under the Protocol, but that the Protocol

This article explores the evolution of international law on sexual violence during armed conflict and, in particular, how it has developed within the African region. It begins by analyzing how the law has evolved due to decisions made at the ICTY and the ICTR. The author then argues that the creation of the Charter of the African Union and the Women's Protocol has made a significant contribution to the protection of women against sexual violence in international law. The establishment of the African Court is a further positive step to ensure that states fulfill their obligations