As a state party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Protocol to the Charter on the Rights of Women (Maputo Protocol), South Africa has submitted its state report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This report sets out the progress South Africa has made in implementing the African Charter and Maputo Protocol, and the challenges faced in the process.

• Download the South Africa state report
  (Republic of South Africa combined Second Periodic Report under the African Charter on Human And People`s Rights and Initial Report under the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women In Africa)

The African Commission is scheduled to consider the report at its 58^th Ordinary Session (6 – 20 April 2016), which will take place in Banjul, The Gambia. A government delegation will go to Banjul to present the report and answer the Commission’s questions.

Civil society organisations are preparing a ‘shadow report’, which will also be submitted to the African Commission to draw attention to aspects not sufficiently covered in, or omitted from the state report.

Although the report comes after many years of delay, its submission is welcomed. South Africa should also be congratulated for combining its report under the African Charter and under the Women’s Protocol, as required – something that few states have so far done.