For years now, women’s groups in Southern Africa have campaigned tirelessly to ensure that the Southern African Development Community adopt the Protocol on Gender and Development. Yesterday, the SADC finally took that historic step. Member states will be obliged to amend their laws to ensure equal rights for women across a wide range of issues, from provisions that require member states to enshrine equality in their constitutions, to firm commitments to reduce maternal mortality by 75 per cent. But while that’s a cause for celebration, the Protocol still does not refer explicitly to domestic violence, and it still doesn’t oblige states to introduce legal provisions that criminalise marital rape.

Southern African leaders should adopt the proposed Gender and Development Protocol at their upcoming summit after amending it to include crucial provisions deleted in 2007. One of the most important provisions that should be put back in to the protocol would commit states to criminalize marital rape.

When Commonwealth heads of government convene in Kampala this week for their biennial retreat, they should address human rights abuses within their ranks. Human Rights Watch endorsed the suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth unless emergency rule there is lifted.

U.S. President George W. Bush will be traveling to Africa from July 7-12, visiting Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, and Nigeria. This packet from Human Rights Watch includes material for each stop along the way.

On June 22, King Mswati III of Swaziland issued a royal decree that allows banning of publications without appeal, eliminates bail for some crimes, and increases the punishment for defamation. The royal edict was issued shortly after the banning of two publications critical of the monarchy. Human Rights Watch condemned the decree in a letter to the King and called on the Swaziland government to ensure basic human rights.

King Mswati III of Swaziland should reconsider a recent royal decree eliminating bail for some crimes, banning two publications, and making the punishment for defamation more severe.