Women's rights advocacy in Africa

Women's rights groups in Africa are constantly raising their voices against all forms of gender-based violence, discrimination, and human rights abuses through their online and offline campaigns. In this chapter, I examine the activities of women's movements in Africa in light of Conflict Theory (CT) and new social movement (SM) frameworks-highlighting the principles of rights that guide the rise and growth of gender activism in Africa. First, I briefly explain human rights challenges in Africa as they affect women. I offer critical comments on CT and new SM theories, examining the rise of women's movements in Africa, with particular emphasis on Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, and Uganda, where feminism is at the forefront. Their patterns of activism are illustrated from examples of Nigerian women's rights groups. Their collective mobilizing successes, and the factors responsible for gender inequality in Africa, are also briefly highlighted. This chapter argues that women's rights activism illustrates the new SM concept of collective action and that the response of women to gender equality struggles in Africa holds a promise of noticeable impact on policy and human rights protection initiatives of African governments in the long run.