Publication

This brief discusses the impediments young African women face in exercising their human rights and how the obstructions might be overcome. Fundamentally, the text argues 1) there can be no democratic governance or development in Africa without the full inclusion and participation of young women; 2) the legal frameworks that exist to protect these women’s rights are inadequate and must be surmounted by attitudinal changes, cultural and institutional reforms, and more; 3) too many young women fall through the cracks of government programs aimed at safeguarding their rights; and 4) in order to address these assorted problems, the African Union needs to be more proactive in dealing with them.