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African Nations Urged to Enforce Family Laws to Protect Women

Reuters

   NAIROBI - Women and girls in Africa are still being pushed into forced
   or early marriages, while those in unhappy unions face discrimination
   when seeking divorce, campaigners said on Tuesday, urging governments
   to enforce fairer family laws.

   The Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR) -- a coalition of 50
   groups -- said while most nations had committed to a pan-African pact
   on women's rights, states had failed to enforce laws relating to
   marriage, divorce, child maintenance and inheritance.

   The pact, known as the Maputo Protocol, came into force in 2005 and
   guarantees extensive rights in areas from protection against violence
   to economic empowerment.

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