Abstract

By using the mechanism of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women  in Africa (SRRWA) as a matrix, this article assesses the responsivity of the  mechanism of the SRRWA in combating violence against women (“VAW”). The  article argues that the mechanism of the SRRWA has taken up the challenge of  contributing, in a substantive manner, to norms development relating to VAW.  It finds that although VAW is not an explicit thematic area in the mandate  of the SRRWA, compared to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s  special rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences,  in practice it features quite distinctly in the work of the mechanism. This is  indicative of the modest focus, response and contribution of the mechanism to  this intractable human rights issue.