By Abdoulie John
As the landmark Maputo Protocol marks over two decades as Africa’s cornerstone treaty for women’s rights, a prominent Mauritian legal expert is calling for urgent updates to address emerging threats from artificial intelligence and cyberspace.
Advocate Mokshda PERTAUB, a leading voice in human rights law, believes the protocol must evolve to protect women from new forms of discrimination and violence driven by rapid technological change.
“I believe that big challenges are coming with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its exponential growth, and women need to be aware of the impact on their lives, jobs, and physical autonomy,” she told The Alkamba Times in an exclusive interview.
Adopted in July 2003 by the African Union as a protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Maputo Protocol has been hailed as a powerful tool in the fight against gender-based violence and discrimination.
However, PERTAUB warns that the rise of technology-facilitated abuse, including online harassment and AI-generated harms, is testing the treaty’s effectiveness in the digital age.
“The Maputo Protocol is an all-encompassing document and can be interpreted to include online violence, but maybe additional clauses need to be added to enforce state obligations for protection of women and prevention from technology-facilitated violence,” she said.
The lawyer stressed she remains a strong supporter of the protocol but insists it must keep pace with modern realities. “I have nothing against the Maputo Protocol and find it to be a strong document with great powers to force states to take action and enforce the treaty. But we have to move forward with our times too,” she declared.
When asked about practical next steps, PERTAUB suggested conducting a comprehensive audit of the protocol’s real-world impact across African nations. This baseline, she argued, could guide future reforms. She also proposed a high-level continental conference similar to the recent Africa Forward event in Kenya, dedicated specifically to revitalizing the Maputo Protocol.
PERTAUB’s comments come as she participated last Friday in the recording of the “All Things Maputo Protocol Podcast,” organized by the SOAWR Coalition on the sidelines of the 87th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Bijilo, The Gambia. The panel discussion featured experts, including Nyokabi Njogu of the Center for Reproductive Rights (Kenya), Ramatoulie Hallow of SIHA Network (Botswana), and Grace Marwa-Pattinson of SOAWR Coalition.
As African states grapple with balancing tradition and technology, PERTAUB’s call signals a growing consensus that protecting women’s rights in the 21st century requires more than the original blueprint—it demands proactive adaptation to tomorrow’s challenges.
