Outdated laws stalling progress on women’s rights in 20 countries across Africa – study

The majority of countries have signed protocols guaranteeing strong rights and protections for women, but have been slow to enact change. Photograph: Nardus Engelbrecht/AP

Discriminatory family laws across parts of Africa are stalling progress on women’s rights in some countries, according to new research.

The human rights organisation Equality Now studied family law and practices in 20 African countries and found progress in recent decades, but said inequalities persisted in marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance and property laws.