Includes bibliographical references.

While it is true that, like elsewhere in the world, African women are not yet equal to men, toiling day and night amidst grinding poverty while facing harsh cultural, traditional, and social prejudices is only part of the story. The writings in this book show that women in Africa are fighting for their rights with grace, tenacity, and eloquence. The contributors describe how they won the cross-continental campaign for a protocol to protect the rights of African women and what still needs to be done to ensure that women enjoy these rights in every country. In a rich variety of articles, they consider topics such as women and conflict, the impact of current U.S. policies on women's health in Africa, women's rights in Islam, and the implications of the Jacob Zuma trial for women in South Africa.