Efforts to address violence against women are advancing across Africa, but major gaps remain. Many countries lack clear legal definitions of gender-based violence, while harmful practices like child marriage, marital rape, and restricted abortion access persist. Alarming levels of intimate partner violence, femicide, and school-related abuse continue to affect women and girls. Human Rights Watch urges African governments to adopt stronger laws, uphold the Maputo Protocol, and support the new AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.