The Malawi Constitution for instance, provides for the right to education. In addition, the Gender Equality Act provides for equality in education and training, access to scholarships in Sections 14 to 16. Main provisions state that every person has the right to access education and training including vocational guidance at all levels, except in the cases of special need, the Government shall take active measures to ensure that educational institutions provide equal access to girls and boys and women and men, to the same curricula; the same examinations; teaching staff with qualifications of the same standard; institutional premises and equipment of the same quality, irrespective of sex of students at the same level; or provision of sanitary facilities that take into account the specific needs of the sex of the students.22 E/ THE ROLE OF COMMISSION I. Ratification In order to speed up the entry into force of the Protocol after its adoption and promote its ratification across the continent, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women conducts an effective and constant advocacy campaign among the Ministries of Foreign affairs and Parliaments of AU Member States through country missions, sending Notes Verbales to diplomatic missions, as well as during the presentation of State Periodic Reports before the Commission, encouraging States to ratify the Maputo Protocol and this has proved effective over the years as ratifications increase, albeit slowly. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women organises side events on the Maputo Protocol at every Ordinary Session of the Commission and there is a standard item on the Agenda of every Ordinary Session of the Commission wherein panel discussions are held between the Commission, State Parties and other stakeholders about the Maputo Protocol and the importance of ratifying the same. II. Activities The mechanism undertook the following activities towards enhancing the knowledge of the Maputo Protocol: In September 2010, the first Regional Conference on the Rights of Women for West and North African countries (18 in total) took place in Mali. The conference was attended by the Representatives of State Parties, NHRIs, NGOs, UN Agencies and Parliamentarians. A high level Seminar on the Impact of Conflict on the Rights of Women and Girls was held in Mali in October 2014, in collaboration with the Department of Political Affairs and the Minister in charge of the Family, Women and Children. The seminar aimed to evaluate the national action plan on the implementation of Resolution 1325. The mechanism undertook missions and activities in more than 25 countries. At the end of these missions, the mechanism makes specific recommendations urging States Parties who have ratified the Protocol to adopt laws, action plans, as well as programs for a better protection of the right of women and girls. 22 http://www.achpr.org/files/sessions/56th/state-reports/1-1995-2013/malawi_state_report_eng.pdf 79 10