gender.15 The Political Parties Act 2011 of Kenya also provides opportunities for women to enter into politics. In Rwanda, the Constitution requires that 30% of decision-making positions should be occupied by women.16 In Malawi, the Gender Equality Act also introduces quotas in the Public Service. According to Section 11 of the Act, “Notwithstanding anything contained in the Public Service Act and subject to subsection (2), an appointing or recruiting authority in the public service shall appoint no less than forty percent (40%) and no more than sixty percent (60%) of either sex in any department in the public service.”17 In 2014, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo signed ‘a law requiring that women make up 30 percent of each party’s slate of candidates for local or legislative elections’. 18 Although this is not in line with gender equality which requires that men and women are equally represented, it can be considered as a step towards the implementation of the rights in the Maputo Protocol. Access to justice: In South Africa, for example, the Constitution states that everyone has the right to access the courts in pursuit of justice. Thus South African women are guaranteed of equal protection before the law as enshrined in section 9(1) of the Constitution which provides that ‘everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law’. 19 Labour rights: Labour rights have for a long time been a struggle for women. In Sierra Leone, strides have been made in ensuring and guaranteeing women’s right to work- examples include, measures such as paid maternity leave or leave with social security benefits. In addition, Sierra Leone has taken certain measures to protect women in many areas including guarantees against dismissal for working mothers, irrespective of their marital status during a reasonable period before and after childbirth.20 In Namibia, the Labour Act, Act No. 11 of 2007, makes explicit provision for maternity benefits. It outlaws discrimination in workplaces on the basis of pregnancy and HIV and AIDS status, and prohibits sexual harassment.21 The right to education: Implementing the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa: Analysing the Compliance of Kenya’s Legal Framework available on http://www.soawr.org/sites/default/files/ml-implementing-protocol-womens-rights-africa-010314-en.pdf 16 Maputo Protocol, A journey to equality available on http://www.equalitynow.org/sites/default/files/MaputoProtocol_JourneytoEquality.pdf 49 17 http://www.achpr.org/files/sessions/58th/state-reports/6th-2011-2014/namibia_state_6th_periodic_report.pdf 75 15 Republic of the Congo 2014 Human Rights Report (2014) http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236560.pdf (accessed on 14 March 2016). 18 21 available at 19South Africa Constitution Section 9. http://www.achpr.org/files/sessions/57th/state-reports/1st-1983-2013/sierra_leone_state_report_eng.pdf 22 21 http://www.achpr.org/files/sessions/58th/state-reports/6th-2011-2014/namibia_state_6th_periodic_report.pdf 50 20 9