       AU, Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples‘ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003, Maputo, Mozambique) UN, Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (1949, New York, USA) UN, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979, New York, USA) UN, Convention on the Political Rights of Women (1952, New York, USA) UN, Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1993, New York, USA) UN Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995, Beijing, China) UN Security Council, Resolution on Women in Conflict (2000, New York, USA) The vision advanced by these standards is one of absolute equality between the sexes and of women being able to live their lives as full and equal citizens. Women‘s rights as human beings and as citizens are to be respected. Women are to have full political equality, participating in governance at all levels, enjoying legal equality, including in such matters as marriage, property rights, work, pay and inheritance. In some respects, such as marriage, these standards can challenge cultural practices. As a result, some regional conventions provide specific language to accommodate such cultural sensitivities. A good example is Article 6 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples‘ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, which refers to monogamy as the ‗preferred‘ form of marriage rather than the only form. The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women provides a reasonably comprehensive and concise description of the responsibility of governments. Article 3 thus provides: States Parties shall take in all fields, in particular in the political, social, economic and cultural fields, all appropriate measures, including legislation, to ensure the full development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men. Both communal identities and gender are critical from the perspective of Agenda 2063, which takes the destabilising potential of sectarian conflict in particular as a key priority. The whole effort is underpinned by the realisation that Africa will always be at risk of conflict if certain groups perceive themselves dominated and marginalised, and Africa will struggle with its development if the potential of over half of its people is stunted. The APRM record so far on ideological disorientation In this section, we will examine the APRM record on ideological disorientation using the country review reports as our primary source. Ethnic, religious and cultural cleavages Several country review reports – such as Rwanda11, Benin12, Kenya13, South Arica14, Nigeria15, Mali16, Ethiopia17, etc. – establish that, unless managed properly, ethnic and religious diversity can become a destructive and destabilising factor in any country. The APRM standards do not view diversity in itself as problematic; it is the misuse of diversity for political ends that is often dangerous.18 The APRM reports have identified various forms in which the challenge of diversity can manifest itself in the governance sphere. Examples include the ―ethnic and regional political parties‖19, conflicts over cultural, religious and linguistic recognition20, and competition between groups (and alliance of groups) over control of resources and power. 21 Some CRRs 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rwanda CRR, p. 22-23. Benin CRR, para. 91, p. 55 (amongst many other places). Kenya CRR, para. xvi, (amongst many other places). South Africa CRR, para. 3.135, p. 27 (amongst many other places). Nigeria CRR, para. 5.1, p. 19 (amongst many other places). Mali CRR, para. 7.4, p. 20 (stating: “Ethnicity is no doubt a possible factor in exacerbating the crisis in the North, and certainly played a part in intensifying hostilities in 2006.”). Ethiopia CRR, para. 88, p. 64 (amongst many other places). Rwanda CRR, p. 129; Kenya CRR, p. 53. Benin CRR, p. 55. Algeria CRR, p. 64; Tanzania CRR, p. 218. Nigeria CRR, p. 322; Kenya CRR, p. 241. 16