On the occasion of its 25th Ordinary Session held in Bujumbura, Burundi, from 26 April to 5 May 1999, the African Commission adopted resolution ACHPR/res.38 (XXV) 99 on the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA), retrospectively with the appointment taking effect from 31 October 1998. This means that the mechanism of the SRRWA is roughly making twenty years since its initial inception. Coming of age and time, the twenty years of existence of the mechanism of the SRRWA makes it not only one of the oldest (and perhaps most successful) mechanisms of the African Commission; but one that has been the subject of tremendous triumph, trial and tribulation. Over the past two decades, the mechanism has been a product of both progression and regression. By and large the mechanism of the SRRWA has played an appreciable role in the advancement of women’s rights on the African continent. This article aims at taking stock of the achievements and failures of the 20 years of the work of the SRRWA. Although taking pride in the achievements of the mechanism, this article argues for incremental reforms within the mechanism, including the refining of the terms of reference of the mandate; the need for closer cooperation with global and regional systems mechanisms, women at grassroots including women’s rights movements, and mutual support from civil society organisations.

在 1999 年 4 月 26 日至 5 月 5 日在布隆迪布琼布拉举行的第 25 届常会上，非洲委员会通过了关于任命非洲妇女权利问题特别报告员的ACHPR/res.38 ( XXV ) 99号决议( SRRWA )，追溯自 1998 年 10 月 31 日起生效的任命。这意味着SRRWA的机制自其最初成立以来大约已经过去了二十年。时代和时间的到来，SRRWA机制存在的二十年使其不仅成为非洲委员会最古老（或许也是最成功）的机制之一；但它一直是巨大胜利、考验和磨难的主题。在过去的二十年里，这种机制是进步和倒退的产物。总的来说，SRRWA的机制在促进非洲大陆妇女权利方面发挥了重要作用。本文旨在盘点SRRWA工作20年的成就与失败。. 尽管对机制的成就感到自豪，但本文主张在机制内进行渐进式改革，包括细化任务的职权范围；需要与全球和区域系统机制、基层妇女包括妇女权利运动以及民间社会组织的相互支持进行更密切的合作。