The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) established a reporting process to monitor compliance. Despite its shortcomings, this process provides an opportunity for states to engage in a frank, constructive and open dialogue with the African Commission on the measures they have adopted to realize women's rights and the challenges they face. The DRC's initial report on implementing the Maputo Protocol provides an opportunity to assess how the country has advanced women's rights. This article notes that the DRC has adopted legislation and policies to comply with some of its obligations under the protocol. However, these have not brought about much transformation in terms of effective enjoyment of rights due to the contested nature of many women's rights and the community's patriarchal mindset. The article argues that states should focus on extra-legal measures that can counteract negative attitudes and beliefs towards women's rights.

《非洲人权和人民权利宪章关于非洲妇女权利的议定书》（《马普托议定书》）建立了一个监测遵守情况的报告程序。尽管存在缺陷，但这一进程为各国提供了一个机会，可以与非洲委员会就其为实现妇女权利而采取的措施及其面临的挑战进行坦诚、建设性和公开的对话。刚果民主共和国关于执行《马普托议定书》的初次报告提供了一个评估该国如何推进妇女权利的机会。本文指出，刚果民主共和国已通过立法和政策来遵守该议定书规定的一些义务。然而，由于许多妇女权利的争议性质和社会的父权观念，这些并没有在有效享有权利方面带来太大转变。文章认为，各国应重点采取法外措施，以抵消对妇女权利的消极态度和信念。