Introduction
Sexual violence is one of the most pervasive forms of violence in the world, with 7% of women having experienced sexual violence by someone other than an intimate partner during their lifetime.1 It is associated not only with physical injury but with a number of adverse health, social and economic consequences. Sexual violence is a sub set of violence and in the same way, the right to be protected from sexual violence is often recognised as an integral component of the right to be protected from violence. As a case in point, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) provides, in article 4, for the protection from all forms of violence, including sexual violence. The consequences of sexual violence have huge costs for the victim, communities, societies and nations. Nevertheless, many policies are exclusive of the needs of women to be protected from sexual violence and do not provide for the types of tailored approaches that are required to combat the phenomenon