Content_paragraphs:  Women continued to advocate for their rights. On 8 April, women protesters 
  
  marched to the Ministries of Justice and Interior and to the Office of the Attorney 
  
  General to present a petition calling for the rights of women to be guaranteed at all 
  
  levels of governance and in legislation. Protesters demanded the adoption of 
  
  international treaties and conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination 
  
  of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Protocol to the African Charter 
  
  on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), 
  
  aimed at ending discrimination against women, and called for political rights, 
  
  including by removing obstacles to the political participation of women, notably in 
  
  the peace process, and amending the electoral law to facilitate the participation of 
  
  women as voters and candidates. They also called for an end to gender-based 
  
  discrimination in the workplace and criminal justice reform, emphasizing the 
  
  criticality of repealing laws that restrict the rights and freedoms of women, including 
  
  freedom of movement, the right to adopt and equal inheritance rights, and that permit 
  
  forced or early marriages. Protesters also called for the criminalization of domestic 
  
  violence, for the safety and security of women and girls in the public and private 
  
  spheres and for the reform of law enforcement and the judiciary, including the 
  
  formation of prosecution offices and courts specialized in gender-based violence. 
  
  Some demonstrators filed complaints after reportedly being assaulted at the protest. 
  
  Notably, on 27 April, the Council of Ministers approved the Maputo Protocol, and 
  
  approved the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination o f All Forms of 
  
  Discrimination against Women, with reservations to articles 2, 16 and 29 (1). 
  
  Women’s groups have been vocal in their criticism of these reservations, as they relate 
  
  to the core provisions of the Convention, notably those designed to elimina te 
  
  discrimination and provide women with access to justice.  
  
   
  
    International relations