The AU Protocol is the culmination of a long process of struggle to extend universal social protection rights on the African continent. It recognizes social protection as an integral part of the development agenda. Civil society organizations, in particular the Africa Platform for Social Protection, played an important role in the formulation of and the effort to advocate for the adoption of the protocol by the African Union. The document is an important instrument to achieve universal social protection as it provides guiding principles for governments and sets the state’s obligations to guarantee the right to social protection and social security. The protocol was officially adopted by the African Union, but will only enter into force after 15 member states sign on to the document.