For the purpose of the present Protocol: a) "African Charter" means the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; b) "African Commission" means the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights; c) "Assembly" means the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union; d) “AU” means the African Union; e) ‘‘Constitutive Act’’ means the Constitutive Act of the African Union; f) "Discrimination against women" means any distinction, exclusion or restriction or any differential treatment based on sex and whose objectives or effects compromise or destroy the recognition, enjoyment or the exercise by women, regardless of their marital status, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all spheres of life; g) "Harmful Practices" means all behaviour, attitudes and/or practices which negatively affect the fundamental rights of women and girls, such as their right to life, health, dignity, education and physical integrity; h) ‘‘NEPAD’’ means the New Partnership for Africa’s Development established by the Assembly; i) "States Parties" means the States Parties to this Protocol; j) "Violence against women" means all acts perpetrated against women which cause or could cause them physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm, including the threat to take such acts; or to undertake the imposition of arbitrary restrictions on or deprivation of fundamental freedoms in private or public life in peace time and during situations of armed conflicts or of war; k) “Women” means persons of female gender, including girls.