The annual mobilisation of women around the world around the theme of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence (25 November – 10 December) represents a tremendous global effort to increase awareness of violence against women in all its forms. In light of the 2007 Activism focus theme – ‘demanding implementation, challenging obstacles’ – this article looks at the issue of domestic violence from the perspective of African experiences, and examines the impact of attempts to address it by legal means. It poses three questions: what are the similarities and differences in the experiences of African countries that have attempted to pass domestic-violence legislation?; what lessons have been learned in the process?; and how do attempts to pass such laws connect to the lived realities of ordinary women? The article takes the position that violence, including domestic violence, deprives women of their ability to achieve their full potential by threatening their safety, freedom and autonomy. A variety of African experiences – from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Ghana – reflected in this article demonstrate that the formulation of laws is an important instrument in countering this threat; but it is not enough to eliminate gender-based violence. For example, the passing of the Domestic Violence Act in Ghana has been hailed as a triumph, but much work remains to be done to ensure that it is fully implemented. This will require – so activists and human-rights advocates in Ghana argue – a comprehensive, nationwide domestic action plan and the provision of necessary human and budgetary resources. In fact, multiple strategies and approaches are needed that recognise the differing interests, lived realities and contradictions among women of different class, religious and cultural backgrounds; and to find ways to express proposed changes in language and practices that better approximate women’s lived realities and experiences.