An absorbent article includes an a pair of leakage protection walls including a standing gather. The leakage protection walls are affixed to the backsheet or an outer layer of the article. Each standing gather is configured to be folded over side edges of the absorbent article so that each standing gather extends towards a user causing portions of the first and second end regions of the absorbent article to curve inwardly. In addition, the inverse standing gathers force laterally extending sides of the article to stand erect, thereby creating a double sealing effect. Attaching the leakage protection wall to the backsheet or outer layer of the article increases the inlet area, while also improving leakage.