Pan-African Parliament launches model laws to guide AU Member States

The Pan-African Parliament has introduced three Model Laws aimed at helping African Union Member States align national legislation with continental development priorities.

The new instruments focus on gender equality and equity, labour migration and sustainable soil management.

They were launched during the Conference of Speakers of African National and Regional Parliaments, which ended on August 1, 2026, in Midrand, South Africa.

The Pan-African Parliament says the laws are intended to support the implementation of Agenda 2063, Africa’s long-term development framework for inclusive growth, unity and shared prosperity.

President of the Pan-African Parliament, Dr Fateh Boutbig, said the instruments were not drafted to remain on shelves, but to guide real reforms across the continent.

“Those laws are not merely legal texts. We do not work on Model Laws to archive them. We develop them so they can be applied to improve the lives of Africans,” he said.

Dr Boutbig described the initiative as the beginning of “a new era in legislation-making.”

He explained that the Model Laws were designed as practical tools for Member States, while respecting their sovereignty and different legal systems.

According to him, the instruments were developed through broad consultations involving AU organs, Member States, parliamentarians, academia, civil society organisations and development partners.

He urged African countries to adopt and implement the frameworks in ways that support national legislative reforms.

The Model Law on Gender Equality and Equity seeks to promote equal opportunities and strengthen the participation of women in governance and economic life.

Madam Dao Miriam Gabala, Chairperson of the Committee on Gender, Youth, Family and People with Disability, said the law also addresses gender-based discrimination and violence.

She added that it encourages the inclusion of young people and persons with disabilities in national development and decision-making.

The Model Law on Labour Migration provides a framework for safe, orderly and regular labour migration across Africa.

Presenting it, Senator John Bonds Bideri, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters, said the instrument promotes fair recruitment, equal treatment of migrant workers and social protection.

He said it also supports labour mobility and stronger regional cooperation in line with African Union priorities and international labour standards.

The third instrument, the Model Law on Sustainable Soil Management, is intended to help countries respond to soil degradation and improve soil governance.

Euphrème Outata, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, said the framework would support food security, sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

The Pan-African Parliament said the three Model Laws will help Member States strengthen policy implementation and align domestic legislation with Africa’s continental commitments.

Agenda 2063 is the African Union’s long-term plan for building an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.

It reflects the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance, with a focus on unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and shared prosperity.