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Rabat– The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has officially adopted a model law on equality and equity presented by Morocco, designed to serve as a common, adaptable framework aligned with international standards and rooted in African values and cultures. The legislation was approved during the plenary session of the sixth ordinary session of PAP’s sixth legislature, held from November 1 to 14.
The law provides legislators across Africa with a model to promote gender equality in areas such as education, nutrition, and political participation, in line with the continent’s Agenda 2063 objectives.
Khadija Arouhal, Vice-Chair of the PAP Commission on Gender Equality, Family, Justice, and Persons with Disabilities, emphasized that the law is the result of a collective and consultative process. It expands on the Maputo Protocol by addressing contemporary challenges facing Africa, including climate change, digital divides, rapid population growth, humanitarian crises, and persistent economic and political inequalities.
“The model law will provide member states with an actionable framework that reflects current realities, requiring a renewed and inclusive approach to advancing the rights of women and girls across Africa,” Arouhal said. She added that the law offers a legal structure through which Africa can translate commitments into tangible outcomes for gender equality and equity.
The law consists of a preamble and 16 thematic chapters, comprising 75 articles that define principles, rights, and obligations aimed at promoting equality between women and men across the continent.
Key provisions focus on non-discrimination, equitable access to justice, measures to advance equality of opportunity, political and economic empowerment, equal pay, and the elimination of workplace violence and harassment. The law also targets gender-based violence and harmful practices, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
Further, the legislation addresses equality in marriage, protection of women, children, and persons with disabilities during conflicts, access to adequate healthcare to combat obstetric violence, forced sterilization, and degrading treatments contributing to maternal and neonatal mortality. It also ensures equal access to and use of new technologies.
During the same session, the Pan-African Parliament also adopted a model law on labor migration in Africa. This will serve as a legal and policy framework for guiding member states in drafting national legislation, secondary regulations, and international agreements to manage workforce migration effectively, harmoniously, and in a coordinated manner.
The sixth ordinary legislative and social session of the Pan-African Parliament is being held under the theme of the African Union for 2025: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”
