Draft Gender Equality Law Ready for Plenary as PAP Concludes Workshop

In a landmark step toward promoting gender justice and legislative harmonization across the African continent, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) convened a high-level two-day Workshop for the Consideration and Appropriation of the Draft Model Law on Gender Equality and Equity. Held in Pretoria from 26 to 27 July 2025, the workshop brought together legislators, legal experts, AU organs, civil society, and development partners in a collective effort to finalize and validate a transformative legal framework aimed at closing gender gaps in Africa.

A Crucial Milestone in the Legislative Process

The workshop was spearheaded by the Permanent Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with Disabilities, the designated Parent Committee responsible for leading the legislative development of the Model Law. It represents a culmination of efforts launched by a PAP resolution in November 2022, which called for a harmonized and rights-based legal instrument to promote gender equality across African Union (AU) Member States.

In her welcome address, Hon. Mariam Dao-Gabala, Chairperson of the Committee, emphasized the historic nature of the draft law:

“This draft is unprecedented—both in its design and in its ambition. It tackles the very roots of systemic injustices imposed on women by centuries of institutionalized patriarchy. Its adoption could mark a decisive turning point in the emancipation of African women.”

Clause-by-Clause Review and Legal Coherence

Over the two-day session, participants conducted a meticulous clause-by-clause examination of the revised draft Model Law. The goal was to ensure coherence, consistency, and alignment with key continental and international instruments, including the Maputo Protocol, CEDAW, and the newly adopted AU Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (2025). This participatory approach allowed members to integrate regionally diverse perspectives and finalize a draft fit for legislative endorsement.

The Workshop was not only a procedural requirement but also served as a capacity-building and ownership exercise. Members of the Committee were equipped to champion the draft law within PAP and across their national jurisdictions, ensuring broader political buy-in for its domestication.

Broad-Based Participation

The deliberations benefited from a wide range of stakeholders, including:

·       Members of PAP’s Gender Committee and relevant auxiliary committees;

·       Representatives from AU institutions such as the AUC Gender Directorate, ECOSOCC, NEPAD, and AfCFTA;

·       UN agencies including UN-Women, ILO, FAO, and UNICEF;

·       Civil society organizations such as Equality Now, the Clooney Foundation for Justice, and the Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria);

·       Development partners including the EU and GIZ.

This multi-stakeholder participation helped ensure that the draft is both technically sound and socially contextualized, addressing the lived realities of women and girls across Africa.

Building on Expert Review

The Pretoria workshop built directly on the outcomes of the Yaoundé Technical Review Meeting held in May 2025, where legal and gender experts refined the zero draft and aligned it with Africa’s diverse legal systems. That process incorporated insights from AU bodies, parliamentarians, judges, academics, and CSOs, resulting in a significantly enhanced version of the Model Law.

From Workshop to Plenary

At the conclusion of the workshop, the Committee:

• Validated and formally endorsed the revised Draft Model Law;
• Adopted recommendations for legal, institutional, and budgetary implementation strategies;
• Approved a procedural roadmap for tabling the Model Law before the PAP Plenary;
• Reinforced a coalition of legislators and stakeholders advocating for its adoption and domestication across AU Member States.

These outcomes reaffirm PAP’s commitment to providing Member States with a harmonized and adaptable legal instrument that can guide national legislative reforms on gender equality and equity. Once adopted, the Model Law will serve as a powerful tool to address entrenched inequalities, eliminate gender-based violence, and uphold the dignity, rights, and agency of women and girls across Africa.

A Historic Legislative Journey

The development of the Model Law has spanned over two years and included multiple phases:

• Initiation by PAP Resolution in November 2022;
• Thematic consultations and civil society engagements across the continent in 2023 and 2024;
• Technical consolidation and expert review in Yaoundé in May 2025;
• Final validation in Pretoria in July 2025.

With its first reading before the Pan-African Parliament scheduled for 29 July 2025, the Draft Model Law now stands at the threshold of legislative adoption, representing not just a statutory breakthrough, but a moral and political affirmation of Africa’s commitment to gender justice.