Pan-African Parliament Commemorates 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration, Renews Africa’s Commitment to Gender Equality

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), in collaboration with the Beijing 30+ Advocacy Group, convened a special sitting to mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the landmark global framework for advancing women’s rights and gender equality.

The commemorative session brought together parliamentarians, government officials, civil society, youth representatives, and development partners to reflect on Africa’s journey since 1995 and to chart new pathways toward gender justice and inclusive governance.

Charumbira: “Empowering Women Is Key to Building the Africa We Want”

Presiding over the sitting, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament, described the Beijing Declaration as “a timeless call to action that Africa has embraced with purpose and pride.” He opened the session with a moment of silence in honor of the late Mme Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, former First Lady of Ghana and a stalwart of women’s emancipation.

In his keynote address, Chief Charumbira reflected on three decades of progress and persistent gaps. “Empowering women is key to building the Africa We Want,” he said, noting that Africa has taken “bold steps by legislating reforms, ratifying conventions, and elevating women’s voices in politics, business, and society.”

He highlighted that women’s representation across the continent has grown markedly, with Rwanda leading globally at 64 percent of parliamentary seats but warned that entrenched patriarchal norms, economic inequality, and gender-based violence continue to undermine progress.

Chief Charumbira reaffirmed PAP’s leadership role under Article 3(2) of its Protocol, which mandates it to promote human rights and democracy in Africa. He outlined the Parliament’s concrete commitments:

·       Oversight of national and regional legislation promoting gender equality;

·       Advocacy for ratification and domestication of the Maputo Protocol;

·       Promotion of gender-responsive budgeting;

·       Capacity-building for women parliamentarians and caucuses; and

·       Development of a Model Law on Gender Equality and Equity, already adopted by the PAP plenary as a continental benchmark.

“Women’s rights are human rights,” he declared. “Gender equality is not charity: it is a matter of justice, prosperity, and peace.”

Global and Continental Voices Call for Renewed Action

H.E. Dr. Amina Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, commended Africa’s leadership in championing women’s rights but cautioned that progress remains uneven. Women still occupy less than a third of parliamentary seats, she observed, urging stronger enforcement of gender quotas and accountability mechanisms.

“We must translate policy commitments into lived equality for all women and girls,” she stressed.

H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, reflected on Africa’s post-Beijing gains especially in education, health, and political participation—but acknowledged persistent disparities in pay equity, property rights, and decision-making.

“We must dismantle systemic barriers and build an Africa where every girl can dream, lead, and achieve,” she affirmed.

Adding a historic perspective, H.E. Amb. Gertrude Mongela, the first President of the Pan-African Parliament and Secretary-General of the 1995 Beijing Conference, reminded delegates that “Beijing was not just an event but a transformative movement.” She called for vigilance to keep gender equality at the centre of governance and policy agendas across Africa.

Panel Reflections and Emerging Priorities

Panel discussions explored the intersections of gender, health, and economic justice, focusing on maternal health, sexual and reproductive rights, and women’s economic empowerment.

Representatives of the Beijing 30+ Group cautioned against rising regressive movements that threaten women’s bodily autonomy. Their message was echoed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which reaffirmed that reproductive health is the cornerstone of sustainable development.

Delegates also acknowledged emerging challenges such as digital exclusion, climate change, and limited access to technology and called for gender-inclusive approaches to Africa’s digital and green transitions.

Adoption of the Final Communiqué

The gathering concluded with the adoption of a Final Communiqué, which reaffirmed Africa’s unified vision for accelerating gender equality over the next 30 years.

Key commitments included:

·       Fast-tracking domestication of the Maputo Protocol and national gender policies;

·       Mainstreaming gender-responsive budgeting and monitoring through mechanisms such as the AU Gender Observatory, the PAP Women’s Caucus, and National Gender Machineries;

·       Advancing economic justice, equitable access to finance and land, and elimination of the gender pay gap;

·       Strengthening intergenerational collaboration and youth participation in decision-making;

·       Treating gender-based violence as an urgent human rights violation requiring coordinated legislative and policy responses; and

·       Mobilising resources and partnerships among governments, civil society, and the private sector.

“One Africa, One Voice”: Closing Call to Action

Delivering the closing remarks, Hon. Lucia Dos Passos, Third Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament in charge of Women’s Affairs, lauded the milestone as a reaffirmation of Africa’s leadership in gender equality.

“Gender equality is not merely a women’s issue: it is a human development imperative,” she declared, recalling Cabo Verde’s co-chairmanship of the 1995 Beijing Declaration drafting with Costa Rica.

Hon. Dos Passos celebrated PAP’s adoption of the Model Law on Gender Equality, describing Africa as “a global pioneer in enshrining women’s rights through continental legislation.”

“No other region in the world has such a law,” she said. “We lead, now we must ensure our Member States domesticate it.”

Addressing the omission of sexual and reproductive health rights from the new global declaration, she vowed that “Africa will not retreat.”

“We may have lost this battle in the document, but we will not lose it in practice,” she pledged.

Calling for intergenerational unity, she concluded:

“This fight will only be won with the involvement of the youth. Let us move forward with one vision and one will for an Africa where gender equality, peace, and prosperity reign. One Africa, one voice.”

Why It Matters

The Beijing 30+ Commemoration at the Pan-African Parliament stands as both reflection and renewal: an affirmation that gender equality remains central to Africa’s democratic governance, economic transformation, and human dignity.

As PAP President Chief Charumbira underscored, the journey toward equality is far from over, but with sustained political will, legislative innovation, and the collective strength of African women, the continent can indeed build “the Africa We Want.”