Dr. Zanetor Agyemang- Rawlings, Second Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament, has addressed the opening of the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul on behalf of the President of the Pan-African Parliament, H.E. Fateh Boutbig.
Her remarks focused on the urgent need to strengthen human rights, democratic governance, and peacebuilding efforts across our continent.
She highlighted the important role women continue to play in peacebuilding, mediation, and conflict prevention across Africa, often serving as first responders, community stabilisers, and bridge-builders in times of crisis. She also called on Member States to ratify the Malabo Convention in order to strengthen Africa’s collective response to cybersecurity threats, protect citizens online, and advance digital sovereignty across the continent.
Dr. Zanetor Agyemang- Rawlings, Second Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament, has addressed the opening of the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul on behalf of the President of the Pan-African Parliament, H.E. Fateh Boutbig.Likewise, Dr. Agyemang-Rawlings stressed the importance of Member States ratifying and domesticating model laws developed by the Pan-African Parliament to strengthen governance systems, harmonise legislation across the continent, and ”ensure that our legal frameworks remain responsive to the evolving needs of African citizens”, she noted.
In addition, ”in this new era of artificial intelligence and rapid digitalisation, there is an urgent need to recognise digital rights as human rights and to establish coherent legal and policy frameworks capable of protecting citizens in an increasingly digital world”, she stated.
She further emphasized that sustainable peace and security cannot be achieved through military responses alone.
”We must invest in strong institutions, constitutionalism, civic participation, inclusive governance, and the political will to ensure that citizens feel seen, heard, and represented”, Dr. Agyemang Rawlings reiterated.
”Africa’s future depends on our ability to build societies that are secure, inclusive, rights-based, and driven by the collective aspirations of our people,, she posited.
