Honourable Judge Councillor, President of the Constitutional Court of Angola,

Honourable Judges of the Constitutional Court,

Distinguished Representatives of the Conference of African Constitutional Courts,

Distinguished Representatives of International Organisations,

Distinguished Representatives of Civil Society,

Dear guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear young African women and children,

 

It is a great honour for me to address you in my capacity as Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and current Chairperson of the Permanent Representatives Committee of the Member States of the African Union, to present to you the main conclusions, recommendations and deliberations of the first Constitutional Forum on the Rights and Guarantees of Young African Women and Children.

This Forum is being held as part of the implementation of the Priority Strategic Guidelines of the Presidency of the Republic of Angola of the African Union, whose term will end on the 14^th of this month. We therefore consider this inaugural meeting to be a historic event and a source of pride for the entire continent.

It is also an opportunity to take stock and reaffirm the commitment not only of Angola, but also of all African countries and their strategic partners, to promoting the dignity and protecting the fundamental rights of African young women and children.

By placing this essential issue at the centre of our reflections, we acknowledge that Africa is home to the youngest population in the world, and that the future of the continent will depend directly on how it protects, educates and empowers its new generations.

Your Excellencies,

During these two days of work, we have shared our experiences, compared different African legal systems and traditions, including Romano-Germanic law, common law and legal pluralism, analysed models of constitutional jurisprudence, identified gaps and reflected on concrete solutions for the well-being of a particularly vulnerable part of our societies.

It is precisely from this diversity and pluralism of African legal systems and the experiences that stem from them that a common conviction emerges, namely that by affirming the primacy of human dignity, we strengthen social cohesion, consolidate trust between those who govern and those who are governed, and lay the foundations for a future based on justice and peace.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

At the end of our deliberations, it became clear that, despite this diversity and pluralism, common challenges remain.

Young women and children remain exposed to multiple vulnerabilities, in a context of unequal constitutional frameworks, poor circulation of good practices and a lack of reliable data, which requires a collective response based on cooperation and the reaffirmation of human dignity and fundamental rights.

The debates that took place during the various panels thus enabled an in-depth, multifaceted and complementary analysis of the challenges associated with protecting the rights of young women and children in Africa.

The first panel, devoted to comparative constitutional approaches and judicial experiences in the field of fundamental rights, highlighted the diversity of African constitutional frameworks and the central role of constitutional courts in affirming and safeguarding fundamental rights.

The sharing of jurisprudence has revealed significant progress, but also persistent challenges, particularly within the context of legal pluralism, where the historical tension between constitutional norms and customary norms is evident, as well as in the effective implementation of innovative judicial decisions.

It was widely emphasised that, despite a solid constitutional and regional framework, there remains a gap between the norm and reality, which requires transformative judicial interpretation and strong institutions capable of enforcing the rights of young women and children.

It was also emphasised that the development of a genuine African constitutional jurisprudence requires ongoing dialogue between courts and the effective sharing of good practices.

Several interventions recalled that institutional weaknesses and governance deficits continue to limit the protection of fundamental rights, making it essential to strengthen judicial independence, judicial training, and inter-institutional cooperation, so that African constitutionalism can deliver tangible results for young women and children.

The second panel clearly indicated that ratification of the African Union's legal instruments is an essential step, but insufficient in itself.

The effective implementation of the rights of young women and children requires their full integration into domestic law, the deployment of adequately funded public policies and the achievement of concrete results in people's lives.

The debates underscored the central role of national parliaments, not only in ratification, but also in legislative harmonisation, oversight of implementation, gender-responsive budgeting, and the monitoring of continental commitments, with the support of African monitoring mechanisms.

The need to harmonise African norms at the national level, by ensuring coherence between African Union instruments, Constitutions and ordinary legislation, was underscored as a prerequisite for strengthening legal certainty and the effective application of rights.

Comparative data showed that States making steady progress in the ratification and implementation of these instruments are recording tangible advances, with Angola’s trajectory being recognised for its alignment with Agenda 2063, in particular Aspiration 6 on gender equality.

In this context, the centrality of the Maputo Protocol as Africa’s key legal instrument for the promotion and protection of women’s rights was reaffirmed, underscoring that the progress achieved depends not only on its ratification, but above all on its effective implementation.

The third panel, devoted to the relationship between data, public policy and judicial impact, showed that the effective protection of the rights of young women and children requires interventions based on reliable evidence.

It was emphasised that the collection, systematisation and strategic use of data are essential tools for informing judicial decisions, guiding public policy and strengthening transparency and institutional accountability, with the Angolan experience, particularly through the Gender Observatory, illustrating good practices in this area.

For its part, the fourth panel, devoted to the voices of youth and civil society, reaffirmed the centrality of the experiences, expectations and demands of young African women in the constitutional construction process.

This space for active listening recalled that constitutionalism achieves its full effectiveness only when it maintains an ongoing dialogue with realities on the ground, and when institutions demonstrate openness to inclusive participation, as well as to the contributions and proposals of the society they serve.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is nevertheless important to underscore the progress already achieved, both at the national and continental levels, through the adoption of relevant legal instruments and their integration into public policies.

These advances demonstrate that when States fully assume their regional commitments and translate them into concrete actions, the results are visible and have an impact on the lives of populations.

Despite these positive developments, significant challenges remain, requiring collective and sustained responses.

As I have already said, insufficient legislative harmonisation, poor dissemination of good practices and a lack of reliable data continue to limit the effective protection of the rights of young women and children.

The discussions also highlighted the conflict between positive law and certain practices rooted in customary norms or socio-cultural beliefs.

These practices, such as early marriage, female genital mutilation, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, exclusion from school, lack of access to essential health services and inequalities in access to justice and employment, constitute serious human rights violations.

The Forum therefore recommended strengthening community awareness, promoting inclusive public policies and ensuring effective judicial mechanisms to protect young women and children from these harmful practices.

Similarly, we cannot forget that young women and children are particularly vulnerable in situations of armed conflict, forced displacement and humanitarian emergencies.

It was deemed imperative to strengthen protection mechanisms in these contexts, guaranteeing access to education, health, humanitarian aid and justice, in order to preserve human dignity even in the most adverse circumstances.

 

Your Excellency,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Beyond the richness of the debates, the Forum stood out for its results-oriented approach, identifying concrete instruments to ensure that the ideas generated are translated into sustainable and measurable actions.

The need to translate continental commitments into concrete actions was thus reaffirmed.

By reaffirming human dignity as the foundation of African constitutionalism, this event has built a bridge between the present and the future.

“As so aptly stated by His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union, on the occasion of the 35th Anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: ‘Every African child who is protected and educated is a promise fulfilled for the future of our continent.’

In this regard, we wish that this Forum not be limited to an entry in the annals, but rather serve above all as a framework for action, capable of transforming commitments into lives that are protected, educated and empowered.

Excellencies,

The Luanda Declaration, the final document of the event, enshrines a common vision and reaffirms the political commitments made to protect the rights of young women and children in Africa.

Technical recommendations have also been formulated to guide legal reforms, public policies and judicial practices.

Through this Declaration, the Forum laid the foundations for mapping African constitutional jurisprudence, based on common indicators and an action plan, reaffirming the importance of cooperation between constitutional courts, education and economic empowerment as pillars of effective rights, and recalling that the true strength of States is measured by their ability to protect the most vulnerable, which is the foundation of more just, inclusive and peaceful societies.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

In this context, and in light of the important contributions shared during the various thematic panels, we fully appreciate the scale of the challenges highlighted.

The conclusions we have reached reflect a collective exercise in critical and constructive reflection, institutional renewal and reaffirmation of our common commitment to human dignity and fundamental rights.

In this context, aware of the urgency of these issues for the consolidation of our legal systems and for the effective protection of the rights of young women and children in Africa, the Forum has formulated the following recommendations, based on the contributions shared throughout the various panels:

1. Firstly, the strengthening of national constitutional frameworks, through the explicit enshrinement of the rights of young women and children and the harmonisation of domestic norms with African and international legal instruments, in accordance with the Luanda Declaration, which in particular reaffirms the centrality of the Maputo Protocol and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child;
2. Secondly, the need to deepen continental cooperation, notably through the sharing of constitutional jurisprudence and good practices, the strengthening of dialogue among African constitutional jurisdictions, and engagement with academic institutions, in line with the Luanda Declaration, which encourages a progressive and convergent interpretation of fundamental rights;
3. Thirdly, the consolidation of continental monitoring mechanisms, including the establishment of an observatory with harmonised indicators and periodic reporting systems, in accordance with the Luanda Declaration, which underscores the importance of clear and measurable data for monitoring, evaluation and accountability in the protection of the rights of young women and children;
4. Fourthly, the enhancement of continuous training for magistrates and legal practitioners, as well as the promotion of awareness-raising and human rights education initiatives, with the participation of civil society, communities and the media, as reaffirmed by the Luanda Declaration, which identifies these actors as essential drivers of lasting cultural change.
5. Finally, the need to ensure the sustainability and continuity of this initiative was widely underscored, through the consolidation of the Constitutional Forum as a structured reference space for dialogue, consultation and cooperation on African constitutionalism. This orientation is expressly reaffirmed in the Luanda Declaration and forms part of the ongoing process of institutionalising the Forum within the African Union.

 

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In conclusion, this Forum confirmed that the effective protection of the rights of young women and children requires enhanced continental cooperation and strong political will, with the recommendations adopted providing clear guidance for consolidating this space as a benchmark for African constitutionalism.

The Declaration recalls that it is incumbent upon States to assume primary responsibility for the implementation of these commitments through appropriate political, legislative, administrative and budgetary measures.

It is in this spirit that, in line with the continental vision articulated by His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union, during his statement at the symposium commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Constitutional Court of Angola decided to promote the establishment of the present Forum at the continental level.

The main objective of this initiative is to identify and overcome obstacles to the effective implementation of constitutional provisions, translate continental commitments into tangible results, promote the effective application of regional and international instruments, and amplify the voices of young women and children in defining Africa's constitutional future.

In this regard, we note that on 20 January 2026, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Angola to the African Union officially submitted the proposal to institutionalise the Constitutional Forum on the Rights and Guarantees of Young Women and Children in Africa within the African Union.

This initiative was examined during the 51st Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), within the framework of the preparatory process for the subsequent decision-making bodies, namely the Executive Council and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

During this session, both the aforementioned draft summary information and the related draft decisions were approved, with the Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the African Union recognising the relevance and strategic value of the initiative.

The process has therefore entered its final phase, with the consideration of the draft Decision by the Executive Council scheduled for 11 and 12 February 2026, followed by its recommendation to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, whose session is scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026.

The conclusion of this process will mark the institutionalisation of the Forum at the continental level, affirming its strategic nature in the African Agenda and the collective commitment to place human dignity and the rights of young women and children at the heart of the African social project.

Excellencies,

In the same vein, it was also reaffirmed that the centrality of human dignity is concretely reflected in the primacy of the best interests of the child in all decisions affecting them, as well as in the recognition of young women and children as active subjects and central actors in the social and constitutional transformation of the continent.

Numerous speakers evoked, over the course of this Forum, the African wisdom of Ubuntu, which teaches that the fate of one is inextricably linked to the fate of all.

This belief has resonated with me with such clarity that I consider it my duty to restate it, in light of the force of its truth and the collective responsibility it imposes upon us.

 

Through these remarks, I believe I have outlined the main conclusions and recommendations arising from this Forum, whose future looks promising as a platform for reflection, action and engagement in support of young African women and children.

Thank you for your kind attention.