Second Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for stronger protection of human rights, democratic governance, and digital freedoms across Africa.

She urged member states to take urgent action to address emerging security and governance challenges.

She made the remarks during 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, Fateh Boutbig.

In a Facebook post shared on May 12, 2026, Agyeman-Rawlings highlighted the critical role women continue to play in peacebuilding and conflict prevention across the continent, describing them as key stabilising forces during times of crisis.

“Women continue to play critical roles in peacebuilding, mediation, and conflict prevention across Africa, often serving as first responders, community stabilisers, and bridge-builders in times of crisis,” she stated.

She also urged African Union member states to ratify the Malabo Convention, arguing that it would strengthen Africa’s collective response to cybersecurity threats and improve digital sovereignty across the continent.

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“In this era of rapid digitalisation, the ratification of the Malabo Convention is essential to protect citizens online and strengthen Africa’s cybersecurity architecture,” she noted.

Agyeman-Rawlings further called for the ratification and domestication of model laws developed by the Pan-African Parliament, explaining that such measures would help harmonise legal systems and strengthen governance frameworks across Africa.

She stressed that rapid digital transformation must be accompanied by robust legal protections, insisting that digital rights should be recognised as fundamental human rights.

“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 said.

Agyeman-Rawlings also maintained that sustainable peace and security on the continent cannot depend solely on military interventions.

“Sustainable peace and security cannot be achieved through military responses alone. We must invest in strong institutions, constitutionalism, civic participation, and inclusive governance,” she stated.

She concluded by calling for governance systems that ensure citizens feel represented and heard, stressing that Africa’s future depends on building secure, inclusive, and rights-based societies driven by the collective aspirations of its people.

“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 said.

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