AU Policy Index
A structured reference of African Union decisions, resolutions and commitments — organised by pillar and instrument type — for civil society, researchers and parliamentary actors.
What is indexed and why.
The index covers instruments that are directly referenced in African Renaissance Trust's programme work — frameworks with domestication obligations or accountability mechanisms that civil society and parliaments can invoke. It is not an exhaustive catalogue of AU decisions.
Gender Equality
| Instrument | Type | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Maputo Protocol Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa — binding obligations on rights, reproductive health and gender-based violence. |
Protocol | 2003 | Ratified — 46 states |
|
Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa Commits heads of state to gender mainstreaming, annual reporting and parliamentary parity targets. |
Declaration | 2004 | Adopted |
|
Gender Equality and Youth Social Inclusion (GEYSI) Framework Operationalises gender equality and youth inclusion across AU programmes and member state reporting cycles. |
Framework | 2016 | Active |
Health Equity
| Instrument | Type | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases Commits member states to allocate 15% of national budgets to health — the most cited, least fulfilled continental health commitment. |
Declaration | 2001 | Adopted |
|
Addis Declaration on Immunization Endorsed by Heads of State at the 28th AU Summit in January 2017, building on the ministerial declaration of February 2016. Ten commitments to raise political, financial and technical investment in immunisation and achieve universal access to vaccines. |
Declaration | 2017 | Adopted |
|
Africa Health Strategy 2016–2030 The AU's overarching health strategy — covers universal health coverage, health financing, human resources for health and health information systems. |
Strategy | 2016 | Active |
Socio-Economic Justice
| Instrument | Type | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement Establishes a continent-wide free trade zone — eliminating tariffs, harmonising trade regulations and enabling intra-African trade. |
Treaty | 2018 | In Force |
|
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights The foundational human rights instrument — includes socio-economic rights and the right to development. Basis for litigation at the African Commission. |
Charter | 1981 | Ratified — 54 states |
|
Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade Operational framework for implementing intra-African trade goals — covering trade facilitation, productive capacity, trade-related infrastructure and trade finance. |
Action Plan | 2012 | Active |
Cross-Cutting — All Pillars
| Instrument | Type | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Agenda 2063 — The Africa We Want The AU's 50-year strategic framework — seven aspirations, fourteen targets and ten-year implementation plans covering all thematic areas. |
Agenda | 2015 | Active |
Explore the frameworks in depth
Read the full narrative on the key AU instruments and how African Renaissance Trust works with each one.
