1. AU treaties

OAU Charter
Year Adopted: 1963
Repealed and replaced by the Constitutive Act of the AU
Available in English : Pdf (45.6Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (59.17Kb)

African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Year Adopted: 1968
Year of Entry into Force: 1969
Available in English : Pdf (46.21Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (105.43Kb)

Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa
Year Adopted: 1969
Year of Entry into Force: 1974
Available in English : Pdf (42.43Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (26.88Kb)

Cultural Charter for Africa
Year Adopted: 1976
Year of Entry into Force: 1990
Will be replaced by the 2006 Charter for an African Cultural Renaissance when it enters into force.
Available in English : Pdf (32.04Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (31.45Kb)

Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa
Year Adopted: 1977
Year of Entry into Force: 1985
Available in English : Pdf (19.81Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (20.67Kb)

African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
Year Adopted: 1981
Year of Entry into Force: 1986
Available in English : Pdf (65.95Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (74.31Kb)
Available in Arabic : Weblink

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
Year Adopted: 1990
Year of Entry into Force: 1999
Available in English : Pdf (69.12Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (73.51Kb)

Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community
Year Adopted: 1991
Year of Entry into Force: 1994
Available in English : Pdf (185.6Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (2745.2Kb)

Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa
Year Adopted: 1991
Year of Entry into Force: 1998
Available in English : Pdf (71.54Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (7450.16Kb)

African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty)
Year Adopted: 1995
Year of Entry into Force: 2009
Available in English : Pdf (60.44Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (5688.4Kb)

Protocol on Relations between the AEC and the RECs
Year Adopted: 1998
Available in English : Pdf (32.2Kb)

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights
Year Adopted: 1998
Year of Entry into Force: 2004
Available in English : Pdf (19.67Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (30.91Kb)

OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism
Year Adopted: 1999
Year of Entry into Force: 2002
Available in English : Pdf (53.46Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (64.94Kb)

Constitutive Act of the African Union
Year Adopted: 2000
Year of Entry into Force: 2001
Available in English : Pdf (70.92Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (43.12Kb)

Protocol to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community relating to the Pan-African Parliament
Year Adopted: 2001
Year of Entry into Force: 2003
Available in English : Pdf (24.19Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (52.75Kb)

Protocol to the Constitutive Act relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union
Year Adopted: 2002
Year of Entry into Force: 2003
Available in English : Pdf (86.86Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (88.41Kb)

African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption
Year Adopted: 2003
Year of Entry into Force: 2006
Available in English : Pdf (168.86Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (145.17Kb)

Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union
Year Adopted: 2003
Available in English : Pdf (49.19Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (44.19Kb)

Protocol on the Court of Justice of the African Union
Year Adopted: 2003
Superseded by the 2008 Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights.
Available in English : Pdf (52.59Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (53.71Kb)

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
Year Adopted: 2003
Year of Entry into Force: 2005
Available in English : Pdf (145.59Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (110.35Kb)

AU Non-Aggression and Common Defence Pact
Year Adopted: 2005
Year of Entry into Force: 2009
Available in English : Pdf (83.89Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (124.42Kb)

African Youth Charter
Year Adopted: 2006
Year of Entry into Force: 2009
Available in English : Pdf (245.43Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (361.58Kb)

Charter for an African Cultural Renaissance
Year Adopted: 2006
Available in English : Pdf (71.21Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (67.99Kb)

African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
Year Adopted: 2007
Year of Entry into Force: 2012
Available in English : Pdf (160.37Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (249.02Kb)
Available in Portuguese : Pdf (125.41Kb)

Protocol on Relations between the African Union and Regional Economic Communities
Year Adopted: 2007
Adopted by Assembly/AU/Dec.166 (IX). This is believed to be the version adopted but is not an official copy.
Available in English : Pdf (761.47Kb)

Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights
Year Adopted: 2008
Adopted by Assembly/AU/Dec.196 (XI)
Available in English : Pdf (65.26Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (52.85Kb)

African Charter on Statistics
Year Adopted: 2009
Adopted by Assembly/AU/Dec.210(XII).
Available in English : Pdf (60.54Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (63.82Kb)

Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention)
Year Adopted: 2009
Adopted by a Special Summit of the AU held in Kampala on 22 October 2009.
Available in English : Pdf (104.73Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (89.08Kb)

African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and the Administration
Year Adopted: 2011
Adopted by the AU Assembly in January 2011, by decision Assembly/AU/ Dec.337(XVI).
Available in English : Pdf (65.49Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (437.86Kb)
Available in Portuguese : Pdf (152.74Kb)
Available in Arabic : Pdf (163.51Kb)

2. Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa

Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA) -- the Kampala Document
Year Adopted: 1991
Available in English : Pdf (58.19Kb)

CSSDCA Solemn Declaration
Year Adopted: 2000
AHG/Decl. 4 (XXXVI)
Available in English : Pdf (16.31Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (107.14Kb)

CSSDCA Memorandum of Understanding
Year Adopted: 2002
Approved by the OAU Assembly in Decision AHG/Dec. 175 (XXXVIII).
Available in English : Pdf (107.72Kb)

3. NEPAD

NEPAD Framework Document
Year Adopted: 2001
Available in English : Pdf (134.03Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (237.95Kb)

Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance
Year Adopted: 2002
Available in English : Pdf (40.33Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (63.63Kb)

4. African Peer Review Mechanism

African Peer Review Mechanism, Base Document
Year Adopted: 2002
Available in English : Pdf (28.6Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (55.43Kb)

African Peer Review Mechanism: Organisation and Processes
Year Adopted: 2003
Available in English : Pdf (153.22Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (72.01Kb)

Guidelines for Countries to Prepare for and Participate in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
Year Adopted: 2003
Available in English : Pdf (323.55Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (193.8Kb)

Memorandum of Understanding on the African Peer Review Mechanism
Year Adopted: 2003
Available in English : Pdf (28.36Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (45.83Kb)

Objectives, Standards, Criteria and Indicators for the African Peer Review Mechanism
Year Adopted: 2003
Available in English : Pdf (192.7Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (70.52Kb)

Country Self-Assessment for the African Peer Review Mechanism (questionnaire)
Year Adopted: 2004
Available in English : Pdf (346.86Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (656.6Kb)

5. ECOSOCC

Statutes of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union
Year Adopted: 2004
Available in English : Pdf (304.26Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (289.38Kb)
Available in Arabic : Pdf (106Kb)

6. African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa
Year Adopted: 2001
Adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Available in English : Pdf (259.96Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (291.99Kb)

Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa
Year Adopted: 2002
Adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Available in English : Pdf (41.06Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (56.72Kb)

Robben Island Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa
Year Adopted: 2002
Adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Available in English : Pdf (303.94Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (297.55Kb)
Available in Portuguese : Pdf (270.23Kb)
Available in Arabic : Pdf (1073.93Kb)

Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action on Accelerating Prison and Penal Reform in Africa
Year Adopted: 2003
Adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Available in English : Pdf (50.51Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (120.57Kb)

Advisory Opinion of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Year Adopted: 2007
Adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at its 41st Ordinary Session held in May 2007 in Accra, Ghana
Available in English : Pdf (967.78Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (958.17Kb)

8. Other non-treaty standards

African Charter for Popular Participation in Development and Transformation
Year Adopted: 1990
Available in English : Pdf (81.33Kb)

Grand Bay (Mauritius) Declaration and Plan of Action
Year Adopted: 1999
Adopted by the First OAU Ministerial Conference on Human Rights in Africa.
Available in English : Pdf (20.26Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (444.51Kb)

Declaration on the Framework for an OAU response to Unconstitutional Changes of Government
Year Adopted: 2000
AHG/Decl.5 (XXXVI)
Available in English : Pdf (12.61Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (44.27Kb)

Charter for the Public Service in Africa
Year Adopted: 2001
Despite its title, this is not a binding treaty, but a document adopted by Public Service Ministers. In 2011, a treaty was adopted by the AU Assembly which supplements this document, the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and the Administration (See above).
Available in English : Pdf (35.32Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (34.99Kb)

OAU/AU Declaration on the Prinicples Governing Democratic Elections in Africa
Year Adopted: 2002
Available in English : Pdf (169.62Kb)

AU Election Observation and Monitoring Guidelines
Year Adopted: 2004
Available in English : Pdf (48.67Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (65.61Kb)

Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa
Year Adopted: 2004
Assembly/AU/Decl.12(III)
Available in English : Pdf (68.9Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (18.27Kb)

EAC

Treaty Establishing the East African Economic Community
Year Adopted: 2001
Year of Entry into Force: 2001
Available in English : Pdf (188.37Kb)

Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Customs Union
Year Adopted: 2004
Year of Entry into Force: 2004
Available in English : Pdf (562.2Kb)

ECOWAS

Protocol relating to Free Movement of Persons Residence and Establishment and related documents
Year Adopted: 1979
Link to a compilation of documents relating to free movement of persons and a common ECOWAS citizenship.
Available in English : Weblink
Available in French : Weblink

Declaration of Political Principles of the Economic Community of West African States
Year Adopted: 1991
A/DCL.1/7/91
Available in English : Pdf (28.07Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (299.34Kb)

Protocol on the Community Court of Justice
Year Adopted: 1991
Year of Entry into Force: 1991
A/P.1/7/91
Available in English : Pdf (2276.36Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (2515.74Kb)

ECOWAS Treaty (as revised)
Year Adopted: 1993
Available in English : Pdf (158.86Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (2941.29Kb)

Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace-Keeping and Security
Year Adopted: 1999
Available in English : Pdf (87.17Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (213.29Kb)

Declaration on the Decade of a Culture of the Rights of the Child in West Africa (2001 – 2010)
Year Adopted: 2001
A/DCL.1/12/01.
See also ECOWAS website on children's rights.
Available in English : Pdf (30.16Kb)
Available in French : Weblink

ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight against Corruption
Year Adopted: 2001
Available in English : Pdf (85.54Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (68.82Kb)

Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance
Year Adopted: 2001
A/SP1/12/01
Available in English : Pdf (68.35Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (64.45Kb)

Resolution Relating to the Enhancement of the Community Parliament
Year Adopted: 2002
Available in English : Pdf (29.9Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (31.04Kb)

Supplementary Protocol Amending the Protocol on the Community Court of Justice
Year Adopted: 2005
Year of Entry into Force: 2005
A/SP.1/01/05
Available in English : Pdf (1529.43Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (1411.24Kb)

SADC

Declaration on Gender and Development
Year Adopted: 1997
Available in English : Pdf (12.69Kb)

Addendum to the Declaration on Gender and Development on the Prevention and Eradication of Violence Against Women and Children
Year Adopted: 1998
Available in English : Pdf (44.43Kb)

Protocol on Legal Affairs
Year Adopted: 2000
Available in English : Pdf (32.51Kb)

Protocol on the Tribunal and the Rules of Procedure Thereof
Year Adopted: 2000
Year of Entry into Force: 2001
Available in English : Pdf (96.23Kb)

Protocol Against Corruption
Year Adopted: 2001
Year of Entry into Force: 2005
Available in English : Pdf (35.39Kb)
Available in French : Pdf (74.98Kb)

SADC Parliamentary Forum Norms and Standards for Elections in the SADC Region
Year Adopted: 2001
Available in English : Pdf (130.76Kb)

Treaty of the Southern African Development Community (as amended)
Year Adopted: 2001
Year of Entry into Force: 2001
Available in English : Pdf (55.02Kb)

Charter of Fundamental Social Rights in SADC
Year Adopted: 2003
Available in English : Pdf (21.49Kb)

SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections
Year Adopted: 2004
Available in English : Pdf (23.91Kb)
Available in French : Weblink

Protocol on the Facilitation of the Movement of Persons
Year Adopted: 2005
Although listed as a 'draft' protocol on the SADC website, the protocol was adopted by the 2005 SADC summit, and is in force.
Available in English : Weblink

SADC Gender Protocol
Year Adopted: 2008
Available in English : Pdf (987.01Kb)