CONSTITUTIVE ACT OF THE PAN AFRICAN LAWYERS' UNION (PALU)IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2002
We, THE BAR ASSOCIATIONS, LAW SOCIETIES, REGIONAL LAWYERS ORGANIZATIONS AND LAWYERS OF AFRICA, in Alliance with the International Foundation For the rule of law and the Independence of lawyers and judges; Inspired by Pan African Noble Ideal, which was the guiding spirit for the founding fathers of the organization of African Union and the of the African Union; Considering the principles and objectives stated in the preamble of the constitution of the Pan African Lawyers' Union; Convinced of the need that African Lawyers play an important role in working for the total Physical, Economic and Social Development of the African continent as a whole; Further convinced that the development of the African Continent must be founded on the rule of law, on the promotion and protection of fundamental human rights and on the principle of good governance and transparency; Conscious that African Lawyers in order to be effective in the pursuit of their objectives and for the fulfillment of their mission in African Society should speak with a common voice on all matters in which the views and expertise of lawyers are required; Further conscious with, the advent of globalization, of the need to promote high professional and ethical standards among African Lawyers as well as the mobility of lawyers within the continent; Determined to promote and protect gender equity and the participation of women lawyers and to advance women’s rights and social justice in Africa; Guided by the common vision of the need for a strong and united organization of African bars and law Societies that would act as the interface between the African Lawyers and all other International Institutions and Organizations; Have agreed to establish the Pan African Lawyers' Union, which will be governed by the constitution embodied in the following text attached hereto.
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