The Africa Governance Report 2.3 2.2.2 The Rule of Law and Human Rights The AU seeks to promote respect for the rule of law and human rights, as expressed in instruments such as: the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Kigali Declaration on Human Rights in Africa, the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights, the Protocol to the African Charter establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa; the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the African Youth Charter and the Draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa. 2.2.3 Peace, Security and Governance Peace and security are another major objective of the AU. Hence the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the African Union Post-Conflict and Reconstruction Policy Framework, the Conference on Stability, Security, Development and Democracy (CSSDCA), the AU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa and the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. The Constitutive Act mandates the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation around Peace and Security between the AU, RECs and the Coordinating Mechanisms of the Regional Standby Brigades. 2.2.4 Continental Integration, Cooperation and Security Continental economic development and integration is another major priority for the AU as reiterated in the Declaration on the theme of the 2012 Summit, “Towards Greater Unity and Integration through Shared Values”. The AU is progressing towards the realization of the African Economic Community (AEC). Although the original purpose of RECs was to facilitate regional and continental integration, they have increasingly been involved in peace and security and governance issues. This is why the Constitutive Act mandates the 2008 Protocol on Relations between the RECs and the AU. The Structures of African Governance There is an elaborate institutional framework for the realization of the ideals of democracy and good governance, the rule of law and human rights, peace and security and sustainable socio-economic development and integration on the continent. Political institutions decide on policies and priorities and administrative institutions implement them. Political and administrative institutions are at three levels: continental, regional, and Member State. The success implementation of AU decisions and the objectives of Agenda 2063 and the UN SDGs will depend on the governance structures at all these levels. 2.3.1 Member States Member States have diverse constitutions that are the basis for their political, economic, and administrative governance. These constitutions are not derived from the AU Constitutive Act but influenced by their specificities and different cultures. Member States have their own specific governance systems. 2.3.2 Regional Economic Communities Page 28 of 96