1st Child Focused Civil Society Forum on and around the African Committee |
of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC ) |
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Last Updated on : April 8th,2009 |
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The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the first binding international instrument embodying international legal recognition of the human rights of children and has become the most universally accepted human rights instrument in history. However, in spite of its comprehensive and progressive nature, the CRC lacks the ‘African touch' and is not strong or explicit enough with regards to areas such as sexual abuse, protection of the girl child, child soldiers, child marriage and protection against harmful traditional practices which are all serious challenges in Africa.
In order to supplement, complement and give the CRC specific application within the African context, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) was adopted in 1990 and came into force on 29 November 1999. This year, therefore, marks the 10th anniversary of the ACRWC. In addition the establishment of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) in 2001 to, among other things, monitor the implementation and ensure protection of the rights enshrined in the Charter was a great step forward. The vision and aspiration of African leaders to offer protective and promotional human rights mechanisms that were internationally acceptable and context sensitive was further reinforced in the 2001 Declaration and Plan of Action of Africa Fit for Children. The Call for Accelerated Action on the implementation of the Plan of Action towards Africa Fit for Children 2007 contextualises the vision, determination, urgency, framework and parameters within which African leaders and institutions are to discharge their duties to promote and protect the best interests of the child.
Rationale and Justification |
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The ACERWC is central to the entire enterprise of moulding an Africa fit for children's lives, survival and development. In this regard, the ACERWC has a far-reaching mandate under chapter three of the ACRWC in terms of promoting and protecting children's rights and welfare in Africa . Since its meeting in 2002, the ACERWC has succeeded in institutionalising its operations and in promoting the ratification of the ACRWC thanks to the resilience of its members. Lack of human and financial resources and poor civil society engagement with the ACERWC have, however, slowed further progress in the work of the ACERWC.
Civil society organisations (CSOs) have the resource and the expertise necessary to support and complement the works of the ACERWC. A partnership between the ACERWC and CSOs could, therefore, help the ACERWC become more visible and discharge its mandates in an effective and informed manner. Such partnership, on the other hands, could strengthen and embolden the CSO's work in holding their governments accountable and in monitoring the implementation of the ACRWC. Such mutually beneficial partnership, cooperation and collaboration have already started. However, such civil society's engagement is still ad hoc and relatively weak and more efforts are needed to engage civil society in Africa in the work of the ACERWC.
Hence, an initial civil society's Forum has been proposed that would provide a platform and framework for the process of institutionalising CSO-ACERWC engagement and partnership.
The main objectives of the Forum are:
• To contribute to proper implementation and monitoring of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Africa Call for Accelerated action for an Africa Fit for children; and
• To foster closer collaboration and co-operation among Civil Society organisations; The Africa Union Commission, its structures and organs; the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and other stakeholders for promotion and protection children's rights and wellbeing in Africa
A three day meeting has been convened by a number of child rights organizations namely: The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF); The Africa-Wide Movement for Children; African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN); Plan International and Save the Children Alliance in collaboration with the ACERWC.
The meeting programme includes sessions on the following:
• Explore how CSO can engage with the ACERWC
• To ensure civil society input into the Strategy Plan of the ACERWC for 2010- 2014
•To educate, share and learn from one another on important child rights issues, mechanisms and processes.
The meeting will take place on 17 April 2009 to 19 April 2009 at the Christian Relief and Development Association, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia .
For more information contact Anna G:son Berg
Email: annasonberg@gmail.com or miamingi@africanchildforum.org
