African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

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African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
Department of Social Affairs
Commission of the African Union
African Union Headquarters
P.O. Box 3243 Roosevelt Street (Old Airport Area)
W21K19 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel.: + (251) 1 51 35 22 (Direct) : + (251) 1 51 77 00 Ext. 300
Fax: + (251) 1 53 57 16

E-mail: dsocial@africa-union.org
Website: http://www.africa-union.org/child/home.htm#

Contact: Adv. Bience Gawanas, Commissioner for Social Affairs

Description

Made up of 11 members elected from States Parties to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child was established by OAU Heads of State in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2001.

A key function of the Committee is the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Charter. Specifically, this involves:

• Collecting and documenting information, commissioning inter disciplinary assessment of situations on African problems in the fields of the rights and welfare of the child, organizing meetings, encouraging national and local institutions concerned with the rights and welfare of the child and where necessary giving its views and making recommendations to Government.
• Formulating and laying down principles and rules aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of children in Africa; and
• Cooperating with other African, International and Regional Institutions and organizations concerned with the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of the child.

A second important function of the Committee is monitoring the implementation and ensuring protection of the rights enshrined in the Charter. The Committee is also responsible for interpreting the provisions of the Charter at the request of a member state, AU institution or any other person or institution the AU recognizes.

Track Record

Since its establishment, the Committee has held 4 meetings during which it has adopted its rules of procedure; developed guidelines for preparation of initial reports by Member States on the implementation of the Charter; planned and undertaken advocacy missions to selected member states to lobby for the ratification and implementation of the Charter; initiated partnerships with civil society organizations as well as other relevant institutions working in the area of Children’s Rights; held thematic discussions on key issues and problems adversely affecting the Rights and Welfare of children namely; children and armed conflict, the impact of HIV/AIDS, poliomyelitis and Malaria on children; and selected and disseminated annual themes for the celebration of the Day of the African Child.

Challenges

A major cause for concern is that the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child – the legal instrument for the survival, protection and development of the African child – has to-date been ratified only by 35 Member States. This is a sad state of affairs as those countries that have not ratified the Charter yet cannot be held responsible for the state of children in their countries.

Africa’s children are most disadvantaged in many ways: their life chances are limited; they are exposed to violence; they are used as child soldiers; they are vulnerable to malnutrition and diseases, in particular the HIV/AIDS pandemic; they are deprived of education; their rights are violated; they are abused and exploited. While Africa’s children are most vulnerable, addressing their vulnerabilities and rights have not been prioritized at the national level. Governments continue to overlook children issues when formulating national development policies and programs and the Ministries responsible for implementing activities on children are not allocated sufficient budget.

One major constraint which continues to hamper the Committee’s work is the lack of a Secretariat to coordinate its work. The Committee is coordinated from within the AU’s Social Affairs Directorate, and lacks both the staff and the resources to be able to do much more than provide the Committee with administrative support. As a result, the AU relies heavily on NGOs to take the lead in the campaign for ratification and domestication of the Charter.

Opportunities

There is need to look at the quick-wins, such as: streamlining efforts of NGOs with the African Committee and ECOSOC; the AU Commission raising funds for children’s activities in Member States; sharing of good practices and information in areas of protective environment for children; identifying strategies to achieve MDGs at national level; and extending activities on the Day of the African Child over the whole year. There is also need for training of the AU peacekeepers on issues of children’s rights and child protection.