Africa

Meetings held in 2009 with the African Union Commissioner (AUC) for Social Affairs and the Chairperson of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) initiated institutional collaboration, including mapping positive initiatives across the region, supporting legislative reforms and consolidating national information and data systems on violence against children. This collaborative framework was further strengthened in 2010 by the thematic debate on violence against children, held by the African Committee with the participation of the Special Representative. At the meeting, an agreement was reached on a strategic follow-up through enhanced advocacy to protect children from violence and promote positive alternatives to violent discipline; support for legislative and policy reforms to ban all forms of violence; the development of an African report on this issue; and the inclusion of the protection of children from all forms of violence in the agenda of a future summit of African Heads of State and Government.

Following the joint request by the Special Representative and the African Committee for more country-specific evidence of violence against children on the continent, the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) embarked, in close cooperation with the Office of the SRSRG, on the development of an African Report on Violence against Children. The report provides a sound contribution to support Governments in their efforts to overcome persisting and emerging challenges, and to seize opportunities for improvement in violence prevention and children’s effective protection in Africa.

The African Report on Violence against Children greatly contributed to the wider Africa Fit for Children report by the AU, which seeks to evaluate the implementation of the commitments undertaken by Governments and examines the state of Africa’s children in all dimensions.

The Office of the Special Representative enjoys a close collaboration with African partners to advance the right of all children across the continent to enjoy a childhood free from all forms of violence, providing support to the development of legislative and policy developments, and the consolidation of data to advance progress throughout the region.

Governance Structures

African Union Social Affairs Commission

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

Political Declarations

General Comment no 5 on “State Party Obligations under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Article 1) and systems strengthening for child protection English

Final Comunique (English French)- 52nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of the Heads of State - (2017)

Peace and Security Council of the African Union declaration on “Ending Child Marriages” (2017)

Africa Year of Human Rights (2016)

Addis Ababa Declaration on Ending Child Marriage in Africa - African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) (2014)

African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa (2014)

Resolution of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism (2013)

Call for Accelerated Action on the Implementation of the Plan of Action Towards Africa Fit for Children (2012)

Munyonyo Declaration on Juvenile Justice in Africa (2011)

Declaration and Plan of Action - Pan-African Forum for Children (2001)