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THE AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD: TEN YEARS ON

THE AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD: TEN YEARS ON. BENYAM DAWIT MEZMUR 2 nd Vice-Chair of ACERWC 5 th CSO Forum- Nov 2011. 1. Background. Creation in July 2001 Mandate of ACERWC in the Charter multifold and relatively generous

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THE AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD: TEN YEARS ON

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  1. THE AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD: TEN YEARS ON BENYAM DAWIT MEZMUR 2nd Vice-Chair of ACERWC 5th CSO Forum- Nov 2011

  2. 1. Background • Creation in July 2001 • Mandate of ACERWC in the Charter multifold and relatively generous • Brief of presentation: To highlight good practices, challenges, and opportunities. • Background on African Committee • Visibility deficit?

  3. 2. State Reporting • Central to ACERWC mandate • Efforts to minimize onerous burden on reporting already done • Constructive dialogue- caliber of Government representatives very good • Timely reporting- still a BIG challenge • Has reporting stalled? • Potential options on the way forward?

  4. 3. Communications • Relatively generous standing grounds • For instance Draft Optional Protocol 3 of CRC Committee relatively limited • In 2004, an incomplete “Communication” existed- on intercountry adoption • Children of Nubian descent case • Children and armed conflict case- pending • Only alleged violations in Africa?

  5. 4. Investigations • Potential of this mandate is huge • “may resort to any appropriate method of investigating any matter…” • Less resorted mandate • A number of reasons why this is the case • Uganda visit- and subsequent report- possibility of collaboration with the Peace and Security Council

  6. 5. (Other) promotional/protective mandates • Promotional visits- Ratification number=46 • “formulate and lay down principles…” • The Day of the African Child (DAC) • Selection of themes (including child participation?) • Relevance/timeliness of themes • Involvement of CSOs in DAC • Concept note on themes, and reporting guidelines • UNICEF reported on DAC- Very promising

  7. 6. Secretariat • Absence of a Secretary marked first 6 years • Justice Joyce Alouch’s office as Secretariat (?) • ANPPCAN seconded a temporary Secretary • Efforts to strengthen ongoing – (some through AU and ACERWC partners) • Committee's channel to the AU • Budget • Relocation of Secretariat?

  8. 7. Engagement with partners • Engagement with AU organs/institutions… • African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights • African Court (PALU meeting in July, for eg. ) • Regional Economic Communities (RECs) • Pan-African Parliament, Peace and Security Council, …etc • Engagement with UN agencies/structures • UNICEF • UNHCR, OHCHR, … • CRC Committee – joint activities? Follow-up on Concluding Observations? • Special Representatives of Secretary General on VAC…etc

  9. 7. Engagement with partners …cont’d • Engagement with INGOs and CSOs • CSO Forum • Observer status- • SIDA project • Direct (activity based) support to the Committee in exercising its mandate • … etc… • “Gov’t” institutions (for eg, National Human Rights Institutions)?

  10. 8. Concluding Remarks • The challenges that the African child faces still remain wide • Recurring challenges exist • NO room for complacency! (see 2010-2014 POA) • Shift in priorities to continue (for e.g., more towards accountability, implementation, prevention than on standard setting; proactive than reactive; • Stay the course on the positives, follow through, and change on those where there is room for improvement • “Shared responsibility” central as we move ahead.

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