Addis Ababa, 06 May, 2016. - The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) held its 27th Ordinary Session and 11th Pre-Session on 02-06 May, 2016, at the New Conference Centre of the African Union Commission Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

At the core of this Session was the discussion on the adoption of an Africa's Children Agenda 2040. The development of this Agenda is informed by the outcome of the conference on the Status of Children’s Rights in Africa, organized to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Adoption of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (20-21 November, 2015). The Agenda aims to assess the achievements and challenges towards the implementation of the African Children’s Charter and extract mechanisms that can galvanize efforts for a better protection of children’s rights in Africa. Its presents measurable goals and priority areas summarized into 10 Aspirations to which the African Union and its Member States commit themselves for the coming 25 years. UN Agencies, International Organizations and Civil Societies Organizations represented at the Session, were able to further input the draft Agenda to be adopted by the African Union Policy Organs.

Another core moment of the Session was the discussions on the findings of the ACERWC Continental Study on the impact of armed conflicts on children. The Report will be presented during the upcoming Joint Open Session ACERWC-PSC on Children in armed conflicts (10 May, 2016), to identify the gaps and improve the protection of children during conflicts situation.

Other activities include the consideration of admissibility of a number of Communications (complaints) against State Parties, consideration of complementary reports by COSs, and consideration of the joint General Comment by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) and the ACERWC on child marriage. The 27th Ordinary Session also witnessed the swearing in of a new Committee member, Mr. Mohamed Ould Ahmedoudit H'Meyada, from Mauritania, who was appointed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the African Union at the last 26th Ordinary Summit.

N.B: Media are invited to attend the Open Session on children and armed conflicts with the Peace and Security Council, on 10 May, at 10:00 AM, in the Conference Room of the Old Building.

For further information, please contact

Mr. Kameni N. Yannick : KameniY@africa-union.org

Communication Officer - ACERWC Secretariat

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