MEDIA ADVISORY

INVITATION TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

COMMEMORATION OF THE DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD (DAC) 2014 on the theme " A CHILD FRIENDLY, QUALITY, FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN AFRICA"

WHEN: 16 June 2014

WHERE: African Union Headquarters - Addis Ababa Ethiopia

WHO: ACERWC and UN, Plan International, Save the Children, ACPF

WHY: The DAC presents an opportunity for all Stake-holders on children’s rights, including government, non-governmental and international entities, to reflect on issues affecting children. The DAC 2014 theme "A Child Friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa" aims to ensure the achievement of Article 11 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). To this end, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), the treaty body vested with the mandate to monitor the implementation of the Charter, in collaboration with partners are seizing this opportune moment to take stock of the progress made and the outstanding challenges towards the full realization of the rights of children in Africa.

BACKGROUND: On 16 June every year, the African Union celebrates the Day of the African Child (DAC), in commemoration of the 1976 protests by school children in Soweto, South Africa. The students protested against an education designed to further the purposes of the apartheid regime. In 1991, the African Union Assembly passed a resolution designating 16 June as a Day for the celebration of the African child. Since 2008, the African Committee of Experts (ACERWC) has been vested with the mandate of identifying themes for commemoration of the DAC. During its 21st Session, the Committee of Experts deliberated upon and adopted the theme “A child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa" as the DAC theme for 2014. Significantly, the theme of 2014 DAC was drawn from consultations with children in the region which were conducted with the help of partners to the Committee.

EVENTS: - Inter-generational dialogue between children and Experts
- Talent Show
- Mini-marathon
- Press Conference

Media representatives are invited to cover the Opening ceremony at 09:00 on Monday 16 June. A Press Conference will take place immediately after the Opening.

For more information, Contact: Kameni Ngankam (KameniY@africa-union.org) Tel: 00251 940 296 325

Visit www.acerwc.org and Follow us on social Media:
facebook.com/acerwc
twitter: @acerwc
youtube: acerwc-caedbe