REMARKS BY H.E. AMB. AMMA A. TWUM-AMOAH,

AU COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH, HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 45TH ORDINARY SESSION OF AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD

MASERU, KINGDOM OF LESOTHO

07 APRIL 2025

HON. JUSTICE NTHOMENG MAJARA, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LAW AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS OF THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO,

HON. PITSO LESAOANA, MINISTER OF GENDER, YOUTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO,

HON. JUSTICE WILSON ALMEIDA ADAO, CHAIRPERSON OF ACERWC,

HON. DR. GAYO, 2ND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PAN AFRICAN PARLIAMENT,

HON. LADY JUSTICE IMANI DAUD ABOUD, PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS,

HON. LITHA MUSYIMI-OGANA, COMMISSIONER OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS,

DR. LAILA OMAR GAD, UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AU AND UNECA,

MR. GILBERT SEBIHOGO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NETWORK OF AFRICAN NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS (NANHRI),

MS FELISTUS MOTIMEDI, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CSO FORUM

ITUMELENG TENGTENG, CHILDREN’S REPRESENTATIVE,

MY RESPECT TO ALL THE DIGNITARIES HERE PRESENT,

EXCELLENCES, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS,

A pleasant morning to you all - Dumelang.

It is both an honour and a privilege to address this esteemed gathering at the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), here in the beautiful city of Maseru in the Kingdom of Lesotho, often referred to as the Mountain Kingdom or the kingdom in the Sky, which truly lives up to its name.

I express my gratitude to the Committee for organising this Session and for their unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of children across our continent.  As one of my first official engagements since assuming office as Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, I find it both symbolic and deeply meaningful to begin with a platform that champions the rights and welfare of the African child - the foundation of our continent’s future.

These Ordinary Sessions offer a unique opportunity to reflect on progress, share experiences and address pressing issues facing our children. Most importantly, they provide a safe space to hear directly from children themselves, whose voices continue to guide and shape our collective agenda.

Excellency, Distinguished Guests,

Admittedly, we have made some progress, however, children across the continent continue to face significant challenges. For instance, many remain excluded from quality education, especially girls in rural areas, and the shadow of child labour and trafficking looms over too many young lives. Additionally, the climate crisis has aggravated inequalities, jeopardising children’s access to safe housing, clean water and food security. Harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation remain widespread in parts of our continent. Not forgetting online sexual exploitation.

These are not just violations of children’s rights, they are deep-rooted societal issues that compromise the dignity, health and future of millions of children, especially girls.

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child provides a strong legal framework and the Committee's joint General Comments with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights serve as valuable guidance. Yet, the persistent prevalence of these practices is a reminder that legal instruments alone are not enough. What is required is comprehensive implementation that bridges legislation, public education, community engagement and effective enforcement.

Since 2022, the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, in collaboration with the ACERWC Special Rapporteur on Child Marriage and Other Harmful Practices, have conducted Country Monitoring and Evaluation Missions to 17 Member States. These are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These missions allow us to monitor national strategies to end harmful practices and report on countries’ implementation, highlighting both progress made and areas requiring attention. Common challenges identified included legislative gaps, financial constraints and limited human resources.

Excellencies,

I would like to commend Member States that have demonstrated leadership and commitment through the adoption and implementation of laws and strategies aimed at child protection, including Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Tunisia and Zambia.  Encouragingly, countries are embracing multi-sectoral approaches that bring government actors, Regional Economic Communities, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, and women and youth-led organisations together in building resilient systems for child protection, particularly for the girl child.

In 2025, my Department will intensify efforts to accelerate the elimination of harmful practices and enhance the protection of children. We will continue to build on existing initiatives that offer practical tools to support Member States in delivering results for children such as the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage; the Saleema Initiative for the Elimination of FGM; the AU Accountability Framework for the Elimination of Harmful Practices; the AU Model Law on Child Online Safety; and the East Africa Girls’ Empowerment and Resilience (EAGER) Project.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Substance use among children and adolescents is another area demanding urgent attention. The 2023 Day of General Discussion, dedicated to this theme, responded to a growing concern identified by the Department. The resulting Outcome Statement emphasised the need for prevention, early intervention and accessible support services. The Committee’s decision to draft a General Comment on Article 28 of the Charter is both timely and commendable. This will provide practical, rights-based guidance to Member States and stakeholders in developing effective and compassionate responses.

We must also consider the broader structural determinants that shape children’s well-being, including access to healthcare, education and basic services. In many contexts, these services remain overstretched or inaccessible, disproportionately affecting the children’s intellectual capabilities, especially those in humanitarian situations involving displacement, conflict or climate-related crises.

The recent adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Right to Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness by the Executive Council is a significant milestone that offers a crucial legal foundation for children born into displacement or without legal identity. As always, the effectiveness of such instruments lies in their national implementation, through enabling legislation, robust administrative systems and public awareness.

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,

This 45th Session comes at a time of immense challenges and opportunities for Africa’s children. The programme for this week reflects the urgency and diversity of the issues at hand, namely, climate change, conflict, harmful practices and violence against children.  But it also serves as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together with shared vision and determination.

In closing, I call on all of us to resolve to ensure that Africa’s children not only survive, but thrive, living lives of dignity, and purpose. The future of our continent depends on the actions we take today, and I hope this Session reaffirms our collective commitment to making “An Africa Fit for its Children” not just a vision, but a measurable, lived reality.

On behalf of the Commission, I express our full commitment to supporting the Committee and our partners in this important mission.

I look forward to the discussions, and the outcome document, that will undoubtedly inspire renewed momentum in our collective efforts.

THANK YOU.

KEA LEBOHA HAHOLO