The African Childrens Charter

Ten years after the coming into force of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, this volume presents an analysis of its progress so far. Looking both backward and forward it provides a reflection on successes and achievements of the past, as well as setting an agenda for the future.

In 2020, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) celebrates 30 years since its adoption. To date, 50 African States have ratified the ACRWC, and 28 have submitted the initial report, 12 have submitted both initial and periodic reports to the African Committee of Experts on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) on the implementation of the ACRWC and have received recommendations from the ACERWC. To ascertain the extent of children’s rights protection in Africa, the Centre for Human Rights was commissioned to undertake a study on the implementation of the ACRWC in 10 countries, namely: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Sudan and Tanzania. In-country researchers were engaged to collect data using desk-based research to obtain information consisting of literature, documents and online sources that was then thematically analysed.

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: A socio-legal perspectiveby Thoko Kaime2009ISBN: 978-0-9814420-4-4Pages: xii 247Print version: AvailableElectronic version: Free PDF available.

In 2020, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) celebrates 30 years since its adoption.To date, 50 African States have ratified the ACRWC, and 28 have submitted the initial report, 12 have submitted both initial and periodic reports to the African Committee of Experts on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) on the implementation of the ACRWC and have received recommendations from the ACERWC.To ascertain the extent of children's rights protection in Africa, the Centre for Human Rights was commissioned to undertake a study on the implementation of the ACRWC in 10 countries, namely: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Sudan and Tanzania.In-country researchers were engaged to collect data using desk-based research to obtain information consisting of literature, documents and online sources that was then thematically analysed.

Master's Thesis from the year 2017 in the subject Law - European and International Law, Intellectual Properties, grade: A, University of Pretoria (Centre for Human Rights), course: LLM Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa, language: English, abstract: The African Union (AU) has put in place a robust and comprehensive framework for the promotion and protection of Children’s rights in Africa. This was achieved in 1990 with the adoption of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter). The African human rights system is the only regional system that has a child rights instrument. The African Children’s Charter addresses issues that are specific to the African child. The African Children’s Charter entered into force on 29 November 1999. As at the time of conducting this study, the African Children’s Charter had been ratified by 48 African states, whiles even others are yet to ratify same. The African states that are yet to ratify the Charter are: Democratic Republic of Congo, Kingdom of Morocco, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Republic of Somalia, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Republic of South Sudan, and Republic of Tunisia.

The 1989 International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the 1990 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) are two major international treaties protecting minors. Each treaty gives rise to new perspectives on children’s rights, and enshrine the principles of the best interests of the child and of children’s ownership of rights. The ACRWC incorporates the CRC’s rights while taking into consideration the specificity of the African context, striving to balance the rule of law with local customs. This book seeks to illustrate the rights and duties enshrined in the ACRWC, as well as the responsibilities established therein regarding the protection of minors. The role of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) will also be examined, in particular its activity of monitoring the States Parties’ implementation of the ACRWC and its institutional powers in exercising its powers. Finally, the book will analyse the progress made by the States Parties to the treaties. The focus will be both on the formal aspect of harmonizing national legal systems and the international rights, and on the substantive “steps required” of States Parties to reach the “opinion of law or necessity” that the ACRWC’s provisions should be perceived, first and foremost, as necessary and socially useful, as well as legally binding.

This book critically examines models of domestic, regional and international judicial protection of economic, cultural and social rights in Africa.

In 2020, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) celebrates 30 years since its adoption. To date, 50 African States have ratified the ACRWC, and 28 have submitted the initial report, 12 have submitted both initial and periodic reports to the African Committee of Experts on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) on the implementation of the ACRWC and have received recommendations from the ACERWC. To ascertain the extent of children's rights protection in Africa, the Centre for Human Rights was commissioned to undertake a study on the implementation of the ACRWC in 10 countries, namely: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Sudan and Tanzania. In-country researchers were engaged to collect data using desk-based research to obtain information consisting of literature, documents and online sources that was then thematically analysed."

The United Nations 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) constitutes a landmark in the development of international human rights law and reflects an historic turn in universal thinking about children and their rights. Many children in Africa today face the future with a deep sense of uncertainty and foreboding. Many have no hope of education and the issues of child trafficking, sexual exploitation and child labour reflect a profound crisis of the family. The current socio-economic situation has radically changed the world views and the life expectations of the African child. This book attempts to respond to some of the questions that could be asked: to what extent have the provisions of the CRC been implemented in the national legislations of African States? What effect have they had on children in Africa? What mechanisms exist to prevent and sanction rights abusers? Are children's rights in Africa reality, or simply rhetoric?