1. 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

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.