* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Despite progress in recent years, far too many African children continue to be threatened by conflict, violence or humanitarian disaster
With more than 500 million people under the age of 18, Africa has one of the world’s youngest populations. As birth rates decline in other regions, the number of African children is expected to double by mid-century and gradually overtake Asia as home the largest number of young people.
Thanks to a landmark agreement that took effect 17 years ago this month, this growing population of African children enjoys more rights and significantly more protections than earlier generations. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), agreed by African leaders in 1990 and which went into force on 29 November 1999, has helped enshrine the rights of children and their welfare in laws across the continent. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which was created under the Charter, deserves credit for promoting children’s rights and monitor implementation of the ACRWC.
Nearly all African governments have responded by enacting laws or developing policies that stipulate obligations towards children. As result, many international agencies, national associations and community-based organisations have stepped up their programmes and created movements to vigorously promote children’s rights and welfare across the continent.
Africans leaders have also demonstrated their commitment to the rights of their youngest citizens through the adoption of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. These present a historic opportunity to work in partnership - at the global, regional, national and community levels - to care for and protect all children.
Yet for all this progress, there is much to do. Far too many African children are threatened by conflict, violence or natural disaster. Sub-Saharan Africa has some of the world’s lowest levels of educational achievement, while underemployment and limited career opportunity plague the continent.
Given these realities, we must ask ourselves some salient questions: What does the scorecard say on implementation of such bellwether agreements as the ACRWC or its global peer, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? How many national governments have social protection provisions for very vulnerable children? Why are we still so unsuccessful in reducing the suffering of children in our communities? And why is violence against children continuing unabated in Africa?
The African continent is vast and diverse. The challenges related to child vulnerabilities are huge and numerous. To address the most pressing challenges, we can begin by focusing on two areas.
The first is children without parental care. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that there are 56 million street children and more than 52 million children who have lost one or both parents. Tragedies like HIV/AIDS, violent conflicts, abject poverty and natural disasters have taken a toll on families. That is why we need to work relentlessly to provide a loving home for every child who has lost parental care or is at risk of losing it. To succeed, we must be willing to work with communities, governments and international supporters to give children what they deserve: the chance to grow up with love, respect and security, and to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable families to care and protect their children.
The second challenge is violence. Research shows that up to one billion children globally have experienced some form of emotional, physical, sexual or psychological violence. Who could estimate the number of victims in Africa? How many children are dying as result of violence? How many girls have experienced sexual violence?
Where governments have fallen short, initiatives like the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children have stepped in. The partnership sets out an ambition to end violence in every home, every neighbourhood and every community. It is encouraging that a process is underway to build a pan-African partnership to prevent and end all harm to children, especially the extreme violence affecting so many young people on the continent.
Given the magnitude of child safety problems during times of war or peace, no single group or community can work alone to solve the problems. The pan-African partnership needs the support of governments, the Africa Union Commission, faith-based organisations, businesses, child-focused agencies, donors and research institutions. And we must never forget to listen to our most important stakeholders - girls and boys.
Governments have a particular responsibility to carry out and enforce laws and guidelines to protect children and improve their well-being. Political will must be accompanied by policies that allocate adequate human and financial resources to providing children with quality care, protection and securing their rights. In addition, upholding good African values (but avoiding harmful traditional practices) is fundamental to achieving our ambitious goals.
There is certainly room for celebration thanks in part to the rights outlined in the ACRWC. But this is no time for complacency. Africa’s future – and its growing number of young people – depend on how successful we are today in reducing child vulnerability, stopping violence and ending the neglect of children across the continent.
Dereje Wordofa is the Addis Ababa-based Director of the East and Southern Africa Region of SOS Children’s Villages International. He was a speaker at a meeting for the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in Banjul, Gambia, on 24 October.
