The International Day of the African Child celebrated every June 16th, has been celebrated since 1991. The OAU established it in 1991 to honour and remember the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa.
This year Day of the African Child (DAC) 2022 will have as its theme the “Elimination of Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy and Practice since 2013.” The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which was established in accordance with Articles 32 and 33 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, decided to focus on this particular concern (the Charter).
The majority of HACEY’s projects are focused on assisting children and women in leading lives that are both better and more fruitful. This is because HACEY opposes any form of practice that is detrimental to the development of children.
In light of these, Hacey, in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), is sponsoring an outreach on the topic; “Elimination of Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy and Practice since 2013.” Which is scheduled to take place today at Bethel Comprehensive College in Alakia-Isebo, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The day’s goal is to raise awareness about the plight of children in Africa and the importance of contributing to improvements in every African child’s education, health, and nutrition. Every year on this day, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, and other stakeholders discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the full realization of children’s rights in Africa, as well as potential solutions to problems affecting African child development to improve a better environment in which to live and grow.
It is necessary that we remember the significance of the day and reflect on the challenges and opportunities that face the full realization of children’s rights in Africa. Children’s rights are routinely violated in homes, schools, and society. Some of the violations have almost become standardized and are accepted as norms in some groups. Children are subjected to serious violations of their human rights, including murder, physical harm, recruitment by armed forces or groups, sexual assault, kidnappings, deprivation of humanitarian aid, and attacks on healthcare and education. Other violations include; denial of educational opportunities, female genital mutilation, child trafficking, early marriages, child pregnancies, child labor, exposure to child prostitution and drug pushing. All of these and more violate the child’s rights, and there is a need to end these societal menaces to the African child
Every African child has the right to all advantages and as well as the right to live and thrive. Children have the right to good health, an acceptable standard of living, justice, and protection from inhuman treatment. The African child has a right to and is required to obtain justice and equity. As a result, the government should do everything possible to provide African children with development opportunities because children deserve to be safe from violence, oppression, and harmful social and cultural practices. Children should be viewed as peace, education, health care, climate change, and sustainable development ambassadors. This is because children are our tomorrow’s future.
All African children must have access to a child-friendly justice system. We require a coordinated and collaborative approach from multiple players, such as religious leaders, child rights advocates, governments, non-governmental organizations, children, youth, parents, and caregivers. This multidimensional approach ensures cooperation from the local to national and international levels in promoting children’s dignity and respect. To improve accountability, we must encourage families to identify and report child abuse cases in their communities.
To learn more about the impact that we have had on the African Child, please visit hacey.org.
Written By:
Michael Adegboye and Mercy Kalu
