DECISION ON THE REPORT OF THE AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS
ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD (ACERWC)
Doc. EX.CL/977(XXIX)
The Executive Council,
1. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child;
2. ADOPTS the Report and commends the Committee for the work done in monitoring the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child;
3. URGES Member States who have not yet ratified the Charter, to expedite their ratification process for possible completion before the end of 2016; and States Parties which have placed reservations on the application of the provisions of the Charter to consider the withdrawal of the same;
4. APPRECIATES States Parties which have submitted their Reports on the implementation of the African Children’s Charter and CALLS UPON States Parties that have not yet submitted their reports to expedite the process of submission of their reports;
5. ADOPTS the theme for the Day of the African Child (DAC) 2017: “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for Children in Africa: Accelerating protection, empowerment and equal opportunity” and REQUESTS Member States to commemorate the DAC and report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee;
6. URGES concerned Member States to closely work with the ACERWC and the Commission in protecting the rights and welfare of children with albinism;
7. RECOGNISES the need to further reinforce accountability against violations of children’s rights;
8. RECOMMENDS to the Assembly the amendment of Article 5 (1) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court) to include the ACERWC among the entities entitled to submit cases to the Court and REQUESTS the ACEWRC in consultation with the Commission to prepare the amendment and submit it to the STC on Justice and Legal Affairs for consideration during its session scheduled for October 2016.