African Day of the Child

17 June 2002
opinion

Lagos — The child is very important in Africa for many reasons. Sixty percent of Africans are children. Apart from the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which entered into force on 2nd September 1990, the Organisation of African Unity also adopted a Special African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Thus the African Child is internationally protected and specially protected in Africa, at least on paper.

The African Charter was designed to complement the UN Convention. According to the draft charter adopted by OAU Heads of State and Government at the 26th Summit on 9 July 1990, disabled children are to be given special protection and access to services. African governments were to ensure justice before the courts, consistent with the child's dignity and worth. The child must be protected against harmful social and cultural practices. Governments were required to establish 18 as the minimum age for marriage as well as make the registration of all marriages compulsory. In fact, Governments were put under a special obligation to protect children against recruitment to participate in armed conflicts.

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