There is an emerging narrative that seems to emphasize that children's rights must not be presented as exclusive but should also come with responsibilities for the children. While this school of thought is reasonable, there is a need to draw our attention to the fact that, the African continent is not even halfway towards realising Africa's Agenda for Children 2040. Africa's Agenda for Children presents ten (10) aspirations that require practical and deliberate actions to translate children's rights into a reality. These aspirations speak to the fundamental rights of children living on the continent.
These aspirations will once again come to the spotlight as we commemorate the Day of the African Child this June 16. The theme for this year; "Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children's Rights First" places emphasis on countries to ensure that 'every child is protected against violence, and 'every child is free from the impact of armed conflicts and other disasters or emergency situations. Both these issues are critical in the African Agenda for Children 2040.
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