Child and Armed Conflicts in Africa

A central aim of the seminar was to ensure the rights of war-affected children by identifying and discussing concrete avenues of enforcing, reporting on, and monitoring children's rights in conflict and post-conflict situations on the continent. The seminar provided a forum for 20 participants, including human and child rights experts; representatives from the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) system; academics; and civil society groups to shed light on, and offer responses to, the specific needs of children affected by armed conflict (CAAC) in Africa. The meeting investigated the contribution of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) of 1990 to a rights-based approach for the protection of war-affected children. The seminar generated policy debates and recommendations exploring the avenues of collaboration between the UN mechanisms for the protection of children and the AU Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). It further examined the role of various AU organs in monitoring children's rights in conflict and post-conflict situations, and their linkages to specific child rights advocacy and monitoring mechanisms.The following four key themes were addressed during the seminar:1. Overview of the Normative Framework for the Protection of Children Affected by Armed Conflicts in Africa. 2. Mechanisms for Advocating and Monitoring the Rights of Children Affected by Armed Conflict in Africa. 3; Opportunities and Challenges for Ensuring the Rights of Children Affected by Armed Conflict in Africa; and 4. Strategies for Strengthening Collaboration among Advocating and Monitoring Mechanisms for Children's Rights in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations.