In 2006 more than 100 child focused organizations came together to discuss ways to foster and strengthen collaboration and joint action by establishing an Africa-wide movement for children. These organizations agreed that such a movement was long overdue and subsequently established a steering committee composed of eight organizations and networks operating in Africa to take the proposal forward and deliberate on the format that it should constitute.
The Steering Committee, after lengthy deliberations and after looking into the various possibilities, called a second consultative meeting of child, youth and human rights organizations for 11 May 2008. In this meeting the
Committee proposed for an Africa-wide Movement, with its possible objectives and structure that would serve as a tool to lobby for the betterment of the lives and living conditions of children.
I am, therefore, happy to declare that the meeting has endorsed the establishment of the Africa-wide Movement for Children. This Movement would serve as a tool at a continent/higher level that would point out the plight of children in African countries and push concerned bodies towards this agenda.
The main objective of the Movement will be:
a. |
To contribute to the emergence of an African Voice for Children |
b. |
To Advocate and lobby for the promotion and protection of the best interests of the African Child at the national and pan-African level |
c. |
To promote solidarity and provide mutual support and collaboration amongst child rights organizations |
d. |
To promote accountability amongst child rights organizations with respect to the children under their care |
The movement will have child - focused organizations and networks, institutions supporting children's issues and individual child activists as members.
Some of the envisioned activities are:
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Facilitating and promoting the exchange of information, |
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Advocacy work for the rights of children in general and of those in especially difficult situation, specifically those caught in conflict and similar situations,
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Alerting and mobilizing members against dangers to child-rights advocates and defenders, |
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Helping define and articulate common positions at the pan-African and international levels |
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Lobbying for the best interests of children in national, Pan-African and international fora |
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Seek opportunities to collaborate on joint activates e.g. research, sharing of best practice interventions |
The movement will have the following structure
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General Assembly that will meet every 2 years |
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Custodians ( that will serve for 2 years ) and |
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A Secretariat |
The meeting elected the following individuals to serve for the coming two years starting now:
| Ms Wambui Njiguna |
President |
| |
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Dr Moussa Sissoko
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Vice President |
Ms Stella Ayo Odongo, UCRNN
|
Member |
Mr Yassir
|
“ |
Prof. Rose September
|
“ |
Aime Bada
|
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Vacant
|
“ |
The African Child Policy Forum will serve as the secretariat of the Movement.
We call on all child-rights and welfare organizations in Africa to come together to share information, build on each others successes and create a strong voice.
We call on all international organizations outside the Continent to back this Movement and help us create the necessary focus and attention to the pertinent and life threatening issues that the movement is committed to address.
I therefore take this opportunity to launch the Africa - wide Movement for Children and urge you all to join hands and help change the destiny of children in Africa .
Thank You
| Wambui Njuguna ,President, Africa-wide Movement for Children and |
| Program Director, ANNPCAN |
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