Workshop on the final recommendations of the Committee on Child Rights for francophone countries in West Africa 

Jim Emerson addressing the conference

Ouagadougou Burkina Faso – With support from the UN High Commission on Human Rights (HCDH), Plan, UNICEF and the Human Rights Ministry of Burkina Faso, a regional workshop for French speaking countries in West Africa, on the follow-up of the final recommendations of the UN Committee on Child’s Rights was held in Ouagadougou – Burkina Faso from 06-08 November 2007.

The meeting brought together representatives from relevant governmental agencies, civil society, children’s movements and associations, the media, etc.

The objective of the meeting was to reinforce State parties capacity to implement the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child by increasing awareness on State parties obligations regarding the CRC; exchanging experiences, practices and lessons learned; laying the foundations for improved regional networking and cooperation for the promotion of children’s rights in West Africa, and defining regional and country priorities for child rights.

Visitors at the Shoot Nations exhibition

Key-note speeches during the opening ceremony included that of Jim Emerson, Chief Operating Officer of Plan who pointed out that children make up nearly 60% of the total population of West Africa and should therefore be seen and heard. He then went on to underline among other things the need for an independent monitoring system of CRC implementation involving children, a better inter-ministerial coordination, and a transparent and significant budget allocation to child’ rights issues.

 
Following the opening ceremony, plenary discussions focused on the Convention on Child’s Rights and its optional protocols, the progress made and the challenges faced by the relevant countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo).

It was indicated that all West African countries ratified the Convention but Guinea and Côte are yet to ratify its protocols. Challenges identified within the sub-region included the co-existence of normative and customary law, the lack of an independent monitory body on child’s rights, data collection on child protection, lack of resources and the non-involvement of children in the implementation of their rights, etc.

Following plenary discussions, some working groups were formed to look into critical areas of child’ rights for French speaking West Africa and make the relevant recommendations. These areas included: birth registration, education, health, violence, child labour, child trafficking and juvenile justice.

AURA artists offered an alternate medium for child rights

On the sidelines of the workshop, an advocacy training for a network of Artists United for African Rap (AURA) and an exhibition of photos and drawings made by children and youth from more than 80 countries were organised respectively from 04-05 and from 06-07 November 2007.

The purpose of the advocacy training session was to strengthen the capacity of the AURA musicians to better communicate on child’s right issues.