The Big Apple Experience /DAC

What a Awesome day for me at ilab's

Welcome to Hon. Beyan F. Pewee blog and it is an opportunity for me to have you as my viewer. Please consider making meaningful contribution to this blog.

This is where we share our own experience and prioritize Child rights Promotio0n and Protection in Liberia.

I also want to announce to you that the Day of the African Child is up and we are anticipating  to have a hug participation this year, especially in Nimba county.

Please continue reading  below the background of the DAC 2013.

THEME: “ELIMINATING HARMFUL SOCIAL AND CULTURAL PRACTICES AFFECTING CHILDREN: OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY”

I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Day of the African Child (DAC) is commemorated every year on June 16 by Member States of the African Union (AU), and its Partners (in accordance with Resolution CM/Res.1290 (XL).
2. This commemoration is firstly an occasion to recall the 1976 uprisings in Soweto, when a protest by school children in South Africa against apartheid-inspired education resulted in the brutal and deadly repression of these unarmed young protesters by police officials. Secondly, the DAC further presents an opportunity to reflect on the lived realities of children in Africa. It allows caregivers focus on the work of all actors committed to the rights of children on the continent, to consolidate their efforts in addressing the obstacles for realizing the rights of children. The DAC also provides an occasion for Governments, International Institutions and communities to renew their on-going commitments towards improving the plight of marginalized in general and particularly vulnerable children and raising awareness. These Governments, Institutions and Communities organize activities and programs to improve the situation of all children and to include those who require special care.
3. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), the treaty body established to monitor the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) annually selects the theme for the DAC. In 2012, African States commemorated the 22nd DAC under the theme of “The Rights of Children with Disabilities: The Duty to Protect, Respect, Promote and Fulfil”. This commemoration aimed at creating widespread awareness of the rights of children with disabilities and the necessary measures that need to be undertaken in order to uphold their rights.

4. For the commemoration of the 23rd DAC in 2013, the African Committee has selected and adopted the theme ““Eliminating Harmful Social and Cultural Practices affecting Children: Our Collective Responsibility”.” The AU Executive Council has endorsed this theme during its 21th Session held in July 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

5. The purpose of this concept note is to elaborate on the reason that led the Committee to choose this theme, the content, the nature of obligations of States and the role of other stakeholders in relation to this theme. While it is not prescriptive, these guidelines give an idea of the main activities and obligations of States parties to be considered under this theme. Attached at the end of the concept note is a Reporting Guideline on the celebration of the DAC for States to enable them to submit a summary to the ACERWC on the activities undertaken for the celebration of the DAC.

II. TERMINOLOGY

6. In ordinary parlance, the term “harmful traditional practice” has been particularly associated with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Here, however, the term “harmful practice” is used to cover all traditional, customary, social and religious practices that are injurious to children’s physical, psychological and social well-being, health, education and general development.

7. « Violence result(s) in severe traumas on children as well as serious and lasting psycho-traumatic consequences on their health, with repercussions on their psychomotor development, their schooling and their social life in the short and long term1. »
III. Objectives of the 2013 - Day of the African Child (DAC)
8. The general objective of the celebration of the DAC in 2013 is to call attention to harmful social and cultural practices against children, and highlight the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders. In particular, underscoring the roles and responsibilities of States Parties to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child “Statement on Violence against Children” pages 2 & 3. Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in order to combat and eliminate harmful practices against children in Africa is one of the main objectives of the 2013 DAC.

9. The specific objectives of the celebration of the 2013 DAC are the following:

- To take stock of and raise awareness about harmful practices against children;
- To highlight the negative consequences of harmful practices on the various rights of children;
- To explain the impact of various activities resulting from the ratification of international and regional Human rights in Harmful Practices in particular by using research on the topic;
- To recommend the urgent need to review existing legislative and policy frameworks, as well as practices, at national level to combat and eliminate harmful practices against children;
- To undertake advocacy with African Governments, civil society organizations including faith based organizations, the media and other role players for greater mobilization for the realization of the rights of children against harmful practices;
- To identify areas of concern, aligned with the African Children’s Charter and the Call for Accelerated Action, where action should be taken by Governments as a matter of urgency;
- To consider effective strategies for the prevention of harmful practices against children.