Senior government officials and civil society leaders of over 30 African countries met in Addis Ababa for three days from 11th – 13th May 2022i in a symposium organized by the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF), an independent non-profit center of policy research and advocacy center on the African child to consider.
The Symposium was organised to take stock of what has been achieve thirty years after the African Children’s Charter was adopted. Though some progress has been made in violence prevention, the gain made in many countries in recent years are in danger of being reversed because of complex social and political problems which have been made worse by economic crises and reduced investment in social and child protection programmes.
The deliberations of the three days ranged from political leadership and legislative and policy measures, inter-sectoral coordination and collaboration to prevent and respond to violence against children, preventative and responsive programmes and services amongst other subjects.
Principal Secretary for Social Affairs, Mrs Linda William-Melanie represented Seychelles and was honoured to deliver a presentation on “Seychelles’ efforts in inter-sector co-ordination for the prevention of violence against children” on the first day of the symposium. Despite that Seychelles may not share some common problems namely, harmful cultural practices, trafficking of children, child marriage amongst a few other forms of violence against children, it was an opportunity to share the context of legal child protection and challenges faced.
The three days was an enriching platform for sharing and exchanges and best practices from which lesson could be learnt. The symposium ended with a renewed call for action by African leaders to commit more effort and required budget towards the preventative measures to stop violence.
Accompanying pictures of PS William-Melanie at the symposium.
NOTE:
Seychelles defended its initial and 2nd, 3rd 4th 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th progress reports on the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child on 25th March 2022.
