Politics and Society
The Day of the African Child In The Context of Sustainable Development Goals
The #DayoftheAfricanChild being celebrated today is a time reflect on how far we have gone as a continent in advancing the rights of children, particularly looking at the education sector in relation to the #SDGS.
The Day of the African Child (DAC) is commemorated every year on 16th June in memory of the 16th June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa, during which an estimated 20,000 South African students marched in protest against the poor quality of education and were massacred by the then apartheid regime in place in South Africa. This protest resulted in many student losing their lives at the hands of the now abolished Apartheid regime in South Africa.
The Day of the African Child (DAC) 2017 is being commemorated on the theme “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for Children in Africa: Accelerating protection, empowerment and equal opportunity”. The Child friendly version is “Accelerating protection, empowerment and equal opportunities for children in Africa by 2030″.
Today is a time for Africans to demand zero tolerance of children’s abuse from their leaders and communities. In line with this year’s theme it is critical to note that there is common ground on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and children’s rights. The African Union’s statement on this day posits that the guiding principles that inform the SDGs and children’s rights – such as inclusivity, participation, equity, and good governance are critical to both. There are a number of Goals that are directly provided for in children’s rights- such as the one on free and compulsory primary education. The reporting requirements under child rights instruments as well as the SDGs framework are both mainly intended for the purpose of holding governments accountable.
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The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) is this year is calling on all States to deal with all forms of violence affecting children including sexual violence and child prostitution, work or labour-related exploitation/abuse, corporal punishment and other forms of violence whether verbal, psychological or otherwise. It is crucial to note that this cannot be achieved without peace and stability on the continent. Peace at home, in the community and at a national level will allow children to grow up in family set ups, get education and health services, wars make children orphans leaving their lives hanging on cliff. It is because of wars, conflicts and such related disturbances that children’s’ rights are often violated. We have seen how armed groups in Somalia and Nigeria manipulate children making them participate in hostilities.
Conclusively gender equality cannot be underscored as being critical to the full development of children across the continent. The ACERWC says equal access for women and girls to education, health care, participation in decision making processes involving family life, work, economics and politics has been shown to be beneficial not only to the women and girls but to entire families and society at large.
I would therefore encourage families across Africa today to treat their children in the same way. May priviledges be given the same way, housework should be shared in the same way. This will ensure girls get an opportunity to build not only their confidence but participate fully in other activities outside the home. This will cultivate a culture of respect in boys who will grow up to respect women’s capabilities.
Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders. May Africa do right by them.