Africa’s 30 Year Journey with the African Children’s Charter: Taking stock, rekindling commitment

Thirty years since the adoption of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), various measures have been put in place by African governments to advance children’s rights and wellbeing. Adopted on 11 July 1990, at a time when most African societies were guided by customary and traditional approaches to child care and protection, the ACRWC has since proven to be a unique instrument for fostering a rights-based approach to dealing with children in Africa. In 2020, as Africa celebrates the momentous occasion of three decades of children’s rights, it is pertinent to examine the progress made towards ensuring that those rights are substantively achieved.

Accordingly, the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) has sought to assess the status of child rights in Africa for the past 30 years and to make recommendations for actions to protect and promote child rights and wellbeing on the continent. The findings are also presented in a separate data-rich infographics report which highlights the major milestones, critical challenges and developments.