Open Access

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: A Commentary
Edited by Julia Sloth-Nielsen, Elvis Fokala & Godfrey Odongo
2024
ISBN: 978-1-0672371-7-2
e-ISBN: 978-1-0672371-8-9
Pages: 598
Print version: Available
Electronic version: Free PDF available
About the publication
Since its adoption in July 1990 and entry into force in November 1999, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter), has become a key treaty within the African human rights system, governing children’s rights in Africa. To date, 51 out of 55 African Union member states have ratified the African Children’s Charter, which demonstrates a growing commitment to respect, protect and promote the rights of children. There is no doubt that the Charter, since entering into force, has significantly contributed to the development of standards and practice related to children in Africa. This comprehensive commentary on the African Children’s Charter, the first of its kind, provides a systematic analysis of each article of the Charter, tracing the origin of the rights, highlighting and explaining unique African concepts and normative standards featured in the Charter. The Commentary aims to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for anyone interested in protecting and promoting children’s rights in Africa, such as researchers, teachers, students, practitioners, policy-makers and activists. Authored by an array of contributors steeped in African jurisprudence and human rights values, comprising 38 discrete chapters, it constitutes an essential and contemporary guide to the legal understanding of the various provisions the Charter provides for.
It is edited by three African scholars prominent in the field of children’s rights in Africa, Prof Julia Sloth-Nielsen, Prof Elvis Fokala and Dr Godfrey Odongo. This Commentary is the second in the PULP series of Commentaries on African human rights law.
Table of Contents
Table of abbreviations and acronyms
Table of cases
Table of legislation
Preface
Frans Viljoen
Contributors
Chapter 1 ~ Introduction
Julia Sloth-Nielsen
Chapter 2 ~ Article 1 Obligation of state parties
Julia Sloth-Nielsen
Chapter 3 ~ Article 2 Defi nition of a child
Danwood M Chirwa and Seraphina Bakta
Chapter 4 ~ Article 3 Non-discrimination
Ronaldah Lerato Karabo Ozah and Robert Doya Nanima
Chapter 5 ~ Article 4 Best interests of the child
Admark Moyo
Chapter 6 ~ Article 5 Survival and development
Yehualashet Mekonen and Retta Getachew
Chapter 7 ~ Article 6 Name and nationality
Rachel Sloth-Nielsen
Chapter 8 ~ Article 7 Freedom of expression
Elvis Fokala
Chapter 9 ~ Article 8 Freedom of association and peaceful assembly
Elvis Fokala
Chapter 10 ~ Article 9 Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Thoko Kaime and Shyreen Chirwa
Chapter 11 ~ Article 10 Protection of privacy
Opal Masocha Sibanda
Chapter 12 ~ Article 11 Education
Ann Skelton and Perekeme Mutu
Chapter 13 ~ Article 12 Leisure, recreation and cultural activities
Rongedzayi Fambasayi
Chapter 14 ~ Article 13 Handicapped children
Shimelis Tsegaye Tesemma
Chapter 15 ~ Article 14 Health and health services
Ebenezer Durojaye
Chapter 16 ~ Article 15 Child labour
Nkatha Murungi and Nqobani Nyathi
Chapter 17 ~ Article 16 Protection against child abuse and torture
Afua Twum-Danso Imoh
Chapter 18 ~ Article 17 Administration of juvenile justice
Jamil Ddamulira Mujuzi
Chapter 19 ~ Article 18 Protection of the family
Conrad Nyamutata
Chapter 20 ~ Article 19 Parental care and children’s right to reside with parents
Godfrey Odongo
Chapter 21 ~ Article 20 Parental responsibilities
Lize Mills
Chapter 22 ~ Article 21 Protection against harmful social and cultural practices
Usang Assim
Chapter 23 ~ Article 22 Armed conflicts
Robert Doya Nanima
Chapter 24 ~ Article 23 Refugee children
Precious Eriamiatoe
Chapter 25 ~ Article 24 Adoption
Julia Sloth-Nielsen
Chapter 26 ~ Article 25 Separation from parents
Meseret Ande
Chapter 27 ~ Article 26 Protection against apartheid and discrimination
Thandeka Nokwanda Khoza
Chapter 28 ~ Article 27 Sexual exploitation
Julia Sloth-Nielsen
Chapter 29 ~ Article 28 Drug abuse
Rachel Sloth-Nielsen
Chapter 30 ~ Article 29 Sale, trafficking and abduction
Charissa E Fawole
Chapter 31 ~ Article 30 Children of imprisoned mothers
Lukas M Muntingh
Chapter 32 ~ Article 31 Responsibilities of the child
Julia Sloth-Nielsen and Rachel Sloth-Nielsen
Chapter 33 ~ Articles 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 African Children’s Committee and the Secretariat
Ayalew Getachew Assefa
Chapter 36 ~ Article 42 Mandate
Adiam Zemenfes Tsighe
Chapter 35 ~ Article 43 Reporting procedure
Rachel Murray
Chapter 36 ~ Article 44 Communications
Frans Viljoen
Chapter 37 ~ Article 45 Investigations by the Committee
Amy Tuchten
Chapter 38 ~ Article 46 Sources of inspiration
Robert Doya Nanima and Elvis Fokala