Open Access
 88x31
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

DOWNLOAD THIS BOOK


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

 Index 


 Open Access
 88x31

DOWNLOAD THIS BOOK

ORCID

ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier that distinguishes you from every other researcher and, through integration in key research workflows such as manuscript and grant submission, supports automated linkages between you and your professional activities ensuring that your work is recognised. If you do not have such an ID, please register at the website https://orcid.org/register.