World Vision Statement at the 44th ordinary session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
World Vision International would like to congratulate the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child for organizing its 44th Ordinary Session in the Kingdom of Lesotho. We appreciate the commitment of the Committee of Experts to collaborate with partners to address challenges faced by children across the continent. We would also like to congratulate the AU and the UN for the historic agreement signed in August (in Geneva) to strengthen child protection through sharing resources and enhanced synergies.
On a rather sad note, World Vision would like to extend our condolences to the Committee, family, friends and the child rights fraternity on the passing away of Honourable Teophanne Nikyema, may his soul rest in peace
We are pleased to know that, during this Session, the Committee will consider Periodic Reports from the Republics of Zambia and Namibia. We are however concerned about the low submission of periodic reports by Member States and will be happy to work with the Committee and Member States to improve on reporting and implementation of recommendations.
Our vision for every child – life in all its fullness, inspires and drives us, as an organization to collaborate with all stakeholders to enhance effective participation of children on platforms that affect them and will continue to support the participation of children during Committee Sessions to ensure that decisions taken by the Committee, reflect their views and agency.
Honourable Chair, I would like to crave your indulgence to provide you with an update, since the 43rd Committee Session here in Maseru:
World Vision continues to launch its ambitious ENOUGH Campaign to address child hunger and malnutrition. The Campaign aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 2 on zero hunger and envisions a world where every child enjoys enough nourishing food and thrives. The Campaign has so far been launched in 20 out of the 27 countries where we work and is premised on ensuring: right food for children in crisis; enough funding for child malnutrition; quality school meals; effective nutrition policies and services; and regulation of food and beverages marketed to children (among others).
World Vision has developed a policy brief in partnership with ACPF on ending child hunger and malnutrition in Africa. The policy brief reaffirms the urgent need for decisive action to end hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition at all levels of governance in our continent by 2030. The policy brief will be launched during the Africa Day for Nutrition and Nutrition Security in Zimbabwe next month
Hon. Chair, over 19m children in Sudan continue to be denied access to education because of the ongoing war which has displaced many families and exposed girls and women to all forms of abuses. World Vision working with other partners, met the High-Level Panel on Sudan asked them to engage all stakeholders to an end to the war. We have also used various social media platforms to draw the attention of key players to help end the war and allow children back to school
Whilst updating the Committee about World Vision’s assessment of the situation in Africa, we would also like to reiterate the following calls, which were made during the 43rd Session for your consideration and action.
We continue to be concerned about crises across the continent such as Sudan, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo where WV staff continue to provide humanitarian interventions. We would like to express our unfailing support to children in conflict situations and urge the Committee and other stakeholders to take steps to intervene in these crises. We will encourage the Committee to undertake missions to these countries if possible
World Vision would like to call on AU Member States to invest in quality home-grown school feeding programs and food systems to address child hunger and malnutrition across the continent. We believe the upcoming Africa Day of Food and Nutrition Security provides an opportunity for Member States to reiterate the commitment to quality school feeding
Hon Chair, World Vision commits to collaborate with the Committee and other stakeholders to make children’s rights a priority in Africa. We wish you a successful 44th Session.
For more information, please contact Samuel Norgah (Director) World Vision AU Liaison Office – Samuel_norgah@wvi.org