Recommendation on the Situation of Women and Children in Africa
We the participants at the Forum on NGO Participation at the Ordinary Session of the ACHPR,
Considering the repeated violations of rights affecting women and children in Africa;
Considering the deportation, enslavement, trafficking of street children and the proliferation of street children in certain African countries;
Considering the persistence of harmful traditional practices against women and/or children in certain African countries (children “talibes”, street children and genital mutilations);
Considering the increasing feminisation of poverty and the stigmatisation of female victims of HIV Aids;
The Forum recommends that:
- All AU Member States ratify the Protocol to the African Charter relating to the rights of Women in Africa to ensure its entry into force;
- All AU Member States ratify the United Nations Convention Against all forms of Discrimination against Women, and those States which ratified the Convention with reservations should rescind them;
- Internal Laws be harmonised with the above-mentioned international instruments;
- A special mechanism for the protection of women and children in conflict situations be established;
- Child soldiers be disarmed and demobilised and a social reintegration system be put in place;
- The effective implementation by member states of HIV Aids Control Programmes;
- The setting up of a system providing women access to social security;
- Active African NGO networks be created in the areas of Women Rights or Rights of the Child at the national and regional levels.
Done in Banjul, May 20th, 2004
