Since 1991, every June 16th mark the day of the African Child, and is honored world wide. This year the Day is dedicated to the right of the African child to participate, particularly to be seen and heard. Today marks “The day of the African Child,” which this year is dedicated to the Right to Participate: Let Children be Seen and Heard. The visibility of children is often taken for granted in even the most democratic state, however in many nations of Africa children have become largely invisible in all aspects, despite the high instances of abuse, violence, poverty, gender inequality and low literacy rates.
UNICEF is working to highlight the importance of child participation participation in schools, community action, media, and governance, highlighting in particular the importance of the 4th Junior 8 Summit. The Junior 8 Summit which will occur next month in Japan, gives youth from around the world an opportunity to share their views directly with world leaders gathered for the G8.
Young people's voices must be heard, UN officials stress on Day of African Child, especially in Sudan;
"Every year, the Day of the African Child reminds adults of the importance to include children in the planning and decision making processes in Sudan," UNICEF Country Representative Ted Chaiban said, calling for greater efforts to listen to the voices of children and to protect them from harm. "With an estimated 20 million Sudanese under the age of 18 , half of the population , it is vital that the views and aspirations of this generation form a central pillar in the recovery and development of Sudan, and that these children can live in an environment free of fear," he added.
Children across the continent of Africa remain silenced by their denial to participate in the building and reconstruction of their countries and have an active role in democratic participation. Those children who face violence in the many conflict ridden states, are most often denied, or have limited access to legal support, as well as medical, physiological care, and education. Thus while children remain the highest population of those effected and victimized by conflict they have the smallest voice, which not only impedes their own recovery, but the adequate and sustainable building of the community and country on the whole.
Children who are accused of violating criminal codes and laws are often not given a fair trail, but dealt with informally by the local police. This denies a child access to a fair trial and thus often leads to inappropriate action and often abuse. Often a child's access to fair trial or other various forms of participation are denied simply due to a lack of resources and knowledge, which therefore must be addressed by both the state and the international community to see that children are not marginalized. This is especially crucial for those who are victims of gender based violence, including rape as a weapon of war; as well as for those children who are being reintegrated following conflict, such as child soldiers.
UNICEF and other NGO's working towards participation have a lot of work on their hands, however they are off to a good start. What one needs to see done to ensure that children across Africa are both seen and heard is to: increase resources and programs to all organizations working with children; work to end corruption and impunity of such violent crimes committed against children; establish child specific training programs for all personnel working with children; establish judicial systems designed to protect the violation against children's fundamental rights.
For more information on the legal framework regarding child participation see Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which includes the right of the child to be heard and have his or her view given consideration in all judicial and administrative proceeding affecting him or her. For further information please see the African Charter on the Right and Welfare of the Child, for which article 4 states, how is in the best interest of the child and thus provides for the right of the African child to have his or her view considered in all proceedings affecting him or her.
For more information and news please see:
On the day of the African Child, UNICEF in Sudan calls for children to be heard and better protected
Rwanda leading Africa in Promoting Children's Participation
Malawi's Youth Parliament convenes in run-up to Day of the African Child
