African conference endorses action plan on children future
Regional, Culture, 5/31/2001

The Pan-African Forum on the future of children Wednesday reached a common position and a plan of action to be submitted to the UN General Assembly special session on children.

The session will be held in New York in September to assess the accomplishments achieved since the ratification of the world Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC) by all the African states with the exception of Somalia.

Some 53 African states affirmed their responsibility as governments and citizens in ensuring the full range of the rights of children in Africa.

The African states ensured the inseparability of the African Charter of the Welfare and Rights of Children, which took effect two years ago, and the necessity of respecting all rights and equally implementing them.

They voiced belief that "Africa's children need full support and commitment and they deserve it now" so as to combat violence and HIV/AIDS infection and provide them with education and appropriate nutrition.

The 25-page declaration, endorsed after a session of discussions this afternoon, voiced Africa's grave concern over war and armed conflicts, which have an enormous negative impact on the civilian population, especially children and women.

The states admitted that Africa's children have lost another decade without being able to prevent the tragedy of HIV/AIDS pandemic, and that the continent stood in danger of losing another generation.

The declaration necessitates that the African countries work on reducing non-AIDS related diseases to the level of the 1990 world declaration, mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 25 per cent by 2005 and the infection of AIDS in young people aged 15-24 by 25 % by 2005.

Also, a commitment was made to provide HIV/AIDS prevention information and services for 90 % of youths by 2003 and provide universal primary education and treatment for children with special needs.

The African states called for a clear and realistic plan of action, giving priority to children and youths and considering HIV/AIDS number one survival mission.

They committed themselves to protecting children in situation of armed conflicts and under foreign occupation, stopping the use of children as soldiers and protecting former child soldiers from summary execution, curbing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons at national and international levels, eliminating the threat posed by landmines and curbing the growing phenomenon of child trafficking.

The African position included an item on follow-up actions and monitoring through developing transparent and realistic national plans with achievable goals and clear timetables by 2002. The position included an annex, evaluating the accomplishments and the failure of the last decade.

Previous Stories:
  African Forum discusses rights of African children   (5/29/2001)
  Annan invites Mubarak to attend UN session on child   (5/29/2001)
  Speech of Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak at the pan African Forum on the future of Children   (5/28/2001)

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