| Major group affiliation: |
- Children and youth
- Non-governmental organization
|
| Involvement in UN Partnerships: |
Yes |
| If yes, explain in detail: |
ACPF’s partnerships with UN agencies focus on capacity building for civil society organisations on governance, gender equality, international law, and poverty reduction. ACPF works in close collaboration with the two UNICEF Regional offices for Eastern and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa on child rights, specifically in relation to supporting the development and implementation of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child Strategic Plan 2015-19, child protection, supporting the Day of the African Child (June 16), advocating for the support to national partnerships, priorities for children in Africa for the post 2015 agenda. Other areas of work include children legal protection centres, inter-country adoption, child protection systems, accountability for child wellbeing at national levels. ACPF partners with UNECA on social development issues including budgeting for children and social protection. ACPF partners with the UN SRSG on Violence against Children and UNICEF to advocate for the elimination of violence against children in the post-2015 development agenda. ACPF’s research work combined jointly with follow-up advocacy with its UN partners ensures countries make progress towards fulfilling their obligations towards children. |
| Affiliation with other organizations: |
ACPF is engaged with other organisations working towards sustainable development related to child rights and well-being at the pan-African level, such as: Save the Children International; Plan International; World Vision International; ECPAT International; SOS Children Villages International. |
| Publications: |
Children and family in international law and practice (2004). Responding to the plight of women and girls in Africa (2004). Harmonisation of laws on children: some practical guidance (2007). Harmonisation of national laws with the Convention on the Rights of the Child: some observations and suggestions (2007). In the best interest of the child: harmonisation of laws in Eastern and Southern Africa (2007). Realising rights for children – good practices of Eastern and Southern Africa (2007). Child Poverty in Africa: an overview (2009). Child Poverty and deprivation in Africa (2009). Child Poverty: African and international perspectives (2009). Child-friendly laws in Africa (2009). Harmonisation of children’s laws in Eastern and Southern Africa: country briefs (2012). Harmonisation of children’s laws in West and Central Africa: country briefs (2012). The African Report on Child Wellbeing (published every two years): How Child-friendly are African Governments (2008), Budgeting for Children in Africa (2011), Towards greater accountability to Africa's Children (2013). |
Statements or documents submitted
Commission on Sustainable Development:
|
None |
| Affiliation with other organizations: |
Addis Ababa University; African Union (Department of Social Affairs); African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC); Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS); Overseas Development Institute (ODI); Plan International (and members: Plan Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Ethiopia); The AfricaWide Movement for Children (AMC); Inter-agency group on strengthening child protection systems; Better care network; The Pan-African Network on Parenting in Africa (PAN); Save the Children International (and members: Save the Children Sweden, Canada, Denmark); UNICEF; UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre; University of Western Cape, Community Law Centre; World Bank; World Vision |
| Publications: |
The 1st International Policy Conference on the African Child and the Family: full report (2004). Youth participation: concepts, models and experiences (2006). The 3rd International Policy Conference on the African Child: Child Poverty in Africa (2008). The African Report on Child Wellbeing 2008: how child- friendly are African governments? (2008). Shaping the Future - Through the voices of African parents (2009). Breaking the silence: violence against children with disabilities in Africa (2010). The 4th International Policy Conference on the African Child: Budgeting for Children (2010). Children with disabilities in Africa: challenges and opportunities (2011). Educating children with disabilities in Africa: towards a policy of inclusion (2011). Missing voices: children with disabilities in Africa (2011). Parenting in Africa – Voices of African Children (2011). The lives of children with disabilities in Africa: glimpses into a hidden world (2011). The 5th International Policy Conference on the African Child: inter-country adoption (2012). Towards an African position on children and the Post-2015 development agenda (2013). Africa's children and the Post-2015 development agenda (2013). The 6th International Policy Conference on the African Child: social protection in Africa, making it work for children (2014). Access denied: voices of persons with disabilities in Africa (2014). The African Report on Children with Disabilities (2014). |
| Purpose of the organization: |
ACPF was established in 2003 with the conviction that putting children on the public and political agenda is fundamental for the realisation of their rights and wellbeing and for bringing about lasting social and economic progress in Africa. Our vision is that every child in Africa will be able to lead a healthy life and contribute to the emergence of a peaceful, democratic and prosperous continent that can overcome marginalisation in a globalised world. Our mission is to put children in Africa on the public agenda, through the promotion of supportive policies and laws. ACPF’s work is rights-based, inspired by universal values and informed by global experiences and knowledge. Its research and advocacy work is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and other relevant regional and international human rights instruments. ACPF aims to specifically contribute to improved knowledge on children in Africa; monitor and report progress; identify policy options; provide a platform for dialogue; collaborate with governments, inter-governmental organisations and civil society organisations in the development and implementation of effective pro-child policies and programmes; and also promote a common voice for children in and out of Africa. ACPF has a solid base of research and advocacy work on specific topics related to children in Africa, and has published reports on various issues such as budgeting for children, violence against children, children with disabilities, child-headed households, skilful parenting, harmonisation of laws on children, inter-country adoption, and child justice. In addition to these thematic reports, every two years, ACPF publishes its flagship report, the African Report on Child Wellbeing, which ranks the performance of governments in realising the rights and wellbeing of children. Many countries are making impressive efforts to improve the social and economic wellbeing of children, through, for example, universal or improved access to health and education. Still, life for millions of Africa’s children remains hard, insecure, and fragile. Almost all political leaders profess their governments’ commitment to children's cause. But the promises have not been met and do not look like they will soon be met. In this perspective, ACPF aims to strengthen government’s accountability to children. It follows-up on progress and accountability to ensure that all countries have harmonised, or are in the process of harmonising their national laws with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), and other major international instruments related to the rights and wellbeing of children in Africa. Furthermore, it informs and supports governments, regional and national child-rights bodies and civil-society organisations through capacity strengthening, advocacy and policy dialogue. |
| Activities relevant to the conference of States Parties to the convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: |
ACPF is working towards building evidence-based advocacy; influencing policy reform; developing and contributing to systems strengthening at pan-African and national levels to include Disabled Peoples’ Organisations. In December 2014, at the occasion of the launch of its African Report on Children with Disabilities (2014), ACPF organised a pan-African symposium on Children with disabilities. The symposium was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and brought together networks and organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs), African experts on disabilities, civil society organisations (CSOs), the UNECA, governments (Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US mission to the African Union, DFID) and intergovernmental (African Union) bodies. For more information, see http://www.africanchildforum.org/site/index.php/disabilitysymposium.html. The African Report on Children with Disabilities (2014) systematically analysed the progress and persistent challenges that children with disabilities face in Africa. This recent study carried by ACPF shows that children with disabilities face numerous challenges including stigma and discrimination. Discriminatory practices take place almost in all settings: within the family, in the community, in public service delivery facilities and the society at large. Such unfavourable conditions are barriers to the realization of their rights and their involvement and participation in family and community matters that directly affect them. Informed by the international standards and treaties including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), addressing the rights of children with disabilities, ACPF calls upon governments to coordinate their efforts to address the barriers and create conducive environment that ensures equal participation of persons with disabilities including children with disability in matters that affect them at all levels. ACPF has embarked on a scope of work “Supporting children with disabilities in Africa”, initiated to contribute to national, regional and pan-African efforts aimed at promoting inclusive policies, programmes and service provisions which contribute towards the creation of an environment where children with disabilities participate in all aspects of life on equal footing as their non-disabled counterparts. |
| Confirmation of the activities of the organization at the regional, national or international level: |
ACPF is an independent pan-African research and policy institution working on child rights. It has a credible reputation, and an operational capacity that enables it to account for resources in a cost-efficient accountable manner. The organisation has attained significant levels of influence, reach and recognition highlighted in the Evaluation of ACPF’s programmes 2007-11. Like many organisations including United Nations organisations, ACPF is committed to the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of the child. Yet, ACPF’s vision and mandate are unique. ACPF is one of the very few organisations focusing their work on evidence-based policy research on the African child. ACPF aims to focus on context specific challenges and progress unique to Africa; that reflects the perspectives and voices of African children; and that aims to strengthen accountability towards children in the African continent through national and regional mechanisms and structures. |
| A list of members of the governing body of the organization, and their countries of nationality: |
- H.E. Dr Graça Machel, Chairperson of the ACPF International Board of Trustees (IBoT) (Mozambique). - Ms Catherine Mbengue, Chairperson of the ACPF Administrative Council (Switzerland). - Mr Théophane Nikyèma, Executive Director (Burkina Faso). - Prof Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Chairperson, United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (Ethiopia). - Mrs. Sidikou Aissatou Alassane Moulaye, Chairperson, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Niger). - Dr Agnes Akosua Aidoo (Ghana). - Professor Jaap E. Doek (Netherlands). - Mr Per Engbak (Norway). - Professor Kamel Filali (Algeria). - Professor Yanghee Lee (South Korea). - Dr Najat Maalla M’jid (Morocco). - Dr Hamid Tabatabai (Iran). - Mr Jean-Baptiste Zoungrana (Burkina Faso). |
| Description of the membership of the organization, indicating the total number of members: |
None |
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