The Day of the African Child (DAC) is commemorated annually on June 16th in honor of children who participated in the Soweto Uprising of 1976. DAC is of significance to African children and calls for serious introspection and commitment towards addressing the numerous challenges facing children across the continent. Governments, NGOs, and other multi-sectoral stakeholders gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the full realization of the rights of children in Africa. Children’s rights are inherent fundamental entitlements and freedoms of children, which they have merely by virtue of being human. Child rights are fully defined within the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history, to which Uganda is signatory.
Girls not Brides Uganda is organising a Day of the African Child Conference under the theme “Promoting and Protecting Children’s Rights in Schools” on 27th July, 2023 at Golf course hotel.
Girls Not Brides is a global diverse network of over 1600 civil society organizations (CSOs) working to end child marriage across 100 countries in the world. Their experience, unique
understanding and long standing connections with girls and communities are the driving force of our movement. It constitutes of the Girls Not Brides Uganda (GNBU) – National Partnership chaired by Joy for Children Uganda and World Vision Uganda with a membership of 109 CSOs working at community, district, regional and national level committed to ending child marriage and enabling children live to fulfill their potential.
Whereas schools should be safe spaces for children to learn, there are still increasing reports of violence against children in schools. A significant number of both boys and girls have been victims of physical, sexual or emotional abuse within the school environment.
Violence in school decreases self-esteem, reduces attendance, lowers academic grades, and leads many children to drop out of school. Exiting from schooling is documented to accompany child marriage. Child marriage and schooling are viewed as incompatible as there are a number of school drop outs opting for child marriage. As the world rallies to accelerate progress against child marriage, understanding what drives change to its elimination in communities is
important – by ensuring that schools are made safe spaces and a continuing enrollment platform to end child marriages.
The African Children’s Charter stipulates that the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of the child also implies the fulfillment of duties by all relevant stakeholders. The DAC conference will convene a galaxy of voices and delegates that will include children, youth, officials from different Ministry Department Agencies, UN and other development partners, district leaders, religious leaders, private sector such as school administrators and CSOs to reflect, advocate, develop strategies and share learning for approaches required in ending violence against children in schools.
Objectives of the DAC conference
i. Amplify the voices of children on the promotion and protection of their rights in schools
through children’s parliaments, children clubs and edutainment (music, dance,
drama, poetry, spoken word)
ii. Enhance engagement of government, cultural and faith leaders, communities and civil
society in partnership for the promotion and protection of children’s rights in
schools.
