PRI at African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
On 27 November 2011, PRI attended the 18th Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (The Committee) in Algiers to advocate for the better protection of the rights of the children of incarcerated parents. PRI’s position on this important child rights issue is outlined in a recently published paper which was submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Day of Discussion on 30 September 2011.
At the meeting, PRI requested an opportunity to make a submission to request that the Committee consider developing a general comment to interpret Article 30 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (The African Charter). Article 30, which relates to State Parties’ obligations to provide mothers in conflict with the law with special treatment in order to protect the rights of their children, has not yet been the subject of further elaboration by the Committee. The development of a general comment to interpret Article 30 would provide States Parties with important guidance on the implementation of the article and clearer benchmarks against which States can be held to account for their obligation to protect the rights of the children of imprisoned parents.
See: Briefing on the African Committee of Experts on Rights and Welfare of the Child