All set for launch of first General Comment on African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

4 September 2014 at 5.45pm (UTC+2)

Vineyard Hotel

Cape Town, South Africa

It is now just over a week until the official launch of the first ever General Comment from the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). Adopted in November 2013, General Comment No.1 on Children of Incarcerated and Imprisoned Parents and Primary Caregivers relates to Article 30 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child – a unique provision in human rights law requiring ‘special treatment’ of mothers who are in conflict with the law.

The Comment aims to ensure non-custodial sentences are always considered first for pregnant women and mothers of young children. It establishes key principles for States implementing Article 30 and sets out clear legal, policy and administrative measures that States need to have in place in order to protect this uniquely vulnerable group of children. The full text of the Comment is now available from the Committee’s website in English, French and Arabic.

PRI supported development of the General Comment in terms of research and drafting and, together with the ACERWC, has produced a Short Guide to the General Comment, summarising the obligations set out in the Comment, section by section. The Short Guide is currently available in English and French, with an Arabic version to follow shortly.

To launch and promote the General Comment, the ACERWC is holding an event, supported by PRI and Plan International, which will include a panel discussion chaired by Alison Hannah, Executive Director of PRI, with speakers representing the ACERWC, the African Child Policy Forum and Plan International.

The event takes place as part of the Child Safeguarding Conference 2014, which runs from 3-5 September at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Conference is organised by Keeping Children Safe and a consortium of organisations on the theme ‘Keeping Children Safe in Africa: Identifying and Addressing the Challenges’. Speakers from 10 African countries, Europe, Australia and the United States will discuss the challenges of ensuring their organisations’ work, staff and operations do not harm children.

View the full Conference Programme here.

If you are attending the Conference, be sure to visit PRI’s stand to learn more about our work and come along to the launch event! If you are interested in joining the Conference please contact Maryam at Maryam.ehsani@keepingchildrensafe.org.uk