Plan at the Ninth CSO Forum on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

The 9th Civil Society Organisations Forum (CSO Forum) on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) was held in Dakar - Senegal from April 2nd - 4th 2014. The first time the forum has come to the West African region.

The theme of this meeting was a reflection on the theme of the Day of the African Child for 2014: “A child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa”.

Plan Senegal on behalf of all Plan offices in Africa, took part in this important event and excelled during presentations and discussion panels.

“This CSO Forum is very opportune” Plan Senegal’s Interim Country Director, Amavi Akpamagbo said. “Plan believes that there is an urgent need for increased efforts from all actors and significant additional resources before a child-friendly quality education could become a reality for the African child and not remain a slogan. Education is the foundation of development and everything else stems from it” he added.

The Civil Society Organisations Forum on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) was formed in 2009 to ensure a united voice on behalf of Africa’s children and to strengthen the work of the ACERWC in carrying out its mandate.

It brings together CSOs from across Africa, Child Rights experts, and representatives from the African Union. The Forum is organised twice a year.

Participants discuss issues relating to child rights (panels, working sessions) and prepare resolutions and recommendations for the ACERWC session which follows.

The objectives of this 9th CSO Forum were to create a platform for sharing practices that relate to the theme, to strengthen the interaction of CSOs, ACERWC and other Regional Economic Bodies and to foster the strengthening of

regional coalitions through development of joint work plans.

Mrs. Anta Sarr, Senegalese Minister of Women and family affairs visiting Plan

Senegal stand.

The Forum was opened by a performance of youth groups coming from different parts of the country, who were supervised by Plan staff. During their performance, they highlighted all difficulties faced by African children for their education. The performance was well received by participants.

The Senegalese Minister of Women and Family Affairs, in her speech explained that despite a political will and important investments in the area of education, efforts are still needed.

Assessments show that there is a dysfunction between planning and resource mobilisation, even if a legal framework is in place. Working with civil society, including NGOs, will help in closing this gap.

Moussa Sall, a youth from Kedougou, 700 km from Dakar, in his keynote address on behalf of children during the opening ceremony, called on political authorities and civil society organisations to step up their efforts to provide access to quality education to all children. Moussa’s request was reinforced by girls from the AMWCY (African Movement of Working Children and Youth), who asked for more support and access for all children to formal and non-formal education.

Plan Senegal’s Programme Support Manager, Mrs Assalama DAWALACK SIDI, reassured them during her presentation. She explained how Plan has always prioritised education in its strategies and how the organisation is addressing the issues and challenges faced by children for their education in Africa. She invited all participants to support our BIAAG campaign to promote girls education. Mrs Assalama, called for a more united effort and action plan to better tackle issues that children are facing today in Africa.

At the closing ceremony, Mame Fatou from John F Kenndy girls' school shared her overall impressions about the forum: "I am satisfied being reassured that our expectations will be taken into consideration in decision making boards.

For more information please contact:

Assalama Dawalack Sidi, PSM Plan Senegal Assalama..sidi@plan-international.org Oumi Diop, ………………. ..................Oumi.Diop@plan-international.org Malick Diop, …………….....................Malick.Diop@plan-international.org

Abdourahmane Diouf, ………………. Abdourahmane.Diouf@plan-international.org

Youth representative, Moussa Sall (third from the right) during his

speech. Next to him is Mrs. Anta Sarr, Senegal’s Minister of Women and

Family.

�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������