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In the recent World Children’s Day of 2024, Africa’s Christian Professionals have decided to Push for “laws, charters, policies” Prioritizing Children. On this year’s occasion of the annual World Children’s Day marked on November 20, members of the Africa Christian Professionals Forum (ACPF) are urging governments, civil society, and international organizations on the continent to implement legal frameworks, charters as well as policies that prioritize children.

In a Monday, November 18 statement, ACI Africa obtained, ACPF members refer to the three-day 2024 Regional World Children’s Day commemorations, which concluded on November 17 in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls, bringing together over 7,000 children from seven Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

“As we mark this day, the ACPF calls upon governments, civil society, and international organizations to strengthen their collaboration in implementing laws, charters, and policies that prioritize children,” Africa’s Christian professionals say.

Having the legal frameworks, charters and policies implemented will guarantee the building of “a future where every child in Africa is valued, protected, and equipped to contribute to the continent’s growth,” they say in their November 18 statement.

The marking of the 2024 Regional World Children’s Day aims to build on “the Calls-for-Action of children and the commitments by the Heads of State made at the previous celebrations, which focused on education, climate, children with disability, and the need for society to be inclusive and uphold child rights,” a highlight on the website reads in part.

The highlight further indicates that children from countries participating in the 2024 Regional World Children’s Day would “present an updated Call-for-Action and hold their governments accountable for the commitments made to promoting child rights.”

The choice to have the celebrations on a weekend (November 15-17) instead of the usual November 20, this year being Wednesday, was “to ensure the commemorations have minimal interference with children’s education,” according to the highlight about the 2024 annual event that was held in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls.

Besides the host country, other Southern African nations that participated in the three-day 2024 Regional World Children’s Day commemorations included Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia, all SADC member countries

In their November 18 statement, Africa’s Christian professionals laud SADC and its member nations “for their unwavering commitment to children’s rights and well-being.”

ACPF members say that the “presence of over 7,000 children at the event reaffirms the region’s dedication to the shared objectives of the AU Agenda 2063, specifically Aspiration 6, which envisions an Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of its children and youth.”

The event of the 2024 Regional World Children’s Day commemorations, they say, “aligns with the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), adopted by the African Union (AU), which emphasizes the protection, development, and participation of children as essential to Africa’s socio-economic progress.”

Africa’s Christian professionals laud activities participants engaged in during the three-day commemorations, which included chess and golf tournaments and cultural exchanges among others.

They say these activities “reflect the spirit of Article 12 of the UNCRC, which promotes children’s participation in matters that affect their lives.”

ACPF members further say the activities are aligned with the SADC Protocol on Education and Training, which encourages regional collaboration in nurturing talent and creativity among young people.

In their November 18 statement, ACPF members go on to laud Botswana’s newly elected President, Duma Gideon Boko, for participating in the commemorations, saying it signals his administration’s “strong commitment to advancing child-centered policies.”

In addition, they applaud President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government for hosting the event in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The collaboration between UNICEF and Zimbabwe, they say, is historic and “reflects the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which underscores the right of every child to education, recreation, and protection from harm.”

In their November 18 statement, ACPF members also laud Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. John Mutorwa, and Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, for their leadership in advocating for children’s rights.

“Their engagement demonstrates a commitment to the ideals of the African Union and the SADC vision of a region characterized by peace, social justice, and sustainable development,” Africa’s Christian professionals say.

Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu
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