ACERWC - 3 -Tribune
children, has revealed itself with some
in 2011, the African Union adopted
en their collaboration. Moreover, the
form of peculiarities to advance the
a ‘Regional Human Rights Strategy’.
ACERWC held a consultative meeting
protection of children in Africa. To
This document includes mechanisms
with the AU PSC on 18 February 2014.
monitor the implementation of this
to reduce duplication in human rights
During this meeting, the ACERWC re-
instrument, in accordance with arti-
bodies and to harmonize rules of pro-
quested for the PSC to engage Member
cle 32 of the Charter, the Committee
cedure, strengthen the capacity of hu-
States to take measures and initiatives
of Experts was established in 2001.
man rights bodies, increase the rati-
against recruiting and using children in
The African Union Peace and Se-
fication of human rights instruments,
the armed forces. The PSC, therefore,
curity Council (PSC) is also another Organ
and ‘increase promotion and populari-
welcomed the call for an institutional-
Collaboration meeting ACERWC - AU PSC, 18 February 2014, Addis Ababa
with a significant human rights protec-
zation of African human rights norms’.
ized collaboration between itself and
tion mandate. Although established as
In agreement with the spirit revealed
the ACERWC in engaging AU Mem-
the collective security and early-warning
through the AU Human Rights Strate-
ber States to take necessary measures
mechanism of the AU, the raison d’être
gy, the ACERWC is currently working on
and initiatives to stop the recruitment
of the PSC is not narrowly limited to
mechanisms in order to synergize its
and use of children in armed conflicts.
prevention, management, and resolu-
work with the ACmHPR, the ACtHPR and
tion of conflicts. As clearly stated in the
the AU PSC. Accordingly, the Committee
strong stance on the need for the exist-
preamble of its Protocol, the AU PSC
has held various collaboration meetings
ence of concrete collaboration among
plays a great role in the development
with these Organs with a view to iden-
the various AU Organs with human
of strong democratic institutions and
tify common areas of engagements.
rights mandates, which not only will in-
culture, observance of human rights and
In 11 December 2013, the Com-
crease the efficacy of the Committee as
the rule of law. Article 3 of the Protocol
mittee held a workshop which was
an effective child rights’ mechanism, but
further states that the PSC shall amongst
aimed at identifying areas of collabora-
will also serve to strengthen the collec-
others guarantee the protection of hu-
tion among the ACERWC, the ACmHPR
tive regional human rights system, and
man rights and fundamental freedoms.
and the ACtHPR. During the workshop,
contribute to the creation of a strong,
Looking at the human rights
the three Organs discussed a num-
multi-layered, complementary, joined-up
mandates entrusted to these Organs,
ber of issues with a view to strength-
and united human rights front in Africa.
The ACERWC, therefore, has a