ACERWC - 4 -Tribune Expert talks “Eradicate War on the African Continent, Hope in an Africa Fit For Child” Dr. Félicité Muhimpundu, Member of the ACERWC T he protection and promotion of children’s rights is a moral and legal duty of every parent , every society and every country . As such, it is up to Africans to make every effort to ensure that Africa is a continent fit for children according to the principles and the vision of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, adopted in 1990 by the Heads of States and the commitment made by these same States in 2007 in Cairo. Nowadays, many African countries experienced situations of armed conflict and genocide, and some are still subject to their extremely harmful consequences; social or political tensions have raised fears that may lead to uprisings which will affect adults, youths and children. None of these situations is favorable to the welfare and development of the child, nor to the future of Africa . Tales from the field A lthough Under these conditions, talking about the rights and welfare of the child becomes a mere formality: for the social insecurity threatens the emotional safety of children. However, it is well known emotional security, from a very young age, is the essential to the well-being and development of the child. It is the responsibility of States to ensure public security so that families are able to ensure the security of their children. We must ask current or potential warmongers to take initiatives to avoid placing Africa in a state of perpetual war. Any warlike initiative as an option in conflict resolution (social, economic, tribal, religious or political) means the denial of human survival and development of children. If war is their inheritance, what future can they build? If it is true that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed”, advocates of children’s rights and welfare should take the necessary steps to plant the seeds of peace. By so doing, wars will be eradicated on the African continent and an Africa Fit for Children will become a reality. by Philippe Sekone Wendyam, Child Rights Officer - ACERWC Secretariat The ACERWC lobbying and monitoring missions it is mainly a decision making and monitoring body, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the public of Niger on the implementation of the Charter, the Committee adopted Recommendations and Observations for the attention of the Government of Niger. The mission therefore aimed at monitoring Child is not limited to meetings, nor confined to the progress on the implementation of these rec- holding workshops removed from the realities ommendations. Stakeholders in the field of child and the concerns of those whose they are protection were consulted through field visits and responsible for defending. It happens from time to working sessions with the Ministry of Population, time that the Committee goes to the field, for the pu- Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Minisposes of questionning the reality on the ground to try of Health, Ministry of Education and the promocomplement States parties or civil society alternative reports on the implementation of the Charter. Thus, a team of two members of the Committee and a member of the Secretariat undertook a mission to tion of national languages and the Ministry of Justice. There were also meetings with representatives of the National Commission for Human Rights, International Organizations and Civil Society Organizations. With all of these contacts, the delegation of the Republic of Niger, from 9 to 14 December 2013 . the Committee outlined the objectives of the mission, Indeed, having examined the initial report of the Re-