ACERWC - 6 -Tribune Partners Corner ACPF support for the monitoring of the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child Dr. Nkatha Murungi, Head of the Children and the Law Programme ACPF T he African Child Policy Forum is a Pan-African centre for policy research and dialogue on the African child. The work of ACPF is based on the ACRWC, the CRC and other child rights instruments. Through the years supporting the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC or the Committee) to effectively deliver on its mandate to monitor the implementation of the ACRWC, as well as the promotion and protection of children’s rights on the continent, has been a key priority of ACPF. On this basis, ACPF has, and continues to, embark on a number of activities in collaboration with the Committee some of which are highlighted below. ACPF is currently undertaking a three year pro- ject (2013 – 2015) under the theme of child rights governance (CRG), one of the objectives of which is to support monitoring of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). Through this project, ACPF is supporting the Committee to undertake its monitoring and interpretive functions, and also to build the knowledge base on the state of child rights in Africa. Hence, in 2013, ACPF supported the Committee to develop Guidelines on the Form and Content of Periodic State Party Reports submitted under the Charter. These Guidelines will facilitate timely reporting and consistency in both the content and form of the reports submitted to the Committee. The finalization of the Guidelines and their impending adoption is opportune as it coincides with the Committee’s recently launched Campaign on the Universal Ratification of and State Party Reporting on the ACRWC. It is hoped that the Guidelines will expedite the submission of Periodic State Party Reports in order for States Parties to fulfil their reporting obligations by 2015. Indeed, State Reporting is an integral part of monitoring implementation of and compliance with the ACWRC. In addition, research and advocacy initiatives undertaken by ACPF have been instrumental in enhancing visibility of matters affecting children on the continent, building knowledge on the existing resources, and establishing standards for the protection of children’s rights and wellbeing in the region. For instance, the Guidelines for Inter-country adoption in Africa, and the Guidelines on Children in the Justice System in Africa which have been endorsed by the Committee set significant standards for use in monitoring the implementation of the Charter. In collaboration with the ACERWC and the UN Special Representative on Violence against Children, ACPF is conducting a study on violence against children in Africa, with the aim of building evidence around the multiple manifestations of violence against children in the region and building consensus towards eliminating violence against children on the continent. Other key research documents developed by ACPF include the African Report on Child Wellbeing, reports on Harmonization of Laws in Africa, and the Child Law Resources. During the 2013 Day of the African Child, ACPF along with other partners on children’s rights helped to organize the celebrations of the DAC in Addis Ababa. Specifically, ACPF helped to draft the 2013 DAC Declaration on the elimination of harmful cultural practices affecting children, and assisted with the general organisation of the celebrations. For this year and those ahead, ACPF will continue to support efforts towards the realiza- tion of children’s rights in Africa, and especially the full implementation of the ACRWC.