The Charter on the Child does not clearly or adequately stipulate the procedures for communication and investigation. Therefore, these guidelines have been drafted to provide regulations that will enable the Committee of Experts to conduct investigations within the framework of the Charter. I. GENERAL PRESENTATION OF INVESTIGATION MISSIONS OF THE AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD A) DEFINITION, AIM AND TYPES OF INVESTIGATION MISSIONS Article 1: Definition An investigation mission shall be a mission of a team of the Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to a State party to the Charter to gather information on the situation of the rights of the child in the State Party. Article 2: Aim of investigation missions The aim of the investigation missions shall be to seek and collect accurate and reliable information on any issue arising from the Charter in order to: a) assess the general situation of the rights of the child in a country; b) clarify the facts and establish responsibility of individuals and the State towards children who are victims of violations and their families, and/or c) promote and support the implementation of the rights and welfare of the child by the various administrative, legal and legislative institutions of the country, in conformity with the Charter. Article 3: Types of investigation missions 1. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (here- inafter known as the Committee) may undertake two types of investigative missions: 2

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