e) encouraging the EAC to engage their Partner States on the Agenda;
f) ensuring that EAC join hands with the ACERWC in monitoring the implementation of
the Agenda in States by using their legislative and institutional mechanisms; and
g) ensuring that EAC child rights focused activities are aligned with Agenda 2040 for
integrated action in the continent.
2.0. Welcome Remarks
The workshop was opened by Dr. Clement Mashamba who is a member of ACERWC
and Solicitor General in the United Republic of Tanzania. In his opening remarks, Dr.
Mashamba briefly shared the background of how Agenda 2040 came to be and its
purpose. He further shared that commitment to the African Charter on the Rights and
Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) is growing amongst member states and Agenda 2040
takes the Charter further by identifying 10 aspirations to work towards to uphold children’s
rights. He shared that while progress has been made towards the fulfillment of children’s
rights, there are still serious violations taking place on the Continent. Violence Against
Children (VAC) poses a great threat to progress for children. Child marriage remains a
problem in most of the EAC Partner States and this affects girls progress and wellbeing.
Mr. Mashamba shared that 15 out of 20 countries with the highest rates of child marriage
are based in Africa making it an important issue to address on the Continent. He further
noted that there are a number of cross border issues affecting particular groups of children
such as refugee children, children involved in trafficking, children without parental care
and many others. Such issues need to be addressed in a coordinated way amongst
Partner States and all the concerned stakeholders. He hoped that the workshop would
be the starting point of efforts and strategies that will enable Partner States to work
together on the various issues affecting children. Dr. Mashamba informed the workshop
that the ACERWC plans to undertake a continental study/mapping of children on the
move in the continent and cross border issues affecting children. This study will provide
information that will inform the work going forward in the various REC’s. Dr. Mashamba
ended his speech with a vote of thanks to the EAC Secretariat for hosting the workshop,
as well as giving thanks to GIZ, Save the Children and Plan International for their financial
and technical support. He thanked all participants for making the time and their
participation and concluded his remarks by wishing all a fruitful workshop.
On behalf of the Director Social Sectors at the EAC Secretariat, Mr. Stephen Niyonzima,
the Principal Labour and Employment Officer, welcomed all participants to the EAC
Headquarters in Arusha. Mr. Niyonzima extended his gratitude to the ACERWC and
Stakeholders for choosing the EAC to initiate the series of workshops on popularizing of
the Agenda 2040 and cross border issues affecting children. He noted that children
constitute the biggest population group in the EAC and it was therefore vital that
governments adequately invest in their survival, optimum development and wellbeing. He
informed the meeting that the EAC is currently implementing the Common Market
Protocol that provides for the free movement of goods, services and people across East
Africa. He however noted that in the process of movement of persons, labor and goods
in the EAC, vulnerable groups such as women and especially children are affected by