The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
(ACERWC) extends its compliments to the Government of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria and wishes to acknowledge with thanks receipt of the initial report on
the status of implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of
the Child. The ACERWC at its 12th Session considered Nigeria’s initial and first
Country periodic report which was submitted in July 2006 in accordance with the
State Parties obligation under Article 43 of the Charter.
The Committee notes that the report was prepared through collaboration with
other stakeholders and wide consultation and participation of many actors in the
area of children were involved in the preparation of the report. In particular the
Committee commends the participatory process of public consultations notable
among them the involvement of the Civil Society Organization and the
participation of children especially the Children Parliament.
The Committee commends the State Party for its large delegation headed by
Prof. Adewemi the Chairperson of the Child’s Rights implementation Forum and
the inclusion in the delegation the speaker of Children’s Parliament. There was
participation of a high-level inter-ministerial delegation.
The Committee notes with appreciation that the State Party ratified the African
Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in July 2001.
Since then a policy
was developed to guide and give specific targets on issues of Birth Registration,
Vulnerable Children including the Charitable Institutions that deal with Orphaned
Children and care Institutions.
The Children’s Parliament was also inaugurated
which enhances the child’s participation from the grass root level to the federal
level. The Charter has also been domesticated in 19 states. There are efforts to
ensure that the child rights act is enacted in all the 36 states.
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