The presentations identified various challenges in the preparation of State Party reports. In most countries, there are challenges of capacity, budget and weak collaboration among the various sectoral actors. Many countries rely on UNICEF for most of their reporting needs both budget-wise and for capacity building. Countries such as Nigeria where there is federalism experience delays in terms of getting nation-wide consensus since each state must domesticate a treaty and agree on the report. In addition, it was highlighted that there is a challenge to obtain information from various ministries as child rights issues are not mainstreamed in their plans and works. Lack of political will to establish an organ which develops reports, work load, lack of up-to-date data, and socio-economic crisis were also flagged as challenges during the presentations. The main good practice and recommendation was for the ministries directly dealing with child rights issues to lead the report preparation otherwise the process could be legalistic. South Africa’s experience was significant as it has an institutionalized body and a standing coordination committee with a dedicated budget. Sudan also has a treaty reporting council and budget. It was stressed that South Africa’s experience should be taken as a lesson by other States since institutionalized State Party reporting makes the preparation of State Party reports a day-to-day routine works as opposed to an event. Burkina Faso shared its experience pointing out that timely reporting has been due to having an Inter-ministerial Committee on Human Rights with 14 organs which is well funded and supported by the Cabinet. Each organ gets funded as per need. 10. Implementation of the recommendations of ACERWC This session was conducted through a panel discussion. There were presentations from four (4) panelists followed by discussion. The presentations focused on the following: a. Translation and dissemination of the concluding observations and recommendations of ACERWC: Government of Cameroon Mr Stephane Christel Noah, Representative of Cameroon shared the experience of Cameroon on the dissemination of the recommendations of the ACERWC. He stated that once the recommendations are received, they are sent to all ministries especially ministries of women’s empowerment and social affairs as well as the office of the Prime Minister, which has an organ for monitoring the implementation of concluding observations and recommendations. He indicated that the Ministry of Social Affairs also shares the recommendations with the civil society, community leaders and other stakeholders. Following the dissemination, Mr Noah underlined that the Ministry of Social Affairs develops a road map on the implementation of the recommendations. The road map assesses the roles of different ministries and other actors as well as timelines. 13 | P a g e