Mrs BOCOUM stressed that the prohibition of child marriage is featured in the African Children’s Charter, and hence State Parties should indicate the measures taken to address issues of child marriage when they are submitting their State Party reports to the ACERWC. It was further pointed out that the Special Rapporteur wishes to work in close collaboration with States and other organizations. Such partnership will facilitate the achievement of the goal set out in Agenda 2040 and Agenda 2063 to create an Africa fit for children. Finally, Mrs BOCOUM informed participants that a Joint General Comment on Ending Child Marriage has been developed by the ACERWC and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and encouraged States to consider it in their activities and also to include its implementation in their reports. d. Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism Mr Willy Buloso, the African Regional Coordinator of ECPAT was allowed to make a presentation on ECPAT’s Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism. The presentation started by introducing the work of ECPAT international which is aimed at ending sexual exploitation of children online, ending sexual exploitation of children by travelers and tourists, and ending child trafficking. Mr Buloso presented the main findings of the study which are: the high vulnerability of children to sexual exploitation in travel and tourism; the number has tripled from 1994 to date; tourism is no longer taking traditional method with local and national tourism as the internet has created a situation of “travel with no control”; and regulation and child protection is lagging behind. Based on the study, it was recommended to ensure implementation and enforcement of existing laws and policies; to strengthen international and regional collaboration to combat sexual exploitation; and to tailor services to the specific needs and perspectives of children. Mr Buloso highlighted the way forward by indicating the need to collect more and comprehensive data on sexual exploitation for reporting and advocacy purpose; to establish better reporting procedure on sexual exploitation of children to treaty bodies, and to advocate for an optional protocol to the African Children’s Charter on sexual exploitation of children to enhance monitoring by learning from the experience of the European Union. e. Campaign of Girls not Brides The Regional focal point of Girls not Brides, Ms Ruth Koshal, was allowed to make a brief presentation on their campaign. She highlighted that each year 15 million girls are married before the age of 18; that over 700 million girls alive today were married before this age; and also that by 2050, 1.2 billion girls will be married if no measure is taken. She cited countries with high rate of child marriage in Africa which are in the top list of the world including Niger, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Mali, Burkina, South Sudan 24 | P a g e