Harmful traditional practices
45.Commending the State Party for launching a National Campaign against Child Marriage
and other Harmful Practices relating to Sexual Exploitation, the Committee recommends
the Government of Namibia to continue its efforts to fully eliminate child marriage and
other harmful traditional practices that affect the wellbeing of children by partnering with
traditional and religious leaders, parents, and schools.
I. Responsibility of the child
46.The Committee appreciates the State Party for incorporating the responsibility of the
child under the recently adopted Child protection and Care Bill. With this, the Committee
calls upon the State Party to continue Its efforts in promoting the responsibility of the
child as it contributes towards creating a forum of participation for children to be
involved in matters that affect their interests. Further, the Committee recommends the
Government of Namibia to ensure that the responsibility of the child does not lead to
violation of rights of children enshrined in the Charter.
J. Conclusion
47.The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child appreciates
with satisfaction the efforts by the Government of Namibia to promote and respect the
rights of children and aspires to the implementation of these recommendations. The
Committee would like to indicate that it will undertake a follow up Mission to ascertain
the implementation ofthese recommendations in the foreseeable future. The Committee
would also like to invite the State Party to submit its combined third and fourth periodic
reports, which the Committee considers as the first periodic report, by August 2018 and
to include in it information on the implementation of the present concluding observations
and recommendations. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of
the Child takes this opportunity to renew to the Government of the Republic of Namibia,
the assurances of its highest consideration.
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