I.
INTRODUCTION
1. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
(ACERWC) extends its compliments to the Government of Mozambique 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, during in its 1st Extra Ordinary Session which was held on 6-11
October, considered Mozambique’s initial report which was submitted in
accordance with the State Parties obligation under Article 43 of the African
Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
2. The Committee takes note of the written replies to its list of issues and
commends the State Party for its delegation led by H.E Manuel Goncalves,
Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique to Ethiopia, Permanent
Representative to the AU and UNECA, for the open and constructive dialogue.
3. The Committee perceives with appreciation that the State Party ratified the
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and took various initiatives
to implement the rights and duties enshrined in the Charter. However, the
Committee regrets that the report was submitted after considerable delay, which
prevented the Committee from reviewing the implementation of the Charter by
Mozambique for some years after the ratification.
II.
PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHARTER
4. The Committee commends the State Party on the following achievements;
a.
The ratification of various regional and international human rights
instruments.
b.
The adoption of Basic Law on the Protection of the Child, no. 7/2008,
9/7/2008; Law of Organisational Guardianship of Minors, no. 8/2008,
9/7/2008; and Law on Trafficking of Persons especially Women and
Children no. 6/2008, 9/7/2008.
c.
The development of various national policies and plans of action including
the National Plan of Action for the Child - PNAC I (2006-2011), PNAC II
(2013-19), and Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children
(PACOV) - parallel to PNAC I and integrated in PNAC II.
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