The recent Africa Children Summit which was held in Nairobi recently has emphasized the importance of empowering children, protecting their rights and enabling them to become child-rights defenders.
Speaking during the three-day conference which started April 10 to April 12, 2023 Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, noted that children are not a problem that needs to be solved, but a strong human capital that should be invested in.
Prof. Philip D. Jaffé, Vice-Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on the other hand emphasized the need to protect the rights of pregnant girls and improve healthcare access.
The same was emphasized by Alassane Moulaye Sidikou, Member of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, who encouraged children to take their rights and become defenders of children’s rights.
The Summit ended with a call for the outcomes raised by the children to be monitored to ensure they are implemented by governments, their agencies, and other stakeholders, with Philip Thigo, the Board Chair of Mtoto News, emphasizing the importance of technology in empowering children
“Children are at risk of technology exploitation more than ever before. We must ensure that their access to technology is not unfairly positioned, and they are not educated by machines that don’t understand values and ethics,” said Thigo.
The Summit provided a platform for children from across Africa and beyond to discuss issues that affect them and to share their recommendations on policy interventions, and was driven by children and amplified by Mtoto News, Wish Hub Africa, and other partners who are aimed to empower African children to become more involved in their communities and create a space where they feel seen, heard, and engaged by their peers.
The inaugural event whose theme was “Seen, Heard, and Engaged,” was attended by children aged 10 to 17 from across Africa, with open registration for every child on the continent.
Children hosted the Summit, and the discussions were child-led, enabling them to share their experiences, unique challenges, and interventions by their governments.
The Summit will continue to rotate in different African countries, with a focus on amplifying children’s voices and empowering them to become more involved in shaping policies and programs for their welfare.
By Roy Hezron
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