The absence of a child-friendly version of the regional instrument safeguarding the rights of children was identified as one of the impediments in realising children’s rights in Africa. In order for children to meaningfully participate in decision-making processes affecting them and in the implementation of their own rights, they first need to have access to content-appropriate information. This is in line with the belief that children are not only beneficiaries of rights but rights holders in their own standing.
The process of developing the child-friendly document was initiated within the Children’s Rights Clinic in 2019, by the development of a theoretical framework on child-friendliness of publications and it will be finalised during the course of this year in collaboration with the African Children’s Committee. It is anticipated that the child-friendly version of the African Children’s Charter will be an enabling tool towards the enjoyment by African children of their rights.