The applications to undertake the individual consultancy and develop the General Comment on Article 28 should be submitted by email to the Secretariat of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child via ACERWC-SECRETARIAT@AfricanUnion.org with a copy to SenaitY@africanunion.org. The deadline for submission is 04 July 2025 at 23:00 South African Standard Time.
This year commemorates the 31st anniversary of the establishment of democratic governance in South Africa which is ‘based on the will of the people’. South Africa exemplifies a democracy distinguished by a progressive constitution. Since then, it has made major strides in fostering a unified and inclusive nation, while safeguarding democratic values such as equality, respect for human rights, and a government that prioritizes the interests of its people. In the May 2024 general elections, no party achieved a majority for the first time. Consequently, in June 2024, a Government of National Unity (GNU) was established marking a collaborative effort aimed at promoting accountability, transparency, and public participation in governance. Thus far, the GNU has performed admirably, with the exception of the recent stalemate regarding the budget. According to the Commission for Human Rights (2002) some of the essential components of democracy include free and fair elections, a commitment to human rights, and adherence to the rule of law, the separation of powers, a diverse political party system, judicial independence, and a free and independent media. As articulated by former President Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inauguration speech: “We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination”.
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria cordially invites you to a twin side event on the rights of intersex children and the launch of the book, The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: A Commentary.
The Centre for Human Rights Participates in the 45th Session of the ACERWC in the Kingdom of Lesotho
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre), participated in the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), held in Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho. In its statement before the ACERWC, the Centre expressed concern over ongoing conflicts in Eastern DRC and Sudan, urging the ACERWC to reframe them as children’s rights emergencies.
Objective of the reader
The Centre for Human Rights is seeking a wide range of multidisciplinary submissions for the compilation of a reader on the best interest of the African queer child and surviving conversion therapy in Africa. The central objective of the proposed reader is to advocate for the eradication of conversion therapy targeted at African queer children guided by the rationality of the best interests’ principle, a child’s evolving capacity and a child’s age. In analysing legislation and case law, cultural, religious and societal understanding of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and sexual characteristics the book further aims to clarify the complex issues of childhood conversion therapy, spotlight their different approaches to childhood conversion therapy and to suggest the statutory recognition of the rights of a queer child in domestic African law.
