Second Child-Led Conference and Engagement with the ACERWC Working Group on Climate Change on Child Rights-Based Approaches to Climate Action in Africa
As a build up to the commemoration of the Day of the African Child (DAC 2025) in Lilongwe Malawi, the Centre for Human Rights hosted 2 events in Malawi on the 15 June 2025. The first, was the second child-led conference and the second, an engagement with the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child’s (ACERWC) working group on Children and Climate Change. Both events were focused on climate change and child-rights based approaches to climate action in Africa.
The child-led conference was attended by representatives of the Global Campus Child Leadership Team, Africa from Kenya, Zambia, Lesotho and Malawi. The conference was facilitated and led by the Global Campus Africa Youth Advisory Group (YAG) members namely; Azwikonisaho Ramavhuya, Kevin Njuguna and Lum Anwi Atanga. The engagement with the ACERWC was attended by Honourable Anne Musiwa, Ms Samrawit Damtew (ACERWC secretariat), Professor Ademola Jegede, an external member of the ACERWC’S Working Group on Climate Change, CSO’s in Malawi working on climate change and children from Zambia, Kenya, Lesotho and Malawi.
During the child-led conference, the YAG led an interactive session with children where they introduced and discussed climate change, its challenges and the various intersectionalities that exist between climate change and children’s rights. They also led a session on climate justice and the various obligations that states have to protect children from climate change. The session ended with group presentations from the children on their understanding of climate change and the impact it has on children in their various regions.
In the second session the YAG gave an outline of the children’s expectations. Honourable Anne Musiwa gave an overview of the establishment, composition and rapporteurs of the ACERWC. She also explained the Day of the African Child - 2025 theme and how governments need to plan and budget on issues relating to climate change as climate change has a ripple effect on various children’s rights. Ms Damtew gave an overview of the work of the ACERWC, the various rights provided for the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, their impact of climate change and the consequences that children face. She also highlighted the work that the ACERWC’s Working Group on Climate Change does and discussed the ACERWC’s Too High Campaign for a Child Rights Based Approach to Climate Action in Africa. She ended her presentation by discussing the various ways in which children can interact with the ACERWC. Professor Jegede shared some best practices on climate change, climate justice and children’s rights and this was also supported by contributions from the different civil society organisations that were in attendance. The day was concluded by reflections on how the information and knowledge shared can be used for climate justice advocacy.
On 16 June 2025 the Centre team, YAG members and the CLT members together with their chaperones had the privilege of attending the ACERWC’s Day of the African Child celebrations which was hosted by the Government of Malawi. The DAC 2025 theme was planning and budgeting for children’s rights: progress since 2010. The event was graced by various individuals such as Honourable Dr Micheal Biziwick Usi, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, Honourable Jean Muonaowauza Sendeza, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Honourable Wilson Almeida Adão, Chairperson of the ACERWC and Honourable Anne Musiwa, Rapporteur of the ACERWC, just to name a few. The day was filled with many activities and presentations by children from various parts of the African continent.
For more details contact:
Childrens Rights Unit
Tel +27 (0)12 420 6209
rotondwa.mashige@up.ac.za