Communique on the 40th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Maseru, Lesotho,
23 November-01 December 2022
The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child finalized its 40th Ordinary Session which was held in hybrid manner physically in Maseru, Lesotho as well as virtually from 23 November to 01 December 2022.

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child will undertake a follow-up mission in the Republic of Guineafrom 25 to 27 September 2019.

Following its 924th Meeting on the impact of COVID-19 on children held on 12 May 2020, the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) has aligned its views with the Guiding Note on Child Protection during COVID-19 released by the Committee on 8 April, 2020.

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) has just finalised its 35th Ordinary Session which was held virtually from 31 August – 08 September 2020.

The Session was attended by Representatives of Member States, Representatives of UN Agencies, and Representatives of the Civil Society. The Committee examined a State Party Report and 6 Communications during this Session, and has also adopted the General Comment on Article 22 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child on Children in Situations of Conflict.

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child finalized its 36th Ordinary Session which was held virtually from 23 November to 04 December 2020.

The 36th Session was attended by representatives of Member States, RECs, NHRIs, UN Agencies, International and National Organisations, children’s organizations, and regional networks of CSOs working on children’s rights.

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child finalized its 37th Ordinary Session, which was held virtually on 15-26 March 2021.

The Session was attended by Members of the ACERWC, Commissioner of Social Affairs, Representatives of children, Member States, AU Organs, Network of National Human Rights Institutions UN Agencies, International Organisations and CSOs.

1.  The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child finalized its 38th Ordinary Session held virtually on 15-26 November 2021.

2.  The Session was attended by Representatives of children, Representatives of Member States, Representatives of UN Agencies, and Representatives of CSOs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating consequences for children’s rights. It has also had grave physical, emotional and psychological effects on children in countries that instituted mandatory stay-at-home, lockdown or confinement measures. In recognition of the consequences of COVID-19 on the rights and welfare of children in Africa and noting the unprecedented nature of the pandemic and the measures taken to curb its spread, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC/ Committee) is responding to policy gaps in mitigating the COVID-19 crisis.