Day of the African Child: Investing in African Solutions to African Problems – let's invest in the Children
The International Day of the African Child (DAC) was created to honour South African black youth who died protesting against a government mandate that insisted that black high schools be taught in Afrikaans – which at the time was used as a tool of oppression by the white minority. Thousands of children and youth took to the streets and were met with police brutality. Hundreds of children died, the youngest of whom is suspected to have been only twelve years old.
This day, commemorated on June 16th each year since 1991, is a reminder of the importance of placing children at the heart of peace and security across Africa. This year’s theme: Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress since 2010, is meant to bring attention to the achievements and commitments made by the 51 African Union Member States who have ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
It is also an opportunity for us to reflect on the obstacles [African] children still face. As adults, we have a collective responsibility and moral obligation to the children of this world. Children cannot reach their full potential if their viewpoints are not heard. The Soweto Uprising is an example of what can happen when children’s perspectives are not included in the decisions that directly affect them. For peace to prevail, children must be seen as key stakeholders in these decisions.
Africa’s Agenda for Children: 2040 is a commendable approach that can lead the way for the world. Aspiration 10 within this Agenda is “African Children’s Views Matter”. It notes that while many countries have taken measures to engage and consult children and have made child participation more accountable, greater efforts are still required to ensure that children’s views are meaningfully channelled and considered.
The Continental Education Strategy for Africa has resulted in some significant gains with the primary school enrolment rate in sub-Saharan Africa that grew from 52% in 1990 to 78% in 2012. However, the dramatic increase in enrolment has not been equalled at the secondary level. Also with a 67% primary completion rate, Africa is still far from achieving primary completion rates that are needed. According to UNICEF’s data, child poverty has gone down from 45.2% in 2013 to 40.18% in 2022 in Africa. But there are deep concerns that global conflict, economic and climate change impacts will contribute to a further stalling of progress.
Ongoing challenges
The world is currently experiencing increased polarization, back sliding on major international legal agreements, and the respect for human rights and dignity of all. We are desperately in need of true leadership based on shared values for the advancement of peace and stability. Children and youth are in search of this leadership and demanding accountability in Africa and globally.
Such accountability must be met with investment in child development and well-being. Several African countries continue to suffer civil wars and conflicts which divert their political attention and affect social services that could benefit children. Harmful practices such as child marriage, female genital mutilation as well as gender-based discrimination, child labour, and involvement in acts of terrorism are creating violations of children’s rights. Such challenges have been exacerbated by the self-interest of many nations and corporations in the global north that continue to drive global inequalities that directly impact African children.
Africa’s aspirations towards the eradication of poverty, the development of human capital and economic growth cannot be realized, let alone sustained, unless we invest in children. According to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) “By 2055, Africa will be home to around one billion children, or 40% of the world’s population.” This global population shift means one in four people on this earth will be African, one in three of the world’s young people will live in Africa and two out of five of the world’s children will be African. This seismic shift in African demography is not only transforming African countries but it is reshaping the continent’s relationship to the rest of the world.
The need to prioritize children in peace and security
The Dallaire Institute has been advocating for a global Children, Peace and Security (CPS) Agenda. Creating and collectively building a global CPS Agenda would help to address these challenges by placing a primacy on children’s perspectives, their protection and investment in their well-being as central to our efforts to achieve sustainable peace. Children cannot reach their full potential if their viewpoints are not heard and if their perspectives are not included in the decisions that directly affect them. While children can often be dismissed as being irrational or incapable of decisions, they are unencumbered by limits to their imagination; they are more likely than adults to think about what is possible instead of barriers to progress.
In 2022, the Dallaire Institute published a Children, Peace and Security policy guidance checklist, which includes a list of 10 tangible actions that can be taken by governments and leaders. These actions include developing national action plans that articulate how children’s security is linked to other security issues, ensuring that children’s perspectives are prioritized in conflict resolution efforts, to making sure that governments are dedicating resources to prioritize children in all matters of peace and security.
Dedicating resources to preventing violence against children also offers the potential to generate large social and economic dividends. It would remove a critical barrier to children achieving their full developmental potential and could save costs to societies that have been estimated to be up to 5% of national GDP.
As the continent with the largest number of young people in the world, the CPS Agenda for Africa should be a priority. To quote a young African poet, Kenneth Gyamerah from Ghana - “Mama Africa is blessed with a youthful population - vibrant youth who are willing to risk everything to have a decent shot of life.” Ten years from now, there will be more young Africans entering the workforce each year than the rest of the world combined. If harnessed properly, this creates an unprecedented opportunity for growth and innovation. This requires African governments, and those investing in Africa, to enact policies that positively impact economic and social development – which starts with consistent investment in children and youth.
Today, on the Day of the African Child, let Africa demonstrate what true leadership looks like – by boldly investing in the well-being, rights and potential of its children. Such an investment will ensure that Africa can also lead the globe in innovation, economics and the respect for all of humanity. The future belongs to those who protect it – and that begins with our children.