The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), represented by its Commissioner for Women, Children, Older Persons and Disability Rights, Rigbe Gebrehwaria, participated in the 44th Ordinary session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) being held in Maseru, Lesotho, from October 02-12, 2024.
The session brought together participants from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to the African Union, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working on child rights and children’s representatives from different African countries.
As one of the NHRIs with affiliate status to the ACERWC, during the 44th ordinary session, Commissioner Rigbe highlighted EHRC’s ongoing efforts in protecting and promoting children’s rights through monitoring, investigation and advocacy. She discussed EHRC’s complementary report on the combined sixth and seventh report of the government of Ethiopia to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. She highlighted a range of critical concerns affecting children, including the rise of harmful practices, challenges in accessing education and healthcare and issues related to violence and exploitation. The commissioner also noted gaps in legal protection and the treatment of victims of sexual and gender-based violence as well as children in orphanages, emphasizing the need for a stronger system and support to address these problems.
Additionally, EHRC participated in a side event organized by NANHRI, which focused on strengthening institutional collaboration between NHRIs and the ACERWC. Discussions included successful strategies and challenges in protecting children’s rights, enhancing collaboration between ACERWC and NHRIs and the role of NHRIs in ensuring the sexual and reproductive health rights of vulnerable children.
Commissioner Rigbe underscored the necessity for NHRIs and regional human rights bodies to enhance their coordination and cooperation to effectively ensure the protection and welfare of children. She stressed that collaborative efforts are essential to tackle the diverse challenges impacting children’s rights.
