African Child Parliament Forum: Adoption of the Rabat Declaration on Children’s Participation in Africa’s Development
The final declaration of the first African Child Parliament Forum, titled Rabat Declaration on Children’s Participation in Africa’s Development, was adopted by acclamation on Saturday at the close of the Forum held on November 21 and 22.
In this declaration, representatives of government institutions and non governmental organizations from African countries welcomed the establishment of the African Network for Child Rights as a continental platform for advocacy, dialogue and effective participation of African children to support their development and well-being.
“We welcome the proposal of the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child (ONDE) of Morocco to host the headquarters of the African Network for Child Rights and to cover its operational running costs,” reads the declaration.
Participants affirmed their commitment to ensuring that the Network operates as a non governmental continental African cooperation structure with legal status, working in coordination with partner African institutions and in accordance with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and relevant regional and international instruments.
They also commended the Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, in promoting an Africa rooted in peace, stability and sustainable development, based on active solidarity and South South cooperation, and placing youth at the heart of all development initiatives.
They further expressed their gratitude to Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem for her commitment, as President of ONDE, to protecting and promoting children’s rights through concrete and sustainable actions adapted to contemporary challenges.
The declaration encourages the establishment and development of children’s parliaments across African countries and calls for the inclusion of children in monitoring public policies and implementing regional and international commitments.
Participants also called for the support of development partners, including relevant United Nations agencies, to assist African countries in strengthening children’s participation in development processes and in establishing children’s parliaments tailored to national specificities.
They reiterated their determination to carry out complementary joint initiatives to promote advocacy at the international level through participation in regional, continental and international events related to children’s rights, while building partnerships with relevant stakeholders to accelerate the development of the African Child Parliament network and its members.
Acknowledging the strong ties of solidarity and cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and fellow African nations, participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to health, education, equal opportunities for children and the fight against climate change.
They also recognized the need for concrete and coordinated continental action to promote children’s rights as recognized by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international and regional instruments, especially those related to participation and physical, mental and social well-being.
Congratulating the Kingdom of Morocco for the successful organization of the first edition of the African Child Parliament Forum held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, and chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, President of the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child, the participants pledged to encourage dialogue, the sharing of experiences and the construction of a common African vision to promote children’s participation in development processes, in accordance with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Editorial team/le7tv
