The following questionnaire has been developed within the framework of the mandate given to the AU Commission in the Plan of Action and in Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.75(V) to conduct a Mid-term Review to assess progress achieved in implementing the Plan of Acton.
However, achievements are country specific. For ease of reference and harmonisation in the collection of data and information across the continent, a simple framework has been designed to that effect Questionnaire (AR/ En/ Fr / Pr)
A questionnaire has been developed by the AU within the framework of the mandate given to the AU Commission in the Plan of Action and in Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.75(V) to conduct a Mid-term Review to assess progress achieved in implementing the Plan of Acton. The following is an adaptation to be used by Child-led organisations to facilitate consultations with Children and Youth organisations. It has been developed along the lines of a Children's questionnaire used in the Global Movement for Children (GMC) process in 2005.
Theme: Review of Progress and Accelerated Action towards Achieving the African Common Position on Africa Fit for Children
Ensuring the rights and well-being of children in Africa has been the fundamental preoccupation of the Heads of State and Government. It is with this concern in mind that, in 1990, they adopted the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. In so doing, the Heads of State and Government committed themselves individually and collectively to take all necessary steps and measures, legislative and others, to ensure the protection, survival and development of the child in conformity with the provisions of the Charter.
Pursuant to the decision taken by the UN General Assembly to hold a Special Session on Children in 2001, the 72 nd Session of the OAU Council of Ministers mandated the erstwhile Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to develop an African Common Position on Children to be tabled to the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children (UNGASS). Consequently, the First Pan-African Forum on the Future of Children was held in 2001 to consider the draft African Common Position – Africa Fit for Children which was finally endorsed by the 37 th Session of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in July 2001.
The Africa Fit for Children, which constitutes a Declaration and Plan of Action was well received by the UNGASS which was held in 2002. In the Plan of Action the AU Commission was called upon to carry out a Mid-Term Review to assess progress made in implementing the goals set out in the document.
SECOND PAN-AFRICAN FORUM ON CHILDREN : MID-TERM REVIEW
It is in the above regard that the Second Pan-African Forum on Children: Mid-Term Review is being held in Cairo, Egypt from 29 October to 2 November 2007 under the theme: “ Review of Progress towards Achieving the Implementation of the 2001 Declaration and Plan of Action on Children ”.
The Plan of Action provides the necessary guidelines for achieving the commitments made in the African Common Position. In particular, it focuses on the following components: Overall Framework; Enhancing life chance; Overcoming AIDS; Realizing the right to education; Realizing the right to protection; and Participation of youth and children. It also provides the framework for actions to be conducted at all levels; as well as for international partnership and follow-up actions and monitoring.
Objectives:
The main objectives of the Forum will therefore be:
i) To review and assess progress made by Member States in implementing the commitments contained in the Declaration and Plan of Action of the African Common Position. This will be based on a questionnaire which was sent to Member States to that effect ;
ii) To review and adopt a Call for Accelerated Action for Child Survival, Protection, Development and Participation;
iii) To forge partnership with development partners, NGOs and CSOs in supporting AU Member States to implement the PoA at national level;
iv) To chart the way forward for 2012 (Cairo + 10)
Expected Outcome
The outcome of the Forum will be the adoption of :
i) A Progress report
ii) A Call for Accelerated Action for Child Survival, Protection, Development and Participation
The Call for Accelerated Action will constitute Africa's contribution to the UN Special Session on Children to be held in December 2007.
Participants
It is expected that the Second Pan African Forum will bring together about 200 to 250 participants . These will include Ministers responsible for Children and Experts/Officials from AU Member States, the Members of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the RECs, the AU Commission, UN Agencies, development partners, International, regional and national Organizations, including NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, dealing with children issues, Independent Experts, Resource Persons, and Special Guests.
Format of the Forum
The meeting will be conducted at two levels:
• Experts Meeting: 29 - 30 October , 2007
Experts/officials from Member States will consider the working documents and provide their inputs and make appropriate recommendations for the Ministers' consideration and approval
(b) Ministers Meeting: 1 - 2 November 2007
The Ministers will consider and adopt the Report of the Experts' Meeting and the Call for Accelerated Action for Child Survival, Protection, Development and Participation.
