Defence for Children International (DCI) would like to thank the Committee for the opportunity to address its 38th Ordinary Session.
Defence for Children International commends the Committee in its efforts to promote and protect children’s rights in the region during the COVID-19 pandemic and look forward to the adoption and dissemination of the report on the Impact of COVID-19 on Children’s Rights in Africa. With less than eight years until the deadline for achieving the SDGs – and with the impact of the pandemic which has exacerbated existing inequalities and the digital gap, particular efforts should be made to include children from more marginalized backgrounds and groups. In particular, DCI recognizes the genderbased barriers to participation faced by girls. There is an urgent need to invest in the empowerment of children and young people, particularly girls and young women (GYW), to take-up equal participatory roles in decision making processes at all levels including in policy formulation processes.
Read the full statement here