2nd diciembre 2025

Statement by Equality Now during the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

End harmful practices Africa

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Summary
What’s inside the submission?
Who’s it for?
Key recommendations and takeaways

Equality Now participated in the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), in Maseru, Lesotho, where we delivered a statement highlighting child rights concerns across the region.

Our submission draws on evidence, and our programmatic experience across Eastern, and Southern Africa, with a particular focus on child marriage, adolescent SRHR, FGM, digital sexual exploitation, trafficking, and gendered nationality discrimination.

What’s inside the submission?

The submission outlines practical measures for governments to strengthen legal protections, reinforce survivor-centred systems, uphold girls’ education and SRHR, address technology-facilitated abuse and trafficking, and advance gender-equal nationality laws to protect all children and families.

Who’s it for?

ACERWC
African Union organs
Law and policymakers
Civil society organisations
Youth Forums
Regional partners

Key takeaways and recommendations

Strengthen protection for children already in marriage and address emerging drivers such as climate change, conflict, poverty, and technology-related risks.
End the prosecution of FGM victims in Kenya and fully align national laws with constitutional and regional standards.
Guarantee pregnant and parenting learners’ right to education in Tanzania by eliminating discriminatory barriers and implementing ACEWRC recommendations.
Scale up confidential, adolescent-friendly SRHR services, including access to contraception, accompanied by stronger sexuality education and accountability systems.
Update national legal frameworks to address tech-facilitated violence, and digital exploitation.

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13 de mayo de 2026

Submission Update to the Universal Periodic Review – United States of America 53rd Session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council

This update examines recent legal and political developments impacting women’s and girls’ rights in the United States, including the continued failure to guarantee constitutional sex equality, ongoing gaps in protections against child marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), growing concerns surrounding online sexual exploitation and abuse (OSEA), and the United States’ increasing disengagement from international human rights systems. It also highlights emerging legislative trends, survivor experiences, and the broader implications of weakened accountability and protection…

Intervention on the Activity Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Internally Displaced Persons

Equality Now’s shadow report calls for urgent reform of discriminatory nationality laws across Africa that deny women equal rights to confer citizenship to their children and spouses. These laws heighten the risk of statelessness, poverty, family separation, and violence, undermining the fundamental right to nationality.

Grounded in regional advocacy and human rights standards, the report urges African Union Member States to enshrine gender equality in nationality laws, centre affected communities in reform processes, and sign and ratify the AU Nationality Protocol without delay.

Mexico – CEDAW submission on sexual violence, access to justice, and gender budget cuts

Civil society submission to CEDAW highlights budget cuts, weak justice systems, and gaps in legal frameworks affecting survivors of sexual violence in Mexico.

Statement by Equality Now during the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

What’s inside the submission?

Who’s it for?

Key takeaways and recommendations

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Explore more resources

Submission Update to the Universal Periodic Review – United States of America 53rd Session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council

Intervention on the Activity Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Internally Displaced Persons

Mexico – CEDAW submission on sexual violence, access to justice, and gender budget cuts

Statement by Equality Now during the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

What’s inside the submission?

Who’s it for?

Download your file

Key takeaways and recommendations

About

Languages

Classification

More information

Explore more resources

Submission Update to the Universal Periodic Review – United States of America 53rd Session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council

Intervention on the Activity Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Internally Displaced Persons

Mexico – CEDAW submission on sexual violence, access to justice, and gender budget cuts

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