2nd December 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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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 

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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.

About

2 December 2025

4 pages

Languages

EN

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Submissions
End harmful practices
Africa

More information

For more information, contact programs@equalitynow.org.

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