9 th CSO Forum on ACRWC – Dakar, Senegal (2 – 4 April 2014) Edmund Amarkwei Foley (Technical Advisor on Children, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Republic of Ghana)

Art 42(b) of ACRWC mandates ACERWC to monitor implementation and ensure protection of child rights by State Parties to the Charter. ACERWC implementation and protection monitoring is done through State Reporting, Communications and Investigations. ACERWC is assisted in its State Reporting mandate by CSO Report which provide alternative, complementary or additional information. ACERWC State Reporting Communications Procedure Investigations Procedure

Provides a framework for monitoring by the ACERWC Provides a forum for dialogue between ACERWC, State Parties and CSOs to mutually discuss the realization of children’s rights Provides an avenue for identifying problems/challenges, design solutions and measure efficacy of solutions Provides a tool for CSOs to measure progress by State Parties

State Party submits Report ACERWC Appoints Rapporteur for Report CSO Submits Alternative Report ACERWC holds Pre- Session with CSOs ACERWC engages with State Party ACERWC gives Concluding Observations Initial Report (2yrs after ratification) Periodic Report (Every 3 yrs after IR)

State Party Report will contain information on: Legislative, judicial or administrative measures Institutional measures for monitoring nationally Challenges encountered in implementation Goals, targets and plans for future implementation State Report will then address the above information under 9 themes under ACRWC: General measures of implementation (art 1) Definition of a child (art 2) General principles (arts 3 and 26, 4, 5, 7 and 12) Civil rights and freedoms (arts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 16) Family environment and family care (16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27) Health and welfare (arts 5, 13, 14, 20 and 25) Education, Leisure and cultural activities (arts 11 and 12) Special protection measures (arts 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30) Responsibility of the child (art 31)

Known variously as ‘shadow’, ‘complementary’, ‘alternative’, supplementary, ‘NGO’, etc. Report (‘shadow’ Report is no longer being encourage as it may sound negative) Rule 69 of the ACERWC’s Rules of Procedure allows the ACERWC to receive Reports from CSOs Although ACERWC receives CSO Reports, it strongly encourages State Parties to adopt a participatory approach towards developing the State Party Report. CSOs should therefore actively participate in the national process but also prepare to submit its own CSO Report

Two African proverbs: ‘He who cuts a path in the bush cannot tell how straight it goes, unless another guides him from behind’ ‘One head does not constitute a council’ State Party Report cannot and may not provide total, relevant and veritable information required. CSO Report helps to fill these gaps in information CSO Reports can provide vital analysis of implementation, as many State Party Report often provide information on existence of measures CSO Reports diversify information base for ACERWC to enhance its monitoring mandate The process of CSO Report preparation builds consensus and strengthens national collaborative efforts among CSOs One of the most favoured approaches is joint reporting through a national coalition process CSO Report is a strategic advocacy document to engage the State Party and ACERWC

Research and Drafting Better to have a national collaborative approach. This gives the Report credibility, concise information and validity of consensus Obtain a copy of State Party Report Conduct research to verify information in State Party Report and collect data for CSO Report Tip: Involve the media. They will help disseminate information on the Reporting Process Involve children and document their participation and views Report and Submission Address all 9 thematic clusters required by ACERWC Prepare a concise, analytical report, identifying gaps in implementation and providing relevant solutions and recommendations Validate the Report and obtain consensus on its content (e.g. validation workshop) Submit Report to ACERWC Secretariat (at least 12 copies, translated if possible into English or French) at least 3 months to the ACERWC Session Prepare to attend ACERWC Pre-Session and Session to consider State Party Report Consideration of Report ACERWC appoints a Rapporteur to study Reports (State Party & CSO) ACERWC appoints Pre- Session Working Group to further study Reports, identify issues for consideration ACERWC holds Pre-Session. A closed session with CSOs and NGOs working in concerned State Party and have relevant information to provide. This would include CSOs preparing the CSO Report ACERWC holds public session to engage with State Party on its Report

Committee considers State Party Report and issues its Concluding Observations Concluding Observations would include recommendations to the State Party for improving implementation of the ACRWC CSOs should disseminate the Concluding Observations as widely and as appropriately as possible (child-friendly versions, translations, social media, etc) CSOs should monitor when the next State Party Report is due CSOs advocate for State Party to submit next due Report on time CSOs begin process of preparing alternative Report CSOs go through the Reporting process with ACERWC

Let’s share our experiences with CSO Reporting! Shokran! Obrigado! Jerre-Jeff! Zikomo! Merçi beaucoup! Akpe kakaa! Ese! Asante sana! Baie dankie! Thank you! (and all the other ways of saying … ‘I’m grateful for your attention ’