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Press Release

UNICEF Hails Pan-African Forum on Children in Africa

African leaders meet to map out future agenda for children

New York, 23 May 2001 - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) commends the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) for its decision to hold a high-level meeting to review the situation of Africa's children and develop recommendations for ensuring the full realisation of their rights in the 21st century. The Pan-African Forum on the Future of Children in Africa will adopt a common African position on the needs of children for consideration by the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children to be held in New York during 19 - 21 September 2001.

"This move reinforces the OAU's continued commitment to the well-being of children," said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF. "African states have been among the first countries in the world to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Ottawa Convention to Ban Landmines," Bellamy added.

The Pan-African Forum is being organised by the OAU and will take place in Cairo, Egypt during 28 -31 May, 2001. Among those invited include OAU members states, representatives of humanitarian agencies, prominent child-rights activists and distinguished scholars.

Bellamy lamented that in spite of overall improvements in the quality of life for children around the world, the social and economic situation of African children continues to show a marked regression, due mainly to poverty, conflict, gender discrimination and HIV/AIDS.

"Ten years after the 1990 World Summit for Children, the time has come for an honest and frank appraisal of the progress made for children so as to be able to address shortcomings and set a new agenda," Bellamy said.

The Forum aims to foster a dynamic movement involving governments, civil society, young people, the corporate sector, and individuals dedicated to advocacy and action on behalf of children.

UNICEF urges the forum to examine three key aspects needed to enhance the dignity, security and self-fulfilment of children:

• a good start in life, in a nurturing and safe environment that enables children to survive and be physically healthy, mentally alert, emotionally secure, socially competent and able to learn;
• completion of a good quality basic education; and,
• the opportunity for adolescents to develop their individual capacities to the fullest, in safe and enabling environments that empower them to participate in, and contribute to, the societies in which they live.

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