A big day for Lesotho’s children

Last week marked a historic day for Basotho children and adolescents, and children across the African continent. On this day, the African Union and the Government of Lesotho officially welcomed the Secretariat of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), which will now be housed in Maseru, Lesotho. The day of launch – June 16 – was significant by itself. It is the Day of the African Child, which honors those children who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976. On that day, children in the township took to the streets to raise their voices and demand that their rights be recognised. Many sacrificed their lives protesting the poor quality of education and the fundamental abuses they faced as black children during apartheid. So, for us at UNICEF, the day was a moment of reflection. To bring the Secretariat from Ethiopia, where the AU is based, to Lesotho has been a seven-year long process. The advocacy by the Government of Lesotho to host the Committee is a signal of the Government’s support for the mandate and work of the AU Committee. The role of the Secretariat is to support the work of the AU Committee which works to promote and protect the rights of children as outlined in the African Charter. Every three years, AU member states present to the Committee – an 11-member group made up of African human rights experts whose role is to review and report on progress for children in every country on the continent. Previously, the Committee met in Addis Ababa to hear of advances made but also of challenges faced by children. Now, these discussions will take place in Maseru. Why is this important? Because every time the Committee meets, there will be a focus on the lives and well-being of children and adolescents. Their discussions and reviews will allow us in Lesotho to learn from other countries facing similar challenges and see how we can apply those lessons in the country. Last week’s inauguration of the AU Secretariat took place in unique and challenging times. The impact Covid-19 is having on every aspect of a child’s life is profound The extended period of school closure has had deep learning and protection consequences for children. It will take concerted efforts to make up for those losses. In many communities, Covid-19 has diminished caregivers’ capacity to care for children in a nurturing environment. And because of this, we see a rise in harmful coping mechanisms, including an increase in risk-taking behaviors and early marriage. But throughout this hardship, I have also witnessed moments of hope and resilience. From the 18-year-old girl I recently met at a school in Mohale’s Hoek who held back tears as she spoke of her joy being back in school, to the grandmothers who expressed heartfelt appreciation for government-led social protection programmes that would allow them to put food on the table, to the collaboration among the Government, UNICEF, WHO, and partners to respond to Covid-19 and begin the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines. These moments remind us that we can make progress for children and their families in Lesotho, in southern Africa, and on the continent. The key will be to understand the situation of children’s lives, gather real-time data, monitor programmes in communities, take heed of the recommendations and observations of the Committee of Experts – and, perhaps most importantly, listen to the voices, concerns, and dreams of Basotho children and adolescents. We know progress for children is uneven across a range of sectors. Not all Basotho children have access to health services, education, a birth certificate, adequate nutrition, water, and sanitation. And we know Covid-19 further exacerbates the needs of children and families. We have before us a huge and sometimes overwhelming agenda. However, the presence of the AU Secretariat in Maseru will allow us to leverage and strengthen partnerships to support all Basotho children. Soon the “Maseru Committee,” as Chairperson Joseph Ndayisenga named it, will begin its work. It is my hope that their presence will remind us in Lesotho of our commitment to realise the vision outlined in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Anurita Bains