ACERWC Press Conference on the Day of the African Child (DAC) Theme: " A Child friendly, quality, free and Compulsory Education for all Children in Africa"

By African Union Commission (AUC)
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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Journalists are invited to participate in a joint Press Conference on Monday 16th June, 2014, at 09:50 in the Briefing Room 1 of the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Joint Press Conference is jointly organized by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) and partners on children rights.

The Press Conference will be adressed by:

1. Pr. Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Chairperson ACERWC

2. Mr. Nigel Chapman , Plan International Chief Executive Officer

3. Mr. Mathias Weyessa, Head of Education in Save the Children Ethiopia

4. Miriam Mwaykonde, child from Tanzania

BACKGROUND: On 16 June every year, the African Union celebrates the Day of the African Child (DAC), in commemoration of the 1976 protests by school children in Soweto, South Africa. The students protested against an education designed to further the purposes of the apartheid regime. In 1991, the African Union Assembly passed a resolution designating 16 June as a Day for the celebration of the African child. Since 2008, the African Committee of Experts (ACERWC) has been vested with the mandate of identifying themes for commemoration of the DAC. During its 21st Session, the Committee of Experts deliberated upon and adopted the theme “A child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa" as the DAC theme for 2014. Significantly, the theme of 2014 DAC was drawn from consultations with children in the region which were conducted with the help of partners to the Committee.

Media representatives are invited to cover the Opening ceremony at 09:00 on Monday 16 June. A Press Conference will take place immediately after the Opening.