Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Gambian legal scholar and children’s rights advocate Dr. Satang Nabaneh has called for stronger legal and policy measures across Africa to end violence against children, saying the issue must be treated as a strategic priority for the continent’s development rather than simply a social welfare concern.
Dr. Nabaneh made the remarks after participating in the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) Member State Validation Meeting on the Common Africa Position on Ending Violence Against Children (CAP-EVAC) and the African Union Model Law on Child Online Safety, held last week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Serving as ACERWC’s Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Children, she said the meeting focused on translating continental commitments into practical and enforceable protection mechanisms for children across Africa.
Ending Violence Key to Africa’s Development
During the high-level meeting, Dr. Nabaneh presented on Section 4 of the Common Africa Position on Ending Violence Against Children, arguing that protecting children from violence is fundamental to Africa’s long-term development.
She said ending violence against children is essential for building human capital, improving public health, strengthening governance, and promoting peace and social cohesion across the continent.
According to Dr. Nabaneh, addressing violence against children should be seen as a strategic investment in Africa’s future rather than solely a social protection issue.
Focus on Online Child Safety
The meeting also examined the African Union Model Law on Child Online Safety, with delegates discussing the growing risks children face in digital spaces.
Dr. Nabaneh said child online safety remains one of the core priorities of her mandate as Special Rapporteur. Discussions explored how digital platforms are designed, including the role of algorithms, artificial intelligence, and commercial business models in shaping children’s online experiences.
She said participants agreed that protecting children online requires moving beyond reactive responses to address the systemic risks created by digital technologies while safeguarding children’s rights and participation.
Call For Implementation
In her closing remarks, Dr. Nabaneh stressed that the new continental commitments complement existing African legal standards on children’s rights rather than replacing them.
“Continental oversight and Member State ownership are not competing forces—they are complementary. Our Guidelines and General Comments give legal shape to our commitments, while the CAP-EVAC provides the unified political mandate to drive national action,” she said.
She added that the Committee’s responsibility is to ensure these commitments are effectively implemented so that they lead to tangible improvements in the lives of children across Africa.
Dr. Nabaneh also thanked the African Union Commission, the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, the African Child Policy Forum, civil society organizations, technical partners, and young participants for their contributions to the meeting.
She reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to supporting African Union member states in implementing the agreed measures to ensure continental commitments deliver measurable results for children.
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