Note: The statement below is the full version of the abridged statement delivered orally.
The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) thanks the Committee for the opportunity to address this 47th Ordinary Session and commends the Committee for its continued leadership in advancing the rights and welfare of children in Africa.
Honourable Chairperson,
First, we wish to highlight the growing concern of the impact of business activities on the environment and the adverse effect on the rights and wellbeing of children. Across many African countries, extractive industries, large-scale agriculture, and industrial projects continue to operate in ways that expose children and their communities to serious risks. In Kabwe, Zambia, decades of lead and zinc mining have left behind vast quantities of toxic waste which continues to contaminate surrounding soil and water sources. As a result, children are exposed to dangerous levels of lead not only through direct environmental contact but also through contaminated drinking water and inadequate sanitation. Reports indicate that more than 95 percent of children living near the former mine in Kabwe have elevated blood lead levels, leading to irreversible health consequences including neurological damage and developmental delays. Similarly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the expansion of cobalt and other mineral extraction has been linked to the pollution of local water bodies, forcing communities to rely on contaminated rivers for drinking, cooking, and hygiene. In Togo’s phosphate mining communities of Hahotoé and Kpémé, as well as in gold mining areas in Ghana, children are exposed to toxic heavy metals released into the soil, air, and water. This significantly increases children’s exposure to toxic substances and waterborne diseases, undermining their rights to safe water, adequate sanitation and a healthy environment.
We urge the Committee to call on States to:
- Strengthen regulatory frameworks governing corporate conduct and to ensure that businesses respect children’s rights throughout their operations and supply chains;
- Ensure environmental remediation and access to health services for children affected by toxic pollution in mining impacted communities;
- Ensure children’s access to safe, clean water and sanitation in mining affected communities by preventing and addressing water pollution; and
- Adopt and implement National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human Rights that explicitly integrate children’s rights, including safeguards against environmental harm, child labour, and exploitation within corporate supply chains. Currently, only 5 of Africa’s 55 countries have such NAPs, underscoring a critical gap in translating human rights commitments into concrete action.
Second, we draw attention to the issue of statelessness which continues to deprive many children of their fundamental rights. Across Africa, gaps in birth registration systems, restrictive nationality laws, and difficulties in obtaining identity documentation continue to place children at risk of statelessness. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, children of vulnerable populations, including refugees, historical migrants without documentation, and cross-border communities face heightened risk of statelessness. In The Gambia, an assessment conducted by the Gambia Commission for Refugees (GCR), with support from UNHCR, identified 1,735 children at risk of statelessness in Ghana Town community, Brufut, The Gambia. In Kenya, Nubian children continue to face persistent challenges in obtaining birth registration and identity documents, despite important decisions by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights affirming their right to Kenyan nationality. These barriers have resulted in ongoing exclusion and uncertainty, limiting their access to essential services and full legal recognition. Without legal identity or nationality, children face barriers to education, healthcare, social protection, and legal recognition. They are also at heightened risk of exploitation, trafficking, and early marriage.
We therefore urge the Committee to call on States to:
- Strengthen birth registration systems and adopt legal safeguards that prevent children from becoming stateless, including ensuring that nationality laws comply with the best interests of the child and the principle of non-discrimination;
- Establish mechanisms to identify, register, and protect stateless children; and
- Accelerate the ratification of the Protocol on the Specific Aspects of the Right to Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness in Africa.
Third, we are concerned about the discrimination and exclusion of children with disabilities. In Burundi, particularly in rural provinces such as Kirundo, Cankuzo, Muyinga, and Ruyigi, children with disabilities are significantly less likely to attend school, with many remaining out of school due to inaccessible school facilities, lack of trained teachers, and the absence of assistive devices or adapted learning materials. In Tanzania, children with albinism continue to face severe challenges, including discrimination, violence through ritual attacks, and the lack of reasonable accommodations in schools, such as large-font learning materials and assistive devices, which limit their access to education.
We urge the Committee through its Working Group on Children with Disabilities to:
- Raise awareness about the rights and protection of children with albinism, including developing guidelines for States on preventing discrimination, violence, and addressing barriers to education.
- Follow up with the government of Tanzania to ensure the full implementation of the African Court’s decision in Application 019/2018 Center for Human Rights, IHRDA & the Legal and Human Rights Centre v. Tanzania, guaranteeing children with albinism protection from violence and access to education, healthcare and social services.
We further urge the Committee to call on the government of Burundi and Tanzania to:
- Take measures to ensure that schools are physically accessible and equipped with trained teachers, assistive devices, and adapted learning materials to support the inclusion of children with disabilities; and
- Improve data collection and early identification systems to ensure that children with disabilities are registered, supported, and able to access health, education, and social protection services.
Finally, we commend the Committee for its sustained efforts in encouraging State reporting, which have yielded a record number of reports in 2025, reflecting strengthened engagement by States Parties with the African Children’s Charter and its monitoring processes. While this progress is highly encouraging, we urge the Committee to further enhance its follow-up mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of its concluding observations.
In particular, we urge the Committee to adopt more structured follow-up procedures, including clear timelines for reporting on implementation, dedicated follow-up dialogues with States Parties, and closer collaboration with National Human Rights Institutions and civil society actors to track progress and address gaps.
Thank you for your attention.
