The Second Meeting of the African Network of Universities for Child Rights was held in The Gambia, bringing together government officials, university leaders, UN representatives, and child rights advocates. The meeting aimed to strengthen partnerships, research, and policy reforms to advance children's rights across Africa. The theme of the meeting was "The Role of African Universities in Advancing Child Rights Research, Education, Innovation, Policy and Practice for Sustainable Impact."
University of The Gambia Vice Chancellor Professor Herbert Robinson described the meeting as a historic milestone. He highlighted the recent establishment of the Child Rights Centre at the university, launched with UNICEF support, as the first university-based child rights institution in the country. Robinson emphasized the central role universities must play in teaching, research, shaping national discourse, influencing policy, and generating evidence to improve children's lives.
While acknowledging progress, Robinson noted challenges remain, particularly for children in remote and vulnerable communities. He urged greater collaboration among universities, governments, and development partners to address these challenges. Robinson's sentiments were echoed by FAO Country Representative Moshibudi Rampedi, who reaffirmed the UN's commitment to child rights and emphasized the importance of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Rampedi emphasized the unique responsibility of universities to produce locally relevant research and promote human rights values. With less than four years remaining to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, she stressed the urgency of evidence-based policymaking. Rampedi pledged continued support for academic partnerships, legal reforms, and initiatives that ensure children participate in decisions affecting their lives.
Fatou Janneh, representing the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, highlighted government initiatives to expand access to education. These initiatives include support for student mothers in higher education, the National TVET Policy 2021-2030, and the Gender and Inclusion Policy 2025-2029. Janneh emphasized that universities must go beyond producing graduates by generating evidence for policy, training professionals who work with children, and creating platforms for children to contribute to decisions.
Delegates at the meeting exchanged best practices, discussed emerging challenges, and developed strategies to strengthen child rights education, research, and advocacy across Africa. The meeting also aimed to validate the network's governance framework, expand membership, and strengthen collaboration among universities. The African Network of Universities for Child Rights was established to promote child rights and provide a platform for universities to share knowledge and expertise.
The meeting concluded with a call to action for universities, governments, and development partners to work together to advance children's rights across Africa. Key stakeholders emphasized the need for stronger partnerships, research, and policy reforms to ensure that children's rights are protected and promoted. The meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to share experiences and develop strategies to address the challenges facing children in Africa.
Key points
- Universities must play a central role in shaping national discourse, influencing policy, and generating evidence to improve children's lives.
- The UN reaffirmed its commitment to child rights and emphasized the importance of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
- Government initiatives aim to expand access to education, including support for student mothers and policies to promote gender inclusion.
