African Union or AU would celebrate African Child Day on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the theme:”A child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa”.
A statement issued on Wednesday said the day ensures achievement of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child for government, non-governmental organisations and international entities, reflecting on issues affecting children in the continent.
The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in collaboration with partners are gathering information on the progress made and challenges affecting full realization of the rights of children in Africa.
The Day is celebrated every year on June 16 to remember children protests in Soweto, South Africa in 1976 against discriminative education designed to further apartheid regime purposes.
The AU Assembly in 1991 passed a resolution designating June 16 as a Day for the celebration of the African Child.