Call for Inputs by the ACERWC Special Rapporteur on Health on the draft General Comment on Article 28 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

CALL FOR INPUTS BY THE AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD (ACERWC) SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HEALTH ON THE DRAFT GENERAL COMMENT ON ARTICLE 28 OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD

Background

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child is mandated under Article 42 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (the Charter) to formulate principles and rules aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of children in Africa. In exercise of this mandate, the ACERWC develops General Comments to provide authoritative interpretive guidance to States Parties on their obligations under the Charter. 

Article 28 of the Charter provides that States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to protect children from the use of narcotics and illicit use of psychotropic substances, and to prevent the use of children in the production and trafficking of such substances. 

The General Comment seeks to clarify these obligations and provide concrete, rights-based guidance to States Parties on their implementation. The draft General Comment addresses: the scope and legal basis of Article 28; clarification of key terms; the general principles of the Charter as they apply to Article 28; State obligations, including legislative, administrative and other measures; treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration for children affected by substance abuse; data collection and research; and emerging intersectional issues. 

The ACERWC invites written inputs from all stakeholders, including but not limited to:

• Member States of the African Union

• African Union organs

• National Human Rights Institutions 

• Regional Economic Communities 

• Civil society organisations 

• Academic institutions and researchers 

• International organisations 

• UN agencies 

• Healthcare practitioners and social workers 

• Children, young people, and youth-led organisations 

Submission Details

1. Deadline: 30 June 2026


2. Submissions should not exceed 5 pages and may include relevant annexes or links to case studies. 

3. Submissions may be submitted in any of the official languages of the African Union.

4. Email submissions to: [email protected], copying [email protected] and [email protected]