The theme for the Day of the African Child (DAC) 2019 selected by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), established in accordance with Articles 32 and 33 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (the Charter) is “Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children’s Rights First.” In 1991, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the then OAU instituted the DAC in memory of the 16th June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa. At that time, students marched in protest against the poor quality of education they received and demanded to be taught in their own languages. The DAC serves to commemorate these children and the brave action they took in defence of their rights. The DAC thus celebrates the children of Africa and calls for a serious introspection and commitment towards addressing the numerous challenges facing children across the continent. The Day should not be celebrated by State Parties and other stakeholders as an event but rather as a process that draws on previous celebrations to create synergies that improve the realisation of the rights of children under national and international law. Humanitarian crises result from various factors or events or from a combination of several factors, and pose significant risks and threats to the lives, safety, and security, health or general wellbeing of a large number of people at a time – with little or no capacity to cope with the impacts of the crises. ECOZI celebrated the day in conjunction with an Inclusive Education Indaba at Amandas Junior School in Concession, Mashonaland Central Province. Amandas Junior School is a beaming model of inclusivity, it has learners with hearing impairment, learners with visual impairment all learning together with their non-disabled peers.

The commemoration sought to dialogue on strategies that indicate the steps taken to ensure that the best interests of the child, especially girls and children with disabilities are upheld in especially in humanitarian crises.