Are the children in the West Africa worse off than they where 15 years ago, despite legislations enacted to safeguard children's rights. According to a 6-8 November conference held in Burkina Faso, to assess the progress made by governments to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child. After an assessment of governments in West Africa it was quickly realized that little had been done to improve children's rights in the region.
"We went through the reports countries submit on their progress every year and realised quickly that nothing really has been done , very few things have improved in the region over the last 15 years," said Stefanie Conrad at the NGO Plan International in Dakar, which participated in the Ouagadougou meeting ( Region's children worse off despite legislation).
While participating governments stated they where committed to making a change for the children of their countries, doubts where also high.
"Political will at the highest level of government is needed as they are the only ones with the power to advance things with regard to budget allocation," she added. "Often they use the excuse that they don't have money but that is not true as other things get done. The problem is prioritisation."
Education was on right that appeared to stand out as one of the greatest failures, with little budgetary commitment or follow through. However education is not the only right governments have failed to provide their children, as healthcare, nutrition, abuse, trafficking, slavery, and gender discrimination are also issues of vital concern in the region. One can only hope that this conference will shake governments into sustainable action, and that the children of West Africa will soon see better days.
