Observer Status For Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
CSOs and international institutions have played a significant role in the work of the Committee of Experts and they have served as the backbone of the committee's work since inception. International NGOs have been particularly involved in the work of the committee, providing different kinds of expertise and financial support to most of the work.
Although CSO involvement was minimal in the beginning, over the intervening years they have since taken a pivotal role in ensuring that the committee fulfils its mandate and in providing the necessary support needed to facilitate its work. The adoption of the guidelines for granting observer status will now also ensure that more CSOs are able to formally participate and contribute in the process.
According to the proposed guidelines for observer status some of the ways CSOs and associations will be allowed to participate will include:
• Attending opening and closing ceremonies of the Committee of Experts sessions;
• Participating in the committee's meetings;
• Accessing documents that are not confidential and do not deal with issues concerning the observers;
• Being invited to participate in closed sessions dealing with issues that concern them;
• Making statements on issues that concern them, provided the statement has been sent to the committee in advance;
• Responding to questions they may be asked in meetings.
The guidelines encourage the formation of coalitions by CSOs with similar objectives. The following are the requirements for the participation of CSOs for observer status are:
• They must be registered in a member state with the mandate to carry out regional and international activities;
• Must have been registered for a minimum of three years;
• Must have done work in the defence of children's rights;
• They must have a recognised headquarters, democratically adopted statutes and a representative structure;
• They must submit a list of documentation to aid their application at least three months before a session of the Committee of Experts.
Once the organisation has obtained observer status, it may request the Committee of Experts to include issues of interest on their agenda and to make oral statements at the sessions. They are entitled to receive information on the time, location and agenda of the sessions of the committee. The committee can invite a CSO to participate in the deliberations of the meetings of the Committee without a voting right.
The CSOs are also under an obligation to establish close relations with the committee and to hold regular consultations on all issues of common interest. CSOs are required to submit reports on their activities every two years. When CSOs default on their obligations, the committee may suspend or withdraw the observer status.
Read more about this topic: African Charter On The Rights And Welfare Of The Child
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