Today, Girls Activist Youth Organisation (GAYO) is on the ground at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), joining a powerful coalition of children, youth advocates, government leaders, and international partners to mark the Day of the African Child (DAC). This day, established by the Organization of African Unity in 1991, holds deep historical significance. It pays tribute to the brave students of the 1976 Soweto uprising who marched against poor-quality education, demanding to be taught in their own language. Their spirit of activism fuels our work today as we continue to fight for the rights and welfare of every child.
This year, under the stewardship of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), the theme is a direct and uncompromising call to action: “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress since 2010”. This theme moves us beyond promises and demands a critical examination of our nation’s financial commitments. It asks a simple yet profound question: Do our national budgets truly reflect our stated goal of creating an “Africa fit for its children”?
The 2025 commemoration is designed as a crucial platform for an honest review of the last fifteen years. The objectives are not just to talk, but to act. We are here to take stock of the progress made by the Malawi Government and its partners, analyzing the measures taken, the challenges encountered, and the best practices in budgeting and planning for children.
The agenda for today’s event in Lilongwe is packed with opportunities for substantive engagement. The day began with a Solidarity Walk from Parliament to the BICC, a symbolic journey of unity and purpose. The official opening by the Right Honorable Dr. Micheal Biziwick Usi, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, alongside remarks from children’s representatives and the Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, sets a tone of high-level commitment.
Crucially, the program includes a child-led panel discussion on effective participation in national budgeting and an intergenerational dialogue. These sessions provide a vital “interface between children and officer bearers,” allowing for direct engagement with key decision-makers from the Ministry of Finance, UNICEF, and other influential bodies. It is in these dialogues that accountability is forged and the voices of our youth can directly influence policy.
As GAYO, we are using this platform to amplify our core message: the rights of children, and especially the girl child, must be backed by deliberate, strategic, and transparent funding. We join the call to action with a focus on several key objectives for this Day of the African Child:
- Child-Friendly Legislation: We urge Members of Parliament to undertake a national assessment of the child-friendliness of their planning and budgeting processes and to pursue legislative reforms that formally incorporate children’s rights into budget laws and policies.
- Meaningful Child Participation: We will continue to advocate for frameworks that ensure the structured and sustainable participation of children in the development of the national plans and budgets that directly affect their lives.
- Increased Allocations: We call on Parliament to increase budget allocations for children to ensure the robust implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC).
- Strengthened Accountability: We advocate for the creation of child-sensitive fiscal policies and clear accountability frameworks to ensure that allocated funds are spent effectively and transparently.
As we engage in today’s activities, from the solidarity walk to the child-led panel discussions, our message is clear: investing in children is not an expense; it is the most critical investment we can make in our nation’s future. True progress is measured by how well we protect and provide for the most vulnerable among us.
Girls Activist Youth Organisation-GAYO remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the rights of all children, especially the girl child. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that policy decisions support and strengthen children’s rights programs.
Join us in demanding accountability and action. The rights of the African child depend on it.
