Abstract
Background
In spite of the progress achieved over the years since the adoption of the CRC, violence against children (VAC) is still widespread in the African continent. Although some progress has been made in addressing violence through the implementation of the CRC and its use in the courts, there are still gaps particularly in ensuring access to remedies for child victims of violence.
Participants and setting
The strongest factors that impede measures to eliminate VAC in Africa are its broad societal acceptance and weak remedial tools to deal with the issue, including access to justice and assistance to child victims. The article analyses the CRC’s implementation and influence on national courts' jurisprudence on VAC in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.
Objective
The objective of the article is to provide evidence of the positive impact of the CRC on the right to a remedy for child victims of violence in selected African states, while highlighting existing gaps.
Methods
Evidence is provided through the CRC reporting process, and the impact of the CRC on national courts in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
Results
Facts and cases of redress for child victims of violence in the three states, as well as roles and paths that the stakeholders undertake, reflect the strength, value, role and influence of the CRC on the recent progress in these states. The law and legal advocacy in the selected African states have proved to be a powerful tool for children.
Conclusions
There is a need for more evidence and more research on the topic in each African state, so that real impact of the CRC on national remedial activities, as well as its relatedness to the level and types of violence against children is properly evaluated.