"Technical experts met Wednesday, 26th August to chart pathways for addressing the challenges faced by children on the move within the African continent," according to this press release from the African Union. "These are children who have left their places of habitual residence to other places within or outside their countries, or have been entrusted by their parents or guardians, voluntarily or involuntarily, accompanied or unaccompanied by their parents, caregivers or families either as internally displaced persons, refugees, asylum-seekers, economic migrants or trafficked persons and who may suffer or may be at risk of suffering exploitation, abuse, neglect or violence," the press release continues.
The online consultative meeting followed up on the publication of the Mapping on Children on the Move within Africa study by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) in 2018. Among other topics, the technical experts discussed best practices and challenges in legislative and policy measures and reflected on the role of Member States and other stakeholders in protecting the rights of returnee children, particularly with respect to family tracing and reunification, family mediation, resettling grants, and skills development.