JUSTICE FOR AFRICA: COUNTRY PROFILES
Find out more about the Justice for Africa mobilisations and advocacy demands for each country taking part, the youth- or student-led organisation leading their national campaign and contact details for how you can get in touch with them. This page will be updated regularly with their next steps, achievements and new actions.
BURUNDI
20th February 2023 Action:
The Burundi National Students Union demanded Justice for Africa on February 20th by holding a mobilisation at a high school in Kanyosha, Bujumbura rural district. Their action amplified the testimony and demands of child labour survivor-advocates and included a lively dialogue on social justice between children, youth and student leaders alongside local authorities. As well as civil society, their action saw participation from the National Youth Council, including its President, which is responsible for submitting the grievances of young people to the government, and the advisor for the Municipal Administrator in charge of social and political affairs.
Campaign demands and next steps:
The focus of the campaign is to achieve social justice and education for all children in Burundi, regardless of class or gender. Their actions highlighted the stark inequality between the poorest children in the country and the richest, and also the difference between children in Burundi and those in richer countries. They are already working with partners to continue holding the local government accountable in delivering child rights. They are also targeting national leaders to draft a law that protects children from exploitation of any kind, drawing attention to the role injustice against Africa plays in undermining children’s freedom and education in Burundi.
Country specific Justice for Africa facts:
The education budget in Burundi in 2021 was $28.42 per child. In Germany it was $14,114.12 per child.
Since the SDGs were announced in 2015, GDP per person in Burundi has decreased by $28.34. In Germany it has risen by $1,623.23 per person.
Burundi spends 31.3% of its budget on education, health and social protection. Germany spends 48.4% of its budget on education, health and social protection.
Burundi spends just 10 CENTS on social protection per child. Belgium spends $3,375.94 per child
As the number of children out of school is decreasing in the rest of the world, in Burundi there are 229,900 more children out of school since the SDGs were agreed in 2015.
CAMEROON
20th February 2023 Action:
Survivors Network Cameroon organised a Justice for Africa Day of action with more than 100 refugee and internally displaced children and the chief traditional leader of Dongo Village in the Eastern region of the country. Using song, games and art, they raised awareness of the injustice facing displaced children, including child labour, trafficking and gender-based violence, and shared information about child rights with participants as well as how to protect themselves against exploitation. After this they held a small rally with placards on the core messages of Justice for Africa and distributed flyers and stickers in strategic spots around the village to sensitise the wider community to the issues.
Campaign demands and next steps:
The main focus of the campaign in Cameroon is ending all child exploitation in conflict, including demanding duty-bearers sign and implement laws prohibiting the recruitment of children by armed forces and stronger action to be taken to prevent children dropping out of school during emergencies. They also advocated for an end to tax abuse which undermines funding available to finance effective local, national and regional child protection mechanisms. Survivors Network Cameroon are following up their action with a petition to the government alongside establishing a children's group in Dongo Village who will meet monthly to continue raising awareness and demanding their rights.
Country specific Justice for Africa facts:
The education budget in Cameroon in 2021 was $105.43 per child. In France it was $11,190.45 per child.
Since the SDGs were announced in 2015, GDP per person in Cameroon has risen by just $33.19. In France it has risen by $1,392.98 per person.
Cameroon spends just 19.4% of its budget on education, health and social protection. France spends 48.8% of its budget on education, health and social protection.
As the number of children out of school is decreasing in the rest of the world, in Cameroon there are 444,000, almost half a million million, more children out of school since the SDGs were agreed in 2015.
Every year Cameroon loses $315,625,183 to global tax abuse. $288 million of this is due to tax abuse from multinational corporations.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
20th February 2023 Action:
Association des Jeunes pour le Développement Communautaire, AJDC, together with a coalition of youth-led movements, organised their Justice for Africa mobilisation in Uvira, South Kivu, a mining region, which has experienced decades of social inequality, extreme poverty and conflict due to national and international actions. Their action included a debate on the 20th February between different stakeholders, such as the Youth Urban Council, on the greatest injustices facing children in the DRC. Participants then collectively drafted a joint petition that was read in front of Uvira authorities including the military and intelligence services and distributed across local media.
LEAD ORGANISATION:
ASSOCIATION DES JEUNES POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT COMMUNAUTAIRE
CONTACT:
Moise RIBAKARE
Campaign demands and next steps:
The core focus of the Justice for Africa campaign in DRC, developed with the local community and children from Uvira, is the lack of basic education infrastructure and how the ongoing insecurity and conflict is impacting access to education. Youth activists are also highlighting weaknesses in other essential public services such as healthcare, including limited availability of mental health and rehabilitation programmes. They are already planning to follow up on their petition with community mobilisations and large-scale advocacy, informed by local-led research they will be doing on the consequences of international injustice on the right to education and child protection.
Country specific Justice for Africa facts:
The education budget in the DRC in 2021 was $25.69 per child. In Belgium it was $16,227.07 per child.
Since the SDGs were announced in 2015, GDP per person in the DRC has risen by just $19.17. In Belgium it has risen by $1,893.14 per person.
The DRC spends 29.7% of its budget on education, health and social protection. Belgium spends 45.7% of its budget on education, health and social protection.
As the number of children out of school is decreasing in the rest of the world, in the DRC there are 960,000, almost 1 million, more children out of school since the SDGs were agreed in 2015.
Every year the DRC loses $638,701,628 to global tax abuse. $616 million of this is due to tax abuse from multinational corporations.
KENYA
20th February 2023 Action:
Billian Music Family and Siasa Place, organised a march on World Social Justice Day with over 120 children and young people from Mathare informal settlement many of them out of school, through the streets of Nairobi. The 7km route heard local musicians, dancers and loud chants amplifying how the cost of living crisis and high school fees is forcing many marginalised children out of education and increasing their vulnerability to exploitation. The march culminated with Billian Ojiwa and two school children submitting a petition to the Office of the Deputy President and multiple media engagements, with the mobilisation being front page news of a national newspaper on the 21st February.
Campaign demands and next steps:
The Kenyan Justice for Africa campaign is focused on ensuring universal access to quality education, especially for children living in poverty in the country’s informal settlements. Youth activists also highlighted the link between this national crisis and international injustice such as unsustainable debt and tax injustice that limits the government’s budget available to spend on delivering the right to education. The team is planning a series of engagements to follow up on the petition they submitted to the government and are ready to increase pressure on decision-makers to act through the media if progress stalls.
LIBERIA
20th February 2023 Action:
On February 20th, 100 Million Liberia and LINSU organised a public march, led by child labour survivor-advcoates, from Pipeline Community through the streets of Montserrado demanding Justice for Africa. Together they rallied against the many injustices facing children in Liberia and Africa at large, including child labour, child marriage, violence and denial of their fundamental rights such as education and health. The march included dances, performances, interviews and motivational speeches by survivors, students and youth activists and concluded with an indoor programme that developed recommendations to the Liberia government in the presence of a representative from the Gender Ministry.
LEAD ORGANISATION:
100 MILLION LIBERIA AND THE LIBERIAN NATIONAL STUDENT UNION
CONTACT:
Ewelle Sylvester Williams
Campaign demands and next steps:
The campaign is focused on delivering the rights of all children, focused on the most marginalised who are forced into child labour as street vendors, in markers and factories. It is demanding that existing legislation is fully implemented and funded, such as the Domestic Violence Bill, noting that despite these written laws, in practice injustice against children is increasing, with child marriage in rural settlements and youth homelessness rising. They will be following up with the Justice and Gender Ministry and planning to hold a joint stakeholders dialogue with decision-makers to address this.
Country specific Justice for Africa facts:
The education budget in Liberia in 2021 was just $34.11 per child. In the USA it was $19,104.14 per child, a difference of $19,070.02.
Since the SDGs were announced in 2015, GDP per person in Liberia has decreased by $69.84. In the USA it has risen by $5,092.79 per person, a difference of $5,162.63.
Liberia spends 11.8% of its budget on education, health and social protection. The USA spends 53.9% of its budget on education, health and social protection.
As the number of children out of school is decreasing in the rest of the world, in Liberia there are 214,300, almost a quarter of a million, more children out of school since the SDGs were agreed in 2015.
Every year Liberia loses over $145 million to global tax abuse.
NAMIBIA
20th February 2023 Action:
Namibia’s Justice for Africa mobilisation on the 20th February started with an event at Havana Project School, located in the informal settlement in Windhoek. Youth activists shared key campaign demands and the children and young people created placards and chants to amplify the call to justice. The campaign team then met with the Chairperson of the Nation Youth Council (NYC) of Namibia, to hand in a written communique on the injustices that Namibia and Africa continues to face and recommendations the NYC can implement. This engagement was filmed by the National Broadcaster and was highlighted in the local news that evening.
LEAD ORGANISATION:
100 MILLION NAMIBIA AND NAMIBIA NATIONAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
CONTACT:
Rebekka Nghilalulwa
Campaign demands and next steps:
100 Million Namibia and NANSO’s core demand was to create a national body that’s sole responsibility is child welfare, not a Ministry but an agency similar to the National Youth Council that has a mandate to monitor and ensure child rights. The team is planning to use Youth Week in April to amplify this call and connect with other youth leaders to build momentum with key stakeholders. Alongside this national focus, the Namibian team are also highlighting the injustices facing youth activists across the continent, for example the oppression young people in Lesotho experienced in June 2022 as a result of them standing up for their rights.
NIGERIA
20th February 2023 Action:
Prime Goals Initiative, who had to call off their planned march due to security concerns around the general election held in the same week, organised a powerful demonstration outside the Plateau State Federal Secretariat to demand Justice for Africa on 20th February. Around 30 school-aged children created placards and chanted messages demanding quality, culturally just, and inclusive basic and tertiary education for all at all levels. Together they linked the rise of child labour and out of school children in Nigeria to same trends occurring across the sub-Saharan Africa region, engaging fellow citizens ahead of the general election on the importance of prioritising education for the most marginalised children.
Campaign demands and next steps:
The Nigerian campaign is focused on combating the rise of out of school children being forced into child labour (particularly begging in the streets) and demanding their enrollment in formal education. As a result of their mobilisation Prime Goals Initiative received a call from the member of Parliament representing Jos North/Bassa federal constituency to meet and discuss their demands for justice. They are planning to follow up on this invitation alongside engagement with other state and national parliament members.
SOUTH SUDAN
20th February 2023 Action:
Street Beats Foundation launched their Justice for Africa campaign at the Juba Orphanage Center on 20th February, using sports, music and dance performances to advocate for the right to education and an end to child labour, especially the use of child soliders. The day of action begun with a live broadcast on Advance Youth Radio discussing the child labour and education crisis in the country and then held a football match with children currently working as street vendors and residents of the orphanage taking part alongside representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare.
LEAD ORGANISATION:
STREET BEATS FOUNDATION
CONTACT:
Francis Wani Joeseph
Campaign demands and next steps:
The main focus of the campaign in South Sudan is to ensure all children are in school and not working to survive or at risk of recruitment into armed groups. To achieve this they are calling for stronger child protection mechanisms at the national and international level to tackle gender-based violence, extreme poverty and deliver the right to education. Street Beats Foundation are already planning follow up actions of a massive awareness effort including workshops, community outreach, engaging the media, school visits and government engagement to keep up the pressure on decision-makers to act.
Country specific Justice for Africa facts:
Since the SDGs were announced in 2015, GDP per person in South Sudan has decreased by $1,071.78. In Germany it has increased by $1,623.23.14 per person. A difference of $2,685.01.
South Sudan spends 2.17% of its budget on health. The UK spends 19.5% of its budget.
As the number of children out of school is decreasing in the rest of the world, in South Sudan there are 104,000 more children out of school since the SDGs were agreed in 2015.
Every year South Sudan loses $65,459 to global tax abuse. South Sudan also enables $149 million tax lost inflicted on other countries by allowing global tax abuse.
TANZANIA
20th February 2023 Action:
The Tanzanian Coalition Agasint Child Labour (TCACL) marked the 20th February by demanding Justice for African children forced into child labour. Holding a community awareness mobilisation in Kinondoni Primary School with students, child labour survivor-advocates, teachers and local government decision-makers, the event focused on intergenerational dialogue on social justice. The themes of discussion were the importance of children raising their voices against injustice, including how to report cases of child labour and engage with their representatives. Youth activists also held interviews with media platforms ITV, TBC, DAR 24 ONLINE TV and Tumaini TV amplifying child labour survivor-advcoates demands across the country.
LEAD ORGANISATION:
TANZANIAN COALITION AGAINST CHILD LABOUR
CONTACT:
Scholastica Pembe
Campaign demands and next steps:
The core demands of the TCACL are the enforcement of existing Tanzanian laws on child protection, provision of education on child-rights targeted at parents and community sensitization to end discriminatory norms and practices such as child marriage. To achieve this, youth activists are aiming to encourage ward meetings to have a standing agenda item on child welfare as well as initiate committees for child protection in every community. The team is already planning further engagements in schools and follow-up meetings with local leaders, including social welfare officers, teachers and ward leaders to initiate child protection committees in their communities.
Country specific Justice for Africa facts:
The education budget in Tanzania in 2021 was $73.29 per child, while in the UK, it was $13,087.56.
The total government expenditure ( in %) on education, health and social protection in Tanzania is 24.6%, while it stands at 45.1% in the UK.
Tanzania suffers over $212 MILLION annually in tax losses.
UGANDA
20th February 2023 Action:
Somero Uganda organised a march on the 20th February along the porous border points between Uganda and Kenya often used by child traffickers. Led by child trafficking survivors, the march also included members of the local council, Senior Welfare, Protection and Children District Officers and the District Chairperson. The mobilisation of over 100 people included a brass band and songs to draw attention to the injustice of child-trafficking, denial of education and extreme poverty. The event saw commitments from the Uganda Police Force to increase security along the border points and the District Chairperson mandating stronger monitoring of school enrollment and a car to conduct routine inspections of schools.
Campaign demands and next steps:
The Ugandan campaign’s core demand is ‘Education for All: End Child Trafficking’, highlighting the need for stronger child protection mechanisms in schools, an end to discrimination facing disabled students and stronger enforcement of anti-trafficking measures. They are also calling on the District Education Department to train all their teachers in child protection so they can respond quickly and effectively when students are absent. Somero Uganda is to keep up momentum for change by submitting a petition to district, national and cross border stakeholders and organising a child and youth press conference to amplify their concerns across the mainstream media.
Country specific Justice for Africa facts:
The education budget in Uganda in 2021 was $51.99 per child, while in the UK, it was $13,087.56.
The total government expenditure ( in %) on education, health and social protection in Uganda is 12.1%, while it stands at 45.1% in the UK.
Uganda suffers over $382 MILLION annually in tax losses.