Interview with Dr. Robert Doya Nanima, University of Western Cape, and Expert on the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: An African Perspective on Decolonization and Children’s Rights

O Social em Questão

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ISSN: 1415-1804
Editor Chefe: Rafael Soares Gonçalves
Início Publicação: 01/01/1997
Periodicidade: Trimestral
Área de Estudo: Ciências Humanas

Interview with Dr. Robert Doya Nanima, University of Western Cape, and Expert on the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: An African Perspective on Decolonization and Children’s Rights

Ano: 2023 | Volume: 1 | Número: 56
Autores: T. M. Collins
Autor Correspondente: T. M. Collins | [email protected]

Palavras-chave: Children’s rights; Decolonization; Decoloniality; African Charter on the Rights; Welfare of the Child, Africa.

Resumos Cadastrados

Resumo Inglês:

To better understand the realities and nuances of the connection between decolonization and children’s rights, different regional perspectives must be explored. Accordingly, this interview was held for this special journal issue in January 2023 with Dr. Robert Doya Nanima from the University of Western Cape, and Expert on the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Due to the fundamental legal foundation of children’s rights, this interview considers regional laws and related activities in the African continent to further decolonization. After describing his trajectory in children’s rights and decolonization, Dr. Nanima highlights key considerations in the practice of monitoring children’s rights in the African context. He argues that there are three nuanced approaches that the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child presents in connection with children’s rights and decolonization through its working methods, namely its underpinning history, the added value, and strategic engagements. It is also emphasized that the relationship between decolonization and children's rights starts by understanding the problem between colonization and children's rights. Furthermore, just as children’s rights need to be contextualized in specific contexts, decolonization must be as well. Young people are not a homogenous group and the elements of locality and personal identity including intersectional considerations of race, ethnicity and gender, are also highlighted. Dr. Nanima outlines the cross-cutting relevance of the human rights of children and the requirement that we go deeper than assumptions that we may have about children and youth. Rights are not only about intentions but also necessitate concrete results. Before concluding, Dr. Nanima recommends some relevant African authors on the topic of decolonization.