Sloth-Nielsen, JuliaMezmur, Benyam Dawit2013-11-012013-11-012009Sloth-Nielsen, J. & Mezmur, B. D. (2009). Out of the starting blocks : the 12th and 13th sessions of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. African Human Rights Law Journal, 9 (1): 336-3521609073Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10566/787The 12th and 13th meetings of the African Children's Committee were held in November 2008 and April 2009 respectively. With the African Children's Charter entering its 10th year since entry into force, the real work of the African Committee is now beginning. With the consideration of the first country reports to the African Committee, the benefits of a regionally-specific child rights treaty has begun to become apparent. The recent establishment of a formal grouping of civil society organisations and individuals dedicated to furthering the regional influence of the African Children's Charter (first mooted in 2004!) comes at an opportune time. Despite some of the recurring shortcomings in the work of the Committee, it is hoped that the development of a strategic plan for the Committee's work for the period 2010 to 2014 will lay some of these concerns to rest.enCopyright Juta Law. This file may be freely used provided that the source is acknowledged. No commercial distribution of this text is permitted.African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the ChildChildren's rightsCountry reportArticle