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The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) will open its 46th session in Banjul, the Gambia, on 11 November 2009. Read the agenda here. The session marks an opportunity for child rights advocates to follow up a Resolution formalising cooperation between the Commission and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). Although both bodies deal with human rights in the region, they are based in different countries and report to different departments of the African Union. The Resolution aims to ensure that children's rights are included in broader human rights discussions in the region, and promoted in the work of all human rights bodies. The Resolution, which was adopted in May after tireless lobbying by child rights NGOs, also calls upon the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa* to work closely with States Parties, IGOs and NGOs working on child rights in Africa. The Rapporteur will report on the status of this cooperation during the Commission's sessions. Upcoming session An NGO forum will be held in advance of the session where NGOs will discuss human rights issues, develop recommendations, and draft resolutions to present to the Commission. Children's rights are on the forum's agenda and a number of organisations, including Plan International and the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), will ensure that children’s rights are included in all discussions. During the past two years, Plan has participated in three sessions of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) and the Forum for NGO participation which precedes each session. The African Committee: Civil Society Forum A Civil Society Forum was also established this year to coincide with the sessions of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACEWRC). The first meeting was staged in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 17-19 April, 2009. The aim of the meeting, which was held prior to the Committee's 13th session, was to discuss ways for civil society to support the Committee's work. Read about the first Civil Society Forum here. The 2nd Child Rights Civil Society Forum will take place in Addis on 11-12 November, followed by an event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child on the 13th November. The event will be organised by Africa Child Policy Forum, Africa Wide Movement for Children, Save the Children and Plan International. *Commissioner Maiga is the current mandate holder. Further information