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Summary: This report compiles all mentions of children's rights in the Concluding Observations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. Last Examined: 12-26 May 2010 The report was presented by Special Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Commission commended Ethiopia regarding: The ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and steps taken to ensure its implementation by for instance setting a minimum age for marriage of 18 years for both male and female, and for imposing an obligation on the Government of the FDRE to uphold the right of every child to basic education. (Paragraph 18) The enactment of the proclamation prohibiting the imposition of death penalty against a child. (Paragraph 19) The regulation that separates male from female prisoners and for making provisions for infants, below 18 months, who need close maternal care, to stay with their mothers serving a prison term and for providing additional food to such mothers and their infant children. (Paragraph 25) The new Family Code of the FDRE that guarantees equality ofspouses during the conclusion, duration and dissolution of marriage and for setting a minimum age of 18 years for marriage for both male and female . (Paragraph 34) The Commission raised concerns about: The continuing incidence of natural disasters, including drought and floods, and further notes the negative impact upon respect for children's rights of the period of armed conflict with Eritrea. (Paragraph 62) The lack of concrete legislation at the national level on gender based violence, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and discrimination against women. (Paragraph 40) The high incidence of infant and maternal mortality in the country. (Paragraph 41) The persistence of incidences when children from rural areas have been imported to towns and compelled to work in an exploitative and unsafe conditions with or without the prior permission of their parents as evident in the additional answers forwarded by FDRE to the African Commission. (Paragraph 44) Child trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, which FDRE acknowledges, is still prevalent and widespread. (Paragraph 52) The Commission recommended that Ethiopia : Introduce appropriate policies to address the high incidence of infant and maternal mortality, especially in the Northern part of the Country. (Paragraph 62) Take steps to enact legislation protecting the rights of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), which prohibits discrimination against them. The African Commission recommends that steps be taken to develop a programme preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS through which the necessary testing and provision of medicines to pregnant women is made available in all public health care facilities. (Paragraph 68) Take the necessary steps to address through legislative measures concerns regarding resources allocation for the prevention of practices such as harmful traditional practices, birth registration, child labour, refugee children and juvenile justice. (Paragraph 71) Put in place measures, and legislations, that will protect persons living with HIV/AIDS from discrimination in the society as well as to address the problem of mother- to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. (Paragraph 80)