On 2 September, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) held its 1368th meeting on the protection of children affected by armed conflict in Africa, with a focus on preventing the recruitment and use of children and strengthening child protection across peace and security processes.
Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Hervé D. Djokpé, Permanent Representative of Benin to the African Union and Chairperson of the AU PSC for September, Ambassador Nonceba Losi, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the AU, on behalf of both Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS)and Ambassador Rebecca Otengo Amuge, Permanent Representative of Uganda to the AU and Co-Chairperson of the African Platform on Children Affected by Armed Conflict.
AU Special Envoy on Children Affected by Armed Conflict, Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, emphasized the importance of preventing the recruitment and use of children, including by protecting their right to education. She also highlighted the need for sustainable, child- and gender-sensitive disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes for children associated with armed forces and armed groups, and called for child protection considerations to be integrated into mediation, conflict resolution strategies and peace agreements.
In a video statement, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, commended the African Union's efforts to strengthen prevention, including through early warning, monitoring and reporting mechanisms and regional prevention strategies. She also underscored the importance of compliance with international child protection standards.
