From 8 to 9 July, the United Nations Office to the African Union participated in the Conference on Children and Armed Conflict in Central Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon, under the theme “Together Towards Prevention.”
Organized by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, in partnership with the Government of Cameroon and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, the conference brought together representatives of the eleven Central African States, the African Union, regional institutions, United Nations entities, civil society and other partners.
A key outcome was the technical-level validation by the eleven Member States of a regional strategy for the prevention of children and armed conflict. The strategy is expected to be submitted for ministerial-level adoption at the next meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, scheduled for November 2026 in Libreville, Gabon.
UNOAU also participated in a side event focused on “Education as a Key Tool for the Prevention, Protection and Reintegration of Children Faced with Recruitment in Armed Groups.” Discussions underscored the importance of education and coordinated regional action in preventing recruitment, protecting children affected by conflict and supporting their sustainable reintegration.
