On 16 June 2026, the African Union Special Envoy on Children Affected by Armed Conflict, Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, and the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Under-Secretary-General Vanessa Frazier, issued a joint statement marking the Day of the African Child under the theme "Ensuring universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for every child in Africa."
The statement underscored the critical importance of access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for children affected by armed conflict, emphasizing that the protection of WASH services is essential for children's survival, health, education and dignity.
It warned that attacks on or disruption of WASH infrastructure expose children to heightened risks of disease, malnutrition, displacement, school interruption, sexual violence and exploitation. The statement further highlighted the severe humanitarian situation facing children in conflict-affected areas, where the absence of clean water and basic health services continues to place countless lives at risk.
The Special Envoys called for strengthened efforts to protect children and ensure access to essential services in line with international humanitarian and human rights obligations. Read full statement here.