Morocco will host the first African ministerial conference on disarmament and the reintegration of child soldiers tomorrow, Thursday, under the motto: “Building Sustainable Pathways for Children Affected by Armed Conflicts.”
This initiative, the first of its kind on the African continent, marks a structural phase and political momentum to enhance collective African efforts to protect children by dedicating resources to prevent the recruitment of children in armed conflicts.
The conference is taking place amid escalating conflicts and multiple threats targeting children, including the emergence of cross-border armed groups, mass displacement, and recruitment through digital means, alongside worsening vulnerability within African communities.
The conference aims to strengthen regional cooperation and lay the foundations for a future African legal framework for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, as well as to promote inclusive approaches that encompass education, mental health, family support, socio-economic integration, and encourage research and knowledge sharing.
Hosting this event in Rabat reflects Morocco’s commitment, under the insightful leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to peace and the protection of children in Africa, building on its historical experience in child protection and efforts to enhance African capacities.
The conference aspires to open a new phase in combating child recruitment that is more coordinated, ambitious, and aligned with the realities of the African continent.
