Rabat, Morocco, is set to host the inaugural African Ministerial Conference on the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) of child soldiers this Thursday.
Organized under the theme “Building Sustainable Pathways for Children Affected by Armed Conflict,” the event aims to be a crucial step in strengthening joint African action for child protection.
Faced with escalating conflicts and growing threats to children across the continent, this Conference is an urgent response to new challenges. These include the emergence of transnational armed groups, mass displacement, cyber-recruitment, and the exacerbation of community vulnerabilities. Since Africa remains one of the continents most affected by child soldier recruitment, the meeting calls for renewed and coordinated mobilization.
The Conference aims to generate strong political momentum around ending the recruitment of children in armed conflicts. Specifically, the goals include: Strengthening regional cooperation on child protection initiatives. Laying the groundwork for a future African legal instrument dedicated specifically to the DDR of child soldiers. Promoting holistic approaches to reintegration, ensuring support extends beyond military removal. This includes integrating essential services like education, mental health, family support, and socio-economic inclusion. Encouraging research and the systematic sharing of expertise among African nations.
The Rabat Conference aspires to open a new, more coordinated, ambitious, and continent-specific phase in the fight against child soldier recruitment. The organizers noted that holding this meeting in Morocco illustrates “the Kingdom’s commitment, under the enlightened leadership of King Mohammed VI, to peace, security, and the protection of children in Africa.”
AK/ac/fss/abj/APA