RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – The African Ministerial Conference on Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) of Child Soldiers concluded Thursday with the adoption of the Rabat Declaration, reinforcing commitments to combat the recruitment of children in armed conflicts across the continent.
According to MAP Express, ministers and heads of delegations from participating African states adopted the Declaration, reaffirming their firm commitment to fight the recruitment and exploitation of minors in armed conflicts, described as “serious violations of international law and an affront to humanity.”
The Declaration expresses deep concern over continued grave violations against children, particularly forced recruitment, sexual violence, abductions, and barriers to education and humanitarian aid. It also emphasizes prevention as the most effective strategy to end the phenomenon of child soldiers, calling for the creation of protective environments, stronger community resilience, early warning mechanisms, and measures to address root causes of recruitment.
Ministers highlighted that the reintegration of children released from armed groups must be comprehensive, sustainable, and tailored to individual needs, through programmes combining psychosocial support, family reunification, social inclusion, education, and economic empowerment. They stressed the need to combat stigmatization and promote reconciliation within communities.
The Rabat Declaration also calls for strengthened regional and international cooperation, underscoring the central role of African organisations, local communities, and civil society in preventing, protecting, and reintegrating minors associated with armed forces and groups. It further states that peacebuilding and post-conflict processes must systematically incorporate child protection, viewing children not only as beneficiaries but also as agents of change in African societies.
The Declaration announces the launch of a process to develop a dedicated African legal instrument—a continental convention focused on preventing the recruitment of child soldiers and supporting their reintegration. To support this effort, ministers agreed to establish the “Group of Friends on Child-Centered DDR,” a platform designed to coordinate and advance joint initiatives.
Adopted in Rabat, the Declaration reaffirms the shared ambition of African nations to build a continent where every child can grow free from fear, violence, and armed conflict, and their determination to contribute to global efforts to permanently eradicate the use of child soldiers.
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(ITALPRESS).
