At Yaounde conference: Stakeholders explore strategies to protect children from armed conflict.

The event, holding under the theme: “Children and Armed Conflict in Central Africa: Together Towards Prevention”, opened on Wednesday, July 8.

In attendance are representatives of member States of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, UNSAC; the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS; the African Union, AU; civil society organisations and international partners.

Organisers say governments, regional organisations, United Nations agencies and development partners are seeking stronger cooperation to address growing security challenges affecting children across the sub-region.

Opening ceremony on behalf of the government, the Secretary General of the Ministry of External Relations, Chinmoun Oumarou, said the meeting is expected to pave the way for the development and adoption of a common regional strategy to better protect children affected by armed conflict.

He noted that armed conflicts continue to threaten the future of thousands of children in Central Africa, depriving many of their rights to life, education, health and protection, while exposing others to violence, displacement, recruitment by armed groups, abduction and other serious abuses.

Oumarou continued by stressing that child protection remained both a legal obligation and a shared responsibility for States and communities. 

He added that the region continued to face complex security threats, including terrorism, violent extremism, internal armed conflicts, cross-border movements of armed groups and humanitarian crises, making children particularly vulnerable.

The official further mentioned measures already undertaken nationally to protect children, including a roadmap for implementing the Safe Schools Declaration validated in December 2024 to ensure safe and inclusive learning environments during crises, conflicts and disasters.

He also cited a strategy developed by the National Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Committee for children associated with armed forces and armed groups, which focuses on reintegration opportunities, protection from recruitment and access to specialised support services.

“Preventing conflict, strengthening community resilience, promoting education, protecting families and offering prospects for young people are essential levers for lasting peace. We want this conference to produce concrete commitments and practical mechanisms capable of protecting children throughout our sub-region,” he said.

Calls for regional action

Addressing participants via video message, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, described the gathering as a significant milestone for the region.

Frazier pointed to findings from the latest UN report on children and armed conflict, which recorded more than 24,000 children subjected to grave violations in 2025, the highest figure ever documented. 

According to Frazier, Central Africa had become the first sub-region to commit to developing a joint child protection approach under the children and armed conflict mandate.

“Should the outcome of this meeting culminate in the formulation and adoption of a regional children and armed conflict prevention strategy, Central Africa would stand globally as a champion under the mandate. It is a chance to move from reacting to child protection crises to anticipating and preventing them,” she said.

The UN official added that children across the region remained exposed to the devastating consequences of armed conflict and called for stronger cooperation among states and regional organisations to address threats that often transcend national borders.

On her part, African Union Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflict, Jainaba Jagne, also welcomed the initiative, saying that it is both timely and necessary.

She said the proposed strategy would help shift efforts from responding to violations after they occur to preventing them through preparedness, early warning and coordinated action.

“These grave violations are not inevitable. They can be prevented through early action, coordinated responses and sustained political commitment. As we often say, prevention is always better than cure,” Jagne said.

She added that implementation should focus on strengthening child-sensitive early warning systems, protecting schools and healthcare facilities, preventing recruitment and sexual violence, ensuring accountability and supporting the recovery and reintegration of affected children.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3842 of Thursday July 09, 2026