The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at 434 icts ^th meeting, Held an open session, on 8 May 2014 Devoted to the theme: "Children in Armed Conflicts in Africa: Briefing by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). "

The meeting Was a follow-up to the 420 ^th meeting of the PSC, Held in Addis Ababa, on 18 February 2014 with the ACERWC, All which Highlighted the pressing need to respect children's rights, Especially in countries experiencing conflicts.

Council received statements from HE Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security; HE Paul Martial Ikounga, AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, in His capacity as the Acting Commissioner for Social Affairs AU; Professor Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Chairperson of ACERWC; Madam Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Children in Armed Conflicts; Ms. Leila Pakkala, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa; Mr. John Graham, Country Director of Save the Children; as well as Mr. Alhaji Babah Sawaneh form a child soldier. Statements Were aussi received from Representatives of AU Member States, bilateral and multilateral partners, as well as Representatives of civil society organisms.

Recalling Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec.712 (XXI), ADOPTED in June 2012, at icts 21 ^st Ordinary Session, Held in Addis Ababa, in the Executive Council Requested All which the PSC to take into account the rights of the child in icts agenda and Actively Cooperate with the ACERWC, in icts efforts Aimed at Promoting the welfare of children in Africa, the Council for participants Commended Devoting an open session on Children in Armed Conflicts in Africa and Encouraged the Council to regularize Such sessions.

Participants and Council Acknowledged That Despite The overall commitment Towards the protection of children affected by armed conflict and the progress Achieved to Strengthen the Existing legal frameworks, grave child rights violations REMAIN year urgency and serious concern in African countries affected by conflict. Furthermore, the implementation of instruments and thesis Commitments turning into concrete actions still remains a daunting challenge across the continent. In this regard, the meeting Emphasized That It is the primary responsibility of Governments to Ensure That children are protected and That Their rights and welfare are Promoted. Furthermore, They urged all AU Member States, All which have-nots yet done so, to ratify and fully Implement the relevant AU and other international child protection, rights and welfare instruments.

Participants and Council concurred That Providing Direct services: such as learning and psycho-social support; capacity building for duty bearers Including Governments ministries, police, community-based child protection networks; building partnerships with community-based structures; Prioritizing and children's participation in Their Own protection, Were all at the center of Ensuring the protection of children in armed conflicts on the continent.

Participants and Council Expressed sympathy to the families of more than 200 Nigerian girls Who Were Their abducted from school in north-eastern Nigeria and to the Federal Government of Nigeria. They urged Those Responsible for Their abduction to time immediately release unharmed em and for the Nigerian Authorities to Ensure That They Are successfully re-united with Their families. In this regard, Participants and called Expired Council for concerted efforts to Prevent violations of children's rights and the need for AU Member States to take punitive robust Measures against the Perpetrators of violations against children.

Participants and Council: stressed the need for Governments to institutionalize the protection of Children Within Their disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR) programs, as well as to include rehabilitation of child soldiers train in countries PARTICULARLY emery from conflicts.

In Accordance with Both continental and international instruments, PARTICULARLY Article 22 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Participants and Council called Expired on all State and Non-State actors to adhere strictly to International Humanitarian Law. In this regard, Council Welcomed Participants and the Declaration signed in September 2013 Between the AU and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflicts, to mainstream the protection of children in all peace and security activities of the AU. Participants aussi Welcomed the steps Being Undertaken by the AU in mainstreaming child protection activities in icts Peace Support Operations.

Participants and called Expired Council on AU Member States to extend a standing invitation to the ACERWC to Visit their respective countries and to Collaborate with the Committee to Ensure That There is No Impunity to the violation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

Welcomed the participants and Council 'Children, Not Soldiers' Campaign by the SRSG and UNICEF Aimed at ending the recruitment of children by government by force in 2016 and called Expired on the SRSG / CAAC, the AUC and the ACERWC to Develop a partnership for the success of this Campaign.

Participants and Council recommended the appointment of an AU Special Envoy for Children in Africa to sustain efforts in the protection of children's rights in the context of armed conflict on the continent. They Also called for further Strengthening of the capacity of the ACERWC, as well as for the re-doubling of efforts in Mobilizing funding for child protection related activities Including Within the framework of the 2013-2023 Plan of Action. In the same vein, They: stressed the need for building the capacity of child protection centers and the establishment of new ones Where They do not yet exist.

Welcomed the Council call for regularizing an Open Session dedicated to protection of children's rights in the context of armed conflict and echoed the need to Ensure an Africa-Fit-For Children; 

Council Agreed To Remain Seized of the matter.                                   

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