Publication:

Conclusions of the Ministerial and High-Level Open Session on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights and Welfare of Children in Situations of Conflict in Africa, 4-5 December 2023, Banjul, The Gambia.

The participants reached several agreements, including the recognition that Member States bear primary responsibility for safeguarding children and executing national, regional, and continental frameworks. AU Member States were urged to intensify their efforts and give top priority to local initiatives that uphold children’s rights, safeguard them, and establish a culture of child protection in both peaceful and conflictual environments. The formalization of the “Annual High-level Open Session on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights and Welfare of Children in Situations of Conflict in Africa” as the “Banjul Process” was also decided. It will take place, with the active participation of children, at a venue to be determined on a rotating basis. It was recommended that AP-CAAC make use of this platform to report on its annual activities, exchange experiences, and look at potential solutions for the continent’s child-conflict situations. Last but not least, it was decided that the Banjul Process should act as a continental community of practice on children in conflict situations in order to support learning and experience sharing in a consistent manner with AP-CAAC, Member States, RECs/RMs, and CSOs. Particular attention was given to the necessity of an annual publication on the situation of children in conflicts on the Continent, which would highlight policy gaps and highlight lessons learned in order to respond to them promptly and effectively.