High level dialogue on children affected by armed conflict opens

Addis Ababa, February 10, 2020 (FBC) – A high level dialogue on children affected by armed conflict (CAAC) in Africa kicked off on the sidelines of the 33rd AU summit.

Present at the meeting are Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and representatives from different international agencies.

In her remarks, the President highlighted the importance of protecting children.

“If we fail to reduce the violent conflicts that affect too many of our countries, our children will be irreparably harmed for generations and sustainable development will not be achieved,” she said.

The President challenged the participants and leaders across the continent to take up the task of protecting children’s rights.

Report shows that violent conflicts had increased in frequency, geographic scope and lethality in 2019.

They led to the most serious of violations of human and peoples’ rights in Africa, in which children are most affected.

The situation has posed alarming threat to the right of millions of people in Africa.