Morocco on Wednesday reaffirmed its condemnation of the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, calling for stronger measures to prevent their recruitment, protect children affected by armed conflicts and ensure their sustainable reintegration.
Speaking at a meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) on the protection of child soldiers in Africa, the Moroccan delegation stressed that children remain among the primary victims of conflicts persisting across the continent.
They are exposed to recruitment, violence and disruption of schooling, with consequences that can have a lasting impact on their future, the delegation said.
Morocco reaffirmed the Kingdom’s consistent position condemning the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, describing such practices as serious violations of international humanitarian law and emphasizing the need for effective responses focused on prevention, protection and accountability.
The Moroccan delegation also stressed the importance of ensuring the sustainable reintegration of children formerly associated with armed groups through tailored programs that provide access to education, psychosocial support and vocational training.
It further highlighted the need to prevent the re-recruitment of these children, particularly by addressing vulnerability factors such as poverty and exclusion.
In this context, the Moroccan delegation recalled the African Ministerial Conference on the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of Child Soldiers, held in Rabat on November 20, 2025, which culminated in the adoption of the Rabat Declaration.
According to the delegation, the declaration constitutes an African complement to existing international legal and institutional frameworks for child protection.
Morocco also called for the systematic integration of child protection and reintegration measures into disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs, as well as into post-conflict peacebuilding initiatives.
The Kingdom further stressed the need to strengthen psychosocial support for children formerly associated with armed groups and to promote their sustainable reintegration into their communities.
