New York: Africa Launches First Convention on the Disarmament, Demobilization & Reintegration of Child Soldiers

Around 20 African countries on Wednesday launched the signing process for the African Convention on the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of Child Soldiers at the foreign minister level, during a ceremony chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita. The ceremony, held at the headquarters of Morocco’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, saw Mr. Bourita emphasize that the Convention "illustrates the strength of collective African action, speaking with one voice and having confidence in its own capabilities." The minister also noted that, through the Convention, "the African continent is demonstrating its ability to develop its own standards rather than continuing to import them." He stressed that the Convention is the first African treaty to provide for regional cooperation to prevent and combat the recruitment of children by armed groups and to ensure their inclusion in Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) processes designed and implemented on the continent. Mr. Bourita highlighted that the Convention is t