June 15, 2025 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti): The IGAD Secretariat, in collaboration with Save the Children hosted the first-ever IGAD-wide commemoration of the Day of the African Child (DAC), on June 16th, 2025, in a virtual webinar event.
Senior technical experts from IGAD Member States responsible for children’s affairs, along with experts from the IGAD Secretariat, representatives of the civil society organizations and international partners attended the inaugural celebrations. Children representatives from IGAD Member States also participated in the celebrations, sharing their experiences and perspectives.
This milestone follows the adoption of the IGAD Child Policy Framework by IGAD member States in December 2024, offering a timely opportunity to highlight the region’s commitment to advancing child rights.
IGAD and Member States Called to Take Lead
Officiating the event, the Minister for Women and Family, Government of Djibouti, Hon. Mouna Osman Aden, representing the IGAD Chair, Djibouti, commended the IGAD Secretariat’s effort at developing the IGAD Child Policy Framework, noting this was a demonstration by Member States’ collective effort at promoting Children’s rights in the region.
Hon. Mouna also said that dealing with issues that affect children requires concerted action and sustainable solutions from governments and partners to ensure that every child grows up in a safe environment conducive to their development and the realization of their full potential.
“We must work towards a future where the rights of every African child are not only recognized but also fully respected and fulfilled,” said Hon. Mouna.
The Guest of Honor, Hon. Aya Benjamin Warille, the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Government of South Sudan, cautioned the leaders to pay attention to challenges that are still hindering the attainment of the rights children and called for multi-stakeholder effort to address these issues.
“IGAD as a regional body must continue to lead and coordinate, Member States must act as duty bearers, International partners must stand with us as allies, and most importantly, we must recognize children as active rights-holders, with a voice, a vision, and a rightful place in the future we are building,” said Hon. Werille.
The objectives of event were organised to raise awareness of the challenges children are facing in the IGAD region; advocate for children rights and well-being in alignment with member states’ international, continental and regional commitments; and provide more visibility of child rights within IGAD’s work and emphasize the importance of mainstreaming child perspectives and participation in policies and programs.
In a speech read by the Acting Director, Health and Social Development, Amb. Moussa Megague, the IGAD Executive Secretary (ES), Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, called upon Member States to take practical steps and integrate the IGAD Child Policy Framework into national action plans and establish oversight committees to track child-focused spending at parliamentary level. The ES also raised concern and need for support towards emergency response in Sudan where the conflict has left two million children displaced and lacking in essential basic needs.
Partners call to Action
Dr. Anthony Njoroge, the Head of Regional and Multi-Country Programmes at Save the Children said that through the IGAD Child Policy Framework, there was potential for the region to lead in child-centered programming while positioning children as active players and decision makers.
Other areas of discussion during the event include thematic presentations on children affected by irregular migration and forced displacement and an experience sharing session on streamlining the aspect of children affected by armed conflicts from the COMESA region.
Gelila Dereje Alemu, the National Program Officer Migration, Protection & Nexus at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) commended the IGAD Secretariat and Member States on the progress made with the development and implementation of the IGAD Child Policy Framework and called for resource allocation for sustainable implementation.
“Progress without sustained investments risk being temporary,” said Ms. Geila.
Children Perspectives and Call to Action
Children representatives expressed optimism in the ongoing efforts at enhancing child participation as one of the key focus areas of the IGAD Child Policy Framework. The Children, in their call to action asked for more inclusive programmes at national and regional levels.
Agot Alier from South Sudan called for mainstreaming of the Policy Framework to national and community level participation, a message reiterated by Shanita Nassanga, the child representative from Uganda.
Ikram Siraj from Ethiopia called for policies that leave no child behind especially those living in vulnerable situations, like poverty, conflict, and displacement settings in the region while Agnes Mwendwa from Kenya called upon the region to invest in education for all.
In their call to action, children sought for a clear action plan, consideration in the national budgets and a monitoring system. Children also made a call for involvement beyond policy development to include implementation and monitoring processes.
About Day of the African Child
The Day of the African Child (DAC) was launched by the Assembly of Heads of State of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1991 to be commemorated on 16 June each year. The DAC pays tribute to the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa, which resulted in the killings of students who demonstrated against the poor quality of education they received and demanding to be taught in their own language by the apartheid regime.
In recognition of this historic event, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union, established DAC to honour the resilience and agency of African children, and to spotlight the continuing challenges they face.
Over the years, the Day has been an opportunity for all stakeholders and actors involved in the protection and promotion of children’s rights in Africa to come together, to consolidate common goals and to tackle the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving an Africa fit for its children.
Please find attached here below the Recommendations from Stakeholders.
Recommendations from IGAD-Day of African Child 2025 Commemorations
