One year after the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá, African leaders and partners have reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying efforts to protect children from violence. Convening for a three-day ARISE Africa meeting hosted by WHO Africa, UNICEF, and partner organizations, ministers, UN agencies, civil society groups, youth networks, and development organizations reviewed progress made to date and mapped out a unified way forward.
Across Africa, more than 205 million children face violence each year, including physical abuse, neglect, exploitation, and emotional harm. Despite the scale of the problem, child protection continues to be one of the least funded sectors, with many countries investing less than 0.2% of their national budgets in protecting children. To address this gap, participants endorsed a continental roadmap designed to strengthen accountability and accelerate the implementation of child protection measures.
The roadmap urges countries to establish strong, government-led child protection systems grounded in solid legal frameworks and to increase domestic financing for child protection. It also encourages alignment with key continental instruments such as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Agenda 2040, and Agenda 2063. Central to the discussions was the recognition that collaboration across health, education, justice, and social welfare sectors is essential to building safer environments for children.
Delegates highlighted the need to improve data systems and evidence-based monitoring to better identify areas where children remain most vulnerable. They also emphasized the importance of community-driven and youth-led initiatives that empower families, educators, and local leaders to respond effectively to violence and prevent it before it occurs.
Dr. Francis Chisaka Kasolo, WHO Representative (a.i.) to Ethiopia and Director of the WHO Liaison Office to the African Union and UNECA, stressed that sustainable financing, innovation, and strong partnerships are crucial to transforming commitments into tangible results. She noted that protecting Africa’s children requires more than promises—it requires concrete and sustained action.
With the adoption of the ARISE Africa outcome document, delegates signaled the start of a new era of collective responsibility. The convening concluded with a shared vision for the continent: an Africa where every girl and boy grows up safe, empowered, and free from violence.
