Morocco’s FM Calls for Development of Legal Instrument to Address Child Soldiers Crisis – Morocco World News

Report on the African Ministerial Conference on the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) of Child Soldiers

A recent African Ministerial Conference held in Rabat addressed the critical issue of child soldiers on the continent, highlighting significant legal gaps and proposing new measures to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

The Challenge to Sustainable Development

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, underscored the severity of the crisis, which directly contravenes multiple SDGs. The ongoing recruitment and use of children in armed conflict presents a major obstacle to achieving sustainable peace and development across Africa.

• Scale of the Problem: An estimated 120,000 child soldiers are currently active in Africa, representing 40% of the global total.
• Impact on SDG 16: This phenomenon is a direct violation of SDG Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children.
• Undermining Stability: The recruitment of children by armed, separatist, and terrorist groups fundamentally undermines efforts to restore stability and build strong institutions in affected nations.
• Impeding Human Development: The practice denies children their rights and access to services essential for achieving other key goals, including SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), specifically Target 8.7 concerning the elimination of the worst forms of child labor.

Call for a New Legal Framework to Strengthen SDG 16

A central theme of the conference was the inadequacy of the current legal framework to address the complexities of the child soldier issue in Africa. Minister Bourita called for the urgent development of a new, continent-specific legal instrument to build peace, ensure justice, and fortify institutions.

1. Addressing the Legal Void: A common legal framework tailored to African realities is required to bridge the gap between existing international norms and on-the-ground challenges.
2. Enhancing Accountability: The proposed instrument would reinforce the capacity of African states to prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes, holding individuals, group leaders, and their state sponsors accountable, thereby advancing SDG Target 16.3 on promoting the rule of law.
3. Breaking the Silence: It was emphasized that the atrocities committed by groups using child soldiers can no longer be tolerated, and a robust legal response is necessary to end impunity.

Proposed Actions and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

Recognizing that current Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) initiatives are often incomplete, a more holistic and collaborative approach was proposed. This aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), leveraging collective action to achieve a common objective.

• Creation of a “Group of Friends”: A key proposal was the establishment of a “child-centered Group of Friends on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration.”
• Objective: This group would mobilize political and legal expertise to spearhead the development of a comprehensive African convention on preventing child recruitment and ensuring the successful reintegration of former child soldiers.
• Holistic Reintegration: A successful DDR process must be holistic, ensuring that reintegration efforts support long-term human development by providing access to education (SDG 4) and opportunities for future economic security (SDG 8).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This goal is central to the article. The discussion revolves around combating the crime of using child soldiers, which is a form of violence against children. The call for a “new legal instrument,” a “common legal framework,” and reinforcing capacities to “prosecute the perpetrators” directly addresses the need for justice and stronger institutions to protect vulnerable populations and promote peace and stability.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: While not the primary focus, this goal is relevant through its specific targets. The recruitment and use of children in armed conflict is explicitly defined as one of the worst forms of child labor that the international community has pledged to eliminate.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article highlights the importance of collaboration. The “African Ministerial Conference,” the call for an “African convention,” and the proposal to create a “child-centered Group of Friends” are all examples of partnerships aimed at mobilizing political will, legal expertise, and shared responsibility to tackle a common challenge.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The article’s entire focus is on the “recruitment and use of children in armed conflict,” which is a severe form of abuse, exploitation, and violence against children. The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) initiatives mentioned are aimed at mitigating the effects of this violence.
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The call by Minister Bourita for a “new legal instrument” and an “African convention” to bridge the “persistent legal gap” is a direct effort to promote the rule of law. The emphasis on strengthening the capacity of African states to “prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes” aligns with ensuring access to justice for the victims.
• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms. This target is explicitly relevant as it directly names the “recruitment and use of child soldiers” as one of the worst forms of child labor that must be eliminated.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of child soldiers: The article provides a direct quantitative indicator by stating there are an “estimated 120,000 child soldiers on the continent, which accounts for 40% of all child soldiers worldwide.” This figure serves as a baseline to measure progress in reducing the recruitment and use of children in conflict, relevant to Targets 16.2 and 8.7.
• Establishment of legal frameworks: The call for a “new legal instrument” and an “African convention” implies a process indicator. Progress can be measured by the development, adoption, and ratification of such a legal framework by African nations. This is a key measure for Target 16.3.
• Prosecution of perpetrators: The article’s emphasis on the need to “prosecute the perpetrators” and hold them accountable implies an outcome indicator. Progress could be measured by the number of successful investigations and prosecutions of individuals and group leaders responsible for recruiting child soldiers, which is relevant to Target 16.3.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: moroccoworldnews.com