Following its 924th Meeting on the impact of COVID-19 on children held on 12 May 2020, the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) has aligned its views with the Guiding Note on Child Protection during COVID-19 released by the Committee on 8 April, 2020.
In its final Communiqué below, the PSC calls on African Union Member States to implement the ACERWC’s Guiding Note on Child Protection during Covid-19 and give absolute priority to children in vulnerable situation, ‘ the Council encourages Member State to ensure that measures related to social distancing, quarantines, and lockdowns are child-friendly, with a view to reducing the vulnerabilities of children, particularly girls. In the same context, the Council also encourages Member States to implement the Guiding Note that has been provided by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of Children during the response to COVID-19, as well as in the post COVID-19 era, in mitigating the long term impact of the pandemic on children.”