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Efforts to combat the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict and to promote their sustainable reintegration were the focus of a high-level roundtable held Tuesday in Geneva. The event, organized on the sidelines of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, is part of a conference series dedicated to the International Rabat Declaration on Child-Focused Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR).
Initiated by the Geneva Nations Institute (GNI) in partnership with the Morocco-based International Research Center for the Prevention of Child Soldier Recruitment (IRCPCS), the meeting brought together international experts, academics, policymakers, and practitioners. The participants examined ways to bolster global efforts to eradicate child recruitment and promote effective reintegration mechanisms for children affected by conflict.
Discussions centered on the core principles of the Rabat Declaration, which emphasizes prevention through strengthened governance, access to inclusive education, and community resilience as well as the need for a comprehensive reintegration approach for affected children based on psychosocial support, education, vocational training, and family and community reunification.
The panel underscored that the reintegration of formerly recruited children is a vital lever for peacebuilding, social stability, and long-term development. It called for enhanced cooperation between states, international organizations, and civil society to prevent recruitment and support rehabilitation. Furthermore, participants stressed the importance of accountability, advocating for rigorous investigations and legal mechanisms consistent with international law.
The expert panel featured Alfred de Zayas, professor of international law and former UN independent expert; Blerim Mustafa, international law specialist and GNI Advisory vice rector; and Abdelkader Filali, president of the IRCPCS. Additionally, Moroccan human rights activist Hamada Bouihi provided testimony regarding the realities of recruitment in the Tindouf camps.
The conference marks the fourth anniversary of the IRCPCS, launched in March 2022 under the auspices of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the mission of promoting research and policy development aimed at preventing the recruitment of child soldiers.
A significant milestone was reached in November 2025 when more than forty states adopted the Rabat Declaration, an initiative designed to rethink DDR policies by prioritizing long-term prevention and sustainable governance.
On December 1, 2025, the declaration was officially recognized as a reference point in the deliberations of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly, reflecting a growing international momentum to protect children in situations of armed conflict.
Participants noted that the proliferation of non-state armed groups in contexts of fragile governance continues to increase the risk of child recruitment in several regions of the world, stressing the need to strengthen accountability mechanisms, protect academic and civil society spaces from any form of coercion, and promote sustainable reintegration pathways based on education, psychosocial support, and economic opportunities.
Organizers aim for this series of conferences to strengthen international cooperation and mobilize innovation in public policy, contributing to the global goal of eradicating the recruitment of children in armed conflicts by 2040.
Source: map
