Published by the government of Zimbabwe
8 November 2007
Harare — At least 43 African Union ministers responsible for children met in Cairo, Egypt to discuss issues affecting children on the continent.
The second Pan African Forum on children was held between October 29 and November 2 and the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr Edwin Muguti represented Zimbabwe.
Briefing journalists about the meeting in Harare yesterday, Dr Muguti said the forum, which was organised by Egyptian First Lady Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, dealt with several issues that affect children such as child labour, children in the military, human trafficking and female genital mutilation which came under the spotlight at the forum. He said the meeting resolved to adopt the call for Accelerated Action on the implementation of the Plan of Action towards Africa Fit for Children which will be Africa's contribution to the UN General Assembly Special Session on children to be held in New York next month.
Dr Muguti said the meeting coincided with the attempted kidnapping of 103 Sudanese and Chadian children aged between one and eight years who were living in refugee camps on the Sudanese and Chadian borders which prompted the forum to issue a communiqué condemning the action. "The ministerial meeting also accepted and endorsed the appeal made by the First Lady of Egypt, Mrs Suzanne Mubarak to launch an African campaign on the elimination of female genital mutilation as a priority for Accelerated Action to achieve an Africa Fit for Children," he said.
The Forum was held under the theme "Review of Progress and Call of Accelerated Action towards Achieving the African Common Position on Africa Fit for Children."
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