To: The African Union

Statement for the Day of the African Child

We, a network of African Civil Society Organisations working in the fields of prevention, treatment, and recovery of substance use disorders, have come together under the newly established Child Protection Thematic Working Group, launched by the World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD), to issue this joint statement.

Today, on the African Day of the Child, we, join in commemorating the official theme “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress since 2010”. We welcome the publication of the Concept Note by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which reflects on the progress made since 2010 and outlines remaining gaps that must be urgently addressed by Member States.

While meaningful progress has been made, the Concept Note rightly identifies key areas for urgent attention:

• Strengthening institutional frameworks for child protection and development
• Prioritising and adequately fund ministries dedicated to children’s issues
• Improving financial governance and curbing losses through illicit financial flows
• Advancing child-sensitive legislation and ensuring its implementation.

We echo these priorities and strongly emphasise the need to embed meaningful child participation in the planning, development, budgeting, and evaluation of policies and programmes. Children’s voices must not only be heard, but they must shape the solutions that impact their lives.

With 40% of the African population under the age of 15, the future of the continent quite literally rests in the hands of its children. How they are invested in will significantly influence a better future for the continent. As the Committee rightly notes, without robust investment in children, the realisation of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will remain out of reach.

While the Concept Note addresses significant challenges, such as child mortality, malnutrition, poverty, child trafficking, and child labour, it omits a rapidly growing concern: youth substance use disorders. The African Union’s own 2023 report warns of a projected 40% rise in youth substance use disorders by 2040. This crisis, often rooted in poverty, dysfunctional families, trauma, lack of opportunities, mental health challenges, and environmental factors, demands immediate and preventative action. We cannot afford to wait.

Investment in prevention not only reduces the risk of substance abuse but is also linked to improved school attendance, reduced crime, and better long-term outcomes for young people. These are all foundational building blocks that empower the emerging leaders to be and become effective leaders and contributors for the continent’s future strength and development. Global data highlights that every dollar spent on prevention, can save up from 10 dollars to hundreds of dollars on future social costs and healthier communities.

We therefore urge Member States to strengthen their institutions, policies, and programme implementation in substance use prevention, and to do so in partnership with civil society. Civil society organisations are not only experts in the field, but they also represent the realities on the ground, amplify young voices, and facilitate youth engagement in meaningful ways.

For example, at the 68^th Commission on Narcotic Drugs (March 2025), the Global Youth Declaration on Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery 2025 was launched. It represents the voices of youth worldwide and outlines six actionable recommendations:

1. Actively Listen and Involve Youth [in decision-making]
2. Enhance Research and Modernise Risk Awareness Campaigns
3. Implement Gender-Responsive Approaches to Adress Substance Use Challenges
4. Ensure Increased Provision of Improved and Accessible Youth Sensitised Services
5. Empower Youth through Economic Independence and Leadership Opportunities
6. Strengthen Community Support and Policy Enforcement

In line with this, we, as civil society across Africa, emphasise the following:

• Every African child has the right to grow up in a safe, healthy, and drug-free environment, especially in contexts marked by poverty, conflict, or substance use.
• Children must be genuinely listened to. Their participation should be facilitated through safe, inclusive, and age-appropriate platforms that ensure their voices translate into real policy and programmatic change.
• Prevention and early intervention must be prioritised across health, education, and social systems, including public awareness campaigns and support for families and caregivers.
• Children already using psychoactive substances must have access to care services and brief interventions tailored to their needs.
• Communities, religious, political, and traditional leaders must be engaged as key allies in creating resilient and protective environments for children.
• Mental health and psychosocial support services are critical, particularly for children affected by trauma, displacement, violence, or addiction within the family.
• The unique risks faced by children in conflict-affected and displaced communities must be explicitly addressed in national child protection strategies.
• Psychoeducation on mental health, its causes, symptoms, triggers, and impact, must be made available to children and parents to promote early intervention and reduce stigma
• Disaggregated data collection (by age, gender, region) is vital to designing inclusive, evidence-based policies and solutions.
• Monitoring and accountability mechanisms should be strengthened, with civil society recognised as a key partner in reporting and oversight.
• The capacity of civil society organisations working in prevention, treatment, and recovery must be strengthened through dedicated, professional training and support

This Day of the African Child is not only a moment of reflection, but a call to action. Let us not leave the dreams of our children to tomorrow. Let us invest, act, and partner today to build an Africa where every child thrives.