PSC/PR/BR.(CDXXXIV PRESS STATEMENT The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 434 th meeting, held an open session, on 8 May 2014, devoted to the theme: “Children in Armed Conflicts in Africa: Briefing by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)”. The meeting was a follow-up to the 420th meeting of the PSC, held in Addis Ababa, on 18 February 2014 with the ACERWC, which highlighted the urgent need to respect children’s rights, especially in countries experiencing conflicts. Council received statements from H.E Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security; H.E. Martial de Paul Ikounga, AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, in his capacity as the Acting AU Commissioner for Social Affairs; Professor Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Chairperson of ACERWC; Madam Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Children in Armed Conflicts; Ms. Leila Pakkala, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa; Mr. John Graham, Country Director of Save the Children; as well as Mr. Alhaji Babah Sawaneh, a former child soldier. Statements were also received from representatives of AU Member States, bilateral and multilateral partners, as well as representatives of civil society organizations. Recalling Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec.712 (XXI), adopted in June 2012, at its 21 st Ordinary Session, held in Addis Ababa, in which the Executive Council requested the PSC to take into account the rights of the child in its agenda and cooperate actively with the ACERWC, in its efforts aimed at promoting the welfare of children in Africa, participants commended the Council for devoting an open session on Children in Armed Conflicts in Africa and encouraged the Council to regularize such sessions. Participants and Council acknowledged that despite the global engagement towards the protection of children affected by armed conflict and the progress achieved to strengthen the existing legal frameworks, grave child rights violations remain an urgent and serious concern in African countries affected by conflict. Furthermore, the implementation of these instruments and turning commitments into concrete action still remains a daunting challenge across the continent. In this regard, the meeting emphasized that it is the primary responsibility of governments to ensure that children are protected and that their rights and welfare are promoted. Furthermore, they urged all AU Member States, which have not yet done so, to ratify and fully implement the relevant AU and other international child protection, rights and welfare instruments. Participants and Council concurred that providing direct services such as learning and psychosocial support; capacity building for duty bearers including governments ministries, police, 2