PSC/PR/BR.(CDLXIX) Page 2 Member States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify all relevant AU and international instruments, including the 1990 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the 2003 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, and the 2011 Kampala Convention on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Council demanded all parties to conflicts to uphold their obligations under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to protect civilians, including refraining from recruiting children into armed forces or groups and ending all forms of gender-based violence. Council underlined the imperative for perpetrators of violations of IHL and human rights law to be held accountable for their actions, in line with the AU’s commitment to fighting impunity as expressed in the Constitutive Act. Council pledged its determination to do everything in its power to create an enabling environment for humanitarian assistance in Africa. In this respect, Council demanded that all concerned in conflict and other situations where assistance is required, timely and unconditionally, facilitate humanitarian access and response. Council strongly condemned all acts of violence against humanitarian workers, and called the release of all aid personnel who are in captivity. Council called on AU Member States and the larger international community to generously contribute to humanitarian action in Africa, noting that overall response to Consolidated Humanitarian Appeals was significantly below what is needed. Council also stressed the need for creative approaches to mobilize additional resources to address the challenges at hand. In this respect, Council commended the Chairperson of the Commission for her efforts to raise resources from the private sector for the fight against the Ebola epidemic, and urged that this successful example be replicated in other humanitarian crises. Council recognized the importance of holistic and strategically coherent approaches between peace, security, development and humanitarian operations where appropriate. Council pledged its commitment to further such approaches in addressing conflict and crisis situations on the continent. Council urged all concerned stakeholders across the continent to redouble their efforts towards finding political solutions to the ongoing conflicts, as part of the overall efforts by the AU to achieve the objective of a conflict-free Africa by 2020, consistent with the 50th OAU/AU Anniversary Solemn Declaration adopted by the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Addis Ababa from 26 to 27 May 2013, and the 2014-2024 Madiba Nelson Mandela Decade for Reconciliation in Africa, as adopted by the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Addis Ababa, from 30 to 31 January 2014. Council agreed on the need to devote adequate attention to African humanitarian crises, bearing in mind the competing emergencies around the world and the imperative of ensuring that the necessary resources are mobilized. In this respect, Council agreed to convene a yearly meeting devoted to humanitarian emergencies on the continent, on the basis of briefings to be provided by OCHA. Council agreed to remain actively seized of the matter.