The city of Daloa in Côte d'Ivoire is hosting consultations on combating violence against children, which began on September 22, 2026, at the local socio-educational complex. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Women, Family, and Children, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), aims to gather input from children and civil society representatives. The consultations will run for two days and focus on Côte d'Ivoire's preparations for the second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children.
The consultations are designed to ensure that children and civil society are involved in the development of the country's national report on eliminating violence against children. Discussions will cover various topics, including school safety and environment, support services for children, community engagement, and resources dedicated to child protection. Participants will be asked to share their views on progress made over the past two years, persistent challenges, and priorities for improving child protection.
The consultations involve group discussions with children, community leaders, and representatives from civil society organizations. These sessions will help gather information on the impact of efforts to combat violence against children and identify areas for improvement. The input collected will contribute to the development of Côte d'Ivoire's national report on implementing its commitments made at the first Global Ministerial Conference in Bogotá, Colombia, in November 2024.
The national report will inform the preparatory process for the second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, scheduled for November 17-18, 2026, in Manila, Philippines. Côte d'Ivoire's participation in the conference is seen as an opportunity to share its experiences and learn from other countries' efforts to address violence against children. The consultations in Daloa are a crucial step in this process.
The Ministry of Women, Family, and Children, through its Child Protection Directorate, is leading the consultations with support from UNICEF. This collaboration highlights the importance of partnerships in addressing the complex issue of violence against children. By engaging with children and civil society, the government aims to ensure that its efforts to combat violence are effective and responsive to the needs of its young population.
The consultations in Daloa will help identify the needs and priorities of children and communities in terms of protection and support services. This information will be used to inform policy and programming aimed at preventing and responding to violence against children. By giving children a voice in these discussions, the government is taking a critical step towards creating a safer and more protective environment for its young people.
The outcome of the consultations will contribute to a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Côte d'Ivoire's efforts to eliminate violence against children. The government's commitment to engaging with children and civil society reflects its recognition of the importance of collaboration and inclusivity in addressing this critical issue.
Key points
- Côte d'Ivoire is holding consultations in Daloa to gather input from children and civil society on its efforts to combat violence against children.
- The consultations will inform the country's national report on eliminating violence against children, which will be presented at the second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children.
- The government is working with UNICEF and engaging with children and civil society to ensure that its efforts to combat violence are effective and responsive to the needs of its young population.
