Accra, June 16, GNA - A Mock African Union (AU) Summit was held in Accra on Monday to mark the 18th Anniversary of the Day of the African Child, with children calling for their participation in decisions affecting them.

The Summit which brought together child representatives from AU member states provided a platform to deliberate on issues affecting the African child, under the theme: "Right to Participation; Let Children Be Seen and Heard".

The Day, celebrated on June 16 annually, was declared by the then Organization of African Unity in July 1990, to commemorate the massacre of school children in Soweto, South Africa, in 1976, who were protesting against the discriminatory apartheid educational system. At the Summit, children of Sudan expressed concern about the violence in Darfur, forcing children as young as nine years to become child soldiers.

Between 7,000 and 10,000 child soldiers, according to them, were recruited from Chad alone in 2007. The children therefore asked the AU to declare a convention against their involvement in war and conflict.

Congolese children said majority of them were displaced as a result of the conflict that occurred in their country, adding that, their lives had also been affected by the conflict they witnessed. They urged the AU to be proactive in preventing open conflicts that affected the lives of children. Liberian children were also unhappy about molestation, violence and all forms of abuse against them as a result of the conflict that affected their country, and called for the adoption of a convention to protect them.

"We will recommend at this summit that our leaders remain conscious of the suffering and specific vulnerability of displaced children and that all children who have suffered any form of sexual violence be given due justice without interference from parents and guardians," they added.

Children in Togo said they were denied equal access to education in their country and called on the AU to adopt a convention that would protect them and uphold their right to free education. Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, reiterated the importance of child participation, saying there was the need for member states to reflect, sensitise and strategise on current issues affecting their welfare and development. She said child participation also called for the development of a new relationship between the adult and the child, rooted in mutual trust and respect.

The Minister mentioned the establishment of favourable legal environment, increase in child focused institutions, strengthening policies and working towards universal education as crucial to make the world a better place for children. The summit would also include discussions from the UNICEF, Plan Ghana, International Labour Organisation and other organizations within the UN system. A communiqu=E9 would be generated and submitted to the AU Secretariat, after the Summit for concrete actions.