Marrakech, 9 September – Magistrates from across Africa considered various initiatives related to migration issues and child protection in the continent including a research centre, increased advocacy and a dedicated annual event on children’s rights as they convened from 25 to 30 August 2024 at the first Forum of African Magistrates in Marrakech, Morocco. 

Participants highlighted the importance of raising awareness and providing training for African magistrates on migration issues, child protection, and the fight against child exploitation. 

The event was organized by the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) regional office for the Middle East and North Africa under the Africa Regional Migration Programme (ARMP). 

“Our responsibility as practicing judges appears to be the decisive factor in making the best principles of human rights and children’s rights in particular, a basic and essential basis for protecting and caring for our African childhood, and making it safe,” said Mrs. Jamila Sediqi Chairperson of the African Judges Dialogue Form. 

Participants called for the establishment of a center dedicated to research and the promotion of children's rights, alongside a digital platform to disseminate the activities of civil society organizations.  

A proposal was also made for the creation of an annual Forum on children's rights as part of the African Judges Dialogue Forum objectives, and the African Union's Agenda 2063, with a particular focus on the legal and judicial protection of unaccompanied migrant children. 

“This meeting is more than just a gathering; it is a united front in the battle to protect the most vulnerable -our children- from exploitation, trafficking, and irregular migration,” said Marissa Scott, the United States Consul General to Morocco. “Our children are the future, and it is our collective obligation to ensure that they grow up in a world free from fear and danger.” 

The forum discussed the need for an awareness-raising strategy using modern communication techniques to update legislation concerning migration and children's rights, promote human rights, and foster synergy and international cooperation to combat cross-border crimes. 

The event brought together African Judges dealing with children exploitation cases from Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Senegal, Togo, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Tunisia and Morocco.  

It also saw high-level participation from the United States Government to share the experience of US law enforcement and judiciary officials at US borders. This included experts from The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of justice (DoJ), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and different departments and offices from US the Embassy and Consulate in Morocco and Athena 

For more information, please contact Joe Lowry at jlowry@iom.int