Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 16–17 July 2026
The Regional Inter-Agency Task Team on Children and HIV in Eastern and Southern Africa (RIATT-ESA) joined governments, African Union institutions, civil society organisations, child protection actors, experts and development partners at the ARISE Africa II Convening, held at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 16–17 July 2026.
The convening provided an important continental platform to advance the Common African Position on Ending Violence Against Children (CAP-EVAC) and strengthen collective action to ensure that children across Africa grow up in safe, protective and supportive environments.
For RIATT-ESA, participation in the convening was an opportunity to bring the voices and priorities of children and adolescents into broader continental discussions on protection, health, rights and wellbeing. It also reinforced the importance of ensuring that efforts to end violence against children are closely connected to the realities faced by children and adolescents, including those affected by HIV, poverty, inequality, discrimination and limited access to essential services.
Advancing a Common African Commitment
One of the significant milestones of ARISE Africa II was the validation by African Union Member States of the African Union Model Law on Child Online Safety and the Common Africa Position on Ending Violence Against Children.
The Model Law responds to the rapidly changing digital environment in which African children and adolescents are growing up. While digital technologies provide enormous opportunities for learning, connection and participation, children are also increasingly exposed to online risks, including grooming, cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, cyberstalking, trafficking and the circulation of child sexual abuse material.
The validation of the Model Law represents an important step towards creating stronger and more harmonised legal and policy frameworks for protecting children online across the continent.
For RIATT-ESA, this development is particularly relevant as the organisation continues to advocate for comprehensive approaches that recognise the interconnected nature of children’s rights, health, protection and development.
Connecting Child Protection, HIV and SRHR
The discussions at ARISE Africa II highlighted an important lesson: ending violence against children cannot be separated from ensuring access to health, education, social protection, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and other essential services.
Children and adolescents experience multiple and interconnected vulnerabilities. Violence, stigma, discrimination, poverty and exclusion can increase barriers to accessing HIV prevention, treatment and care, as well as SRHR information and services.
Similarly, children living with HIV and those affected by HIV may experience additional vulnerabilities requiring strengthened protection systems, psychosocial support, family and community support, and access to quality health services.
RIATT-ESA’s participation therefore reinforced the importance of placing children and adolescents at the centre of Africa’s development and policy agenda and ensuring that continental commitments translate into practical interventions at national and community levels.
From Commitments to Action
A central message emerging from the convening was that continental commitments must translate into action.
The validation of the Model Law and the Common African Position provides an important foundation, but the real measure of progress will be determined by how these commitments are translated into national policies, legislation, institutional reforms, programmes and services that make a tangible difference in children’s lives.
This requires sustained collaboration between governments, the African Union, civil society, communities, development partners, children and young people themselves.
It also requires meaningful investment in child protection systems and in the institutions and organisations working directly with children and adolescents.
For RIATT-ESA, this means continuing to strengthen regional advocacy, evidence generation, knowledge sharing and partnerships that advance the rights and wellbeing of children and adolescents across Eastern and Southern Africa.
Building a Safer Future for Every Child
The ARISE Africa II Convening demonstrated the power of collective African action around the protection of children. It also reaffirmed that safeguarding children is not the responsibility of one sector or one institution. It requires health, education, social protection, justice, technology, civil society and communities to work together.
As Africa continues its digital transformation and confronts persistent inequalities, the protection of children must remain at the centre of the continent’s development agenda.
RIATT-ESA remains committed to contributing to these efforts by amplifying evidence, strengthening regional partnerships and advocating for policies and programmes that ensure children and adolescents can grow up safe, healthy, protected and free from violence and discrimination.
The message from Addis Ababa is clear: Africa has made important commitments. The next step is turning those commitments into action that reaches every child.
RIATT-ESA | Advancing the rights, health and wellbeing of children and adolescents across Eastern and Southern Africa.
