How can Africa build even stronger systems to protect children – both online and offline? That question brought together governments, children’s rights organizations, technical experts and young people themselves at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 16–17 July 2026, for the ARISE Africa II Validation Meeting. Representing Child Helpline International was African Regional Representative and Supervisory Board Member Michael Marwa, Executive Director of the Tanzania National Child Helpline, who ensured that child helplines were firmly part of the conversation.
The meeting brought together governments, African Union institutions, UN agencies, civil society organizations, technical experts and children from across the continent to strengthen Africa’s commitment to ending violence against children. The meeting centred on validating the Common Africa Position on Ending Violence Against Children (CAP-EVAC) and the African Union Model Law on Online Child Safety, two important frameworks that will guide legislation, policy development, financing, and accountability across Member States. These discussions reflected Africa’s determination to build stronger child protection systems capable of responding to both traditional and emerging risks affecting children.
One of the meeting’s most powerful moments was hearing directly from children. They spoke about what safety means to them, the violence they experience, and the future they want to see. Their message was clear; “children should not simply benefit from protection systems; they should help shape them.”
During the Plenary discussions, Michael highlighted the critical role child helplines play within national child protection systems. In his remarks he said that; “Every day, child helplines provide children with trusted, confidential, and accessible support, helping identify abuse, respond to crises, facilitate referrals, and generate valuable evidence that informs policy and service improvements. They are often the first point of contact for children seeking help and an essential bridge between children and protection services.”
Discussions focused on how schools, health services, justice systems, social protection agencies and community services can work together to respond more effectively when children experience violence, neglect or exploitation. A major focus of the meeting was the validation of the African Union Model Law on Online Child Safety. As more children engage in digital spaces, African countries are working together to address online exploitation, cyberbullying, harmful digital content, platform accountability and cross-border digital threats. Child helplines have an increasingly important role in helping children navigate these risks safely while ensuring that their experiences inform future policy and legislation.
Michael Marwa called for child helplines to be explicitly recognized in the African Union’s Model Law on Online Child Safety. His proposal would establish accessible child reporting and counselling services as a core objective of the framework, recognizing national child helplines as essential public infrastructure rather than optional services.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of strengthening data, monitoring, research, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making. During a Data and Research working group session, Michael highlighted how, through the data they collect every day, child helplines contribute real-time insights into emerging child protection trends, helping governments and partners better understand children’s needs and strengthen responses across the continent.
As ARISE Africa II came to a close, Member States validated recommendations that will shape Africa’s child protection agenda for years to come. These commitments represent a shared determination to build systems that are inclusive, accountable, child-centred, and resilient. Child Helpline International will continue working alongside governments, partners and children themselves to ensure that children’s voices remain at the heart of every decision – because protecting children begins with listening to them.