Mauritius commemorates Day of the African Child 2026

The Office of the Ombudsperson for Children organised a forum this morning at Dayforce, Ebene, Mauritius, to mark the Day of the African Child, observed annually on 16 June.

The celebrations for this year is focused on the theme “Ensuring universal access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for every child in Africa”, highlighting it as a fundamental right essential to children’s health, dignity and development. The event aimed to promote dialogue and awareness on children’s rights while providing a platform for young people to share their perspectives on issues affecting children across Africa.

The programme included interventions from two representatives of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs des Droits des Enfants, who shared an African youth perspective, as well as a prize-giving ceremony recognising students who participated in the sensitisation campaign “Promoting Child Rights through Mural Painting”, which encouraged creative expression on children’s rights.

The event was attended by the Permanent Delegate of Mauritius to UNESCO, Ms Marie Jasmine Toulouse-Olivier; the Ombudsperson for Children, Mrs Aneeta Ghoorah; students and teachers.

In her address, Ms Toulouse-Olivier emphasised Mauritius’ dual identity as an African nation and a Small Island Developing State within UNESCO priorities. She highlighted cultural identity, particularly the promotion of Mauritian Creole as a tool for inclusion, and reaffirmed children’s rights to education, health, hygiene, housing, protection and a safe environment. She also stressed the importance of responsibility, respect, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence in a multicultural society, while drawing attention to social challenges affecting young people, including substance abuse and inequality.

Mrs Ghoorah, for her part, underpinned the need to translate children’s rights into daily realities, particularly access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. She noted the challenges still faced by some children and emphasised the importance of collective action. She further highlighted the role of initiatives such as the mural painting campaign in empowering children to express their understanding of rights and strengthen awareness within schools and communities.

The Day of the African Child

The Day of the African Child is commemorated annually to honour the children of Soweto who participated in the 1976 demonstration in South Africa. It serves as a reminder of the need to continuously protect, promote, and amplify the rights and voices of children across Africa.

16 June 2026

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