On the occasion of the Day of the African Child (DAC) 2026, Côte d'Ivoire reaffirms its commitment to placing basic services at the heart of youth development. In an official statement sent to AIP on Tuesday, June 16, the Minister of Women, Family and Children, Nassénéba Touré, reiterated the government's absolute commitment to guaranteeing access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for every child.

Commemorated in memory of the Soweto massacre of children in South Africa, this edition in Ivory Coast is structured around a central theme: "Investing in water, sanitation and hygiene to protect the children of Ivory Coast and guarantee their future" .

Water and hygiene: pillars of success and health

For the minister, these vital infrastructures are inseparable from health, education and the development of the youngest.

"A child who has access to quality drinking water is a child who grows up better, learns better and realizes more of their potential," she stressed.

Nassénéba Touré, however, warned of a growing threat: climate change . Successive floods and repeated heat waves weaken social structures, disrupt the supply of clean water, and expose children—particularly the most vulnerable—to serious health risks.

Concrete investments and a call for general mobilization

To counter these challenges, the Ivorian government, under the leadership of President Alassane Ouattara, is intensifying the deployment of WASH projects in schools and communities. The results of the past year bear witness to this: more than 255,000

vulnerable children received direct support .

Although significant progress has been made, the minister acknowledges that the needs remain immense. She therefore called for a united front from all the nation's vital forces:

1. The State and local authorities;
2. Technical and financial partners;
3. The private sector;
4. Families.

The stated objective is to offer quality services to every child, without any social distinction.

Turning rights into actions

Ms. Touré took the opportunity to commend the field work of key partners, including UNICEF and the National Institute of Public Hygiene , who are committed daily to the cause of children.

In conclusion, addressing the children directly, whom she described as "the most precious wealth" and "future builders of Ivory Coast," the minister urged the whole of society to transform texts on children's rights into concrete and daily actions.