By Doh James Sonkey
Under the distinguished patronage of the Minister of Social Affairs, Pauline Irene Nguene, the 26th session of Children’s Parliament in Cameroon took place on the theme, “mobilizing the national community for child rights-sensitive planning and budgeting.”
Speaking at Government Bilingual Technical High School Nkolbisson, Yaounde recently, the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF official said a child-sensitive budget is a commitment to the future and that junior members of Parliament, be the voice of children.
Head of Communication and Advocacy at UNICEF, Anne Forchard explained that “it’s a budget that takes into consideration the specific needs of young children and youth in Cameroon. Meaning that we all know that children need access to health, to nutrition, to water, to education, to protection. So, a child-sensitive budget is a budget that will take into consideration these specific needs and the specific vulnerability of children and youth here in Cameroon.” According to the official, the meeting was primarily for the purpose of dialogue. “UNICEF needs to hear the voice from children in all the regions of Cameroon. Because they have specific issues, specific challenges that they face. It’s different to live in the East, in the Far North, and in the North-West, South-West of Cameroon.’’ She added that ‘‘not only for our programming to make sure that what UNICEF makes in terms of activities really fits the needs of the children but also, to nurture the advocacy, the global advocacy that we will have with the government and with all the stakeholders. For instance, children think that education is something that should really be much more important in the budget. Or they can say protection is something that is key for children here. We will support the advocacy based on evidence that are the voice of the children that are gathered here today.”
According to Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Cameroon, Yolande Abena “From the latest demographic and health survey, in 2018, the prevalence rate of violence is 7.7% for girls aged 15 to 19 and 2.9% for boys. According to this data, the vulnerability of girls is obvious. Girls are more likely to be victims of violence than boys, especially sexual violence. We are taking actions in the direction of the parents through a programme that we call the Positive Parenting Programme, which is placed under the leadership of the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family to ensure that parents, through this education, ensure that their children benefit from a benevolent environment, that is, an environment free of violence, abuse at the physical, sexual and even psychological levels.’’
A young female MP from the North asked what UNICEF is doing to stop child marriage in Cameroon. It was echoed that schools will automatically prevent young girls from child marriage and that UNICEF works in collaboration with the government to give favourable conditions for the upbringing of the child.
The junior MPs were advised that if one of their rights is violated, they shouldn’t hesitate to report the issue to UNICEF or MINAS officials.