By Doh James Sonkey
Over 1000 girls who converged on the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex last November 28, 2025 on the occasion of the first edition of the National Girls’ Rights Forum under the theme “my voice matters, my future too,” have adopted their manifesto. The manifesto was then handed to the government represented at the occasion by the Minister of Women Empowerment and the Family, Prof Marie Therese Abena Ondoa at the close of the forum and she was requested to share the manifesto with other ministers, Prime Minister and even the President of the Republic, H.E Paul Biya.
Addressing girls, the Minister of Women Empowerment and the Family, Prof Marie Thérèse Abena Ondoa reminded that ‘‘this forum contributed to reinforce actions taken by government in favour of the girl child in Cameroon. Government and its partners will continue to put all in place for the girl child in Cameroon an enabling environment. It is our duty to protect our children in general and the girl child in particular.’’
She stressed that “Girls’ leadership is no longer an aspiration: it is a reality we must consolidate. This National Forum is a decisive step to firmly embed their rights in public policies and build a more just, equal, and prosperous Cameroon.”
The Women Empowerment and Family boss urged the girls to be ambassadors once they return to their respective regions.
Speaking at the occasion, the Country Representative of the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF, Nadine Perrault thanked the different authorities who took personal commitment to protect the Cameroonian girl child.
She narrated how UNICEF has supported the girls in developing the manifesto. ‘‘We did a caravan that went to all the ten regions of Cameroon to listen to girls, to listen to their dreams, the opportunities that they have, the challenges that they are facing. And now they have an agenda that they submitted and handed over to the government.’’
UNICEF Cameroon boss added that, ‘‘because this is the agenda of the Cameroonian girls. And the idea is that these different ministers now take the measures that concern them to implement the recommendations of these girls, so that, these recommendations become a reality in the life of the Cameroonian girls. There are also plans to end discrimination and promote gender equality. And also, participation, because girls need spaces where they can participate. And this is one of the spaces that we have provided to them. So, since this morning, they were there, working on the manifesto and discussing on what matters for girls in Cameroon.”
