By Doh James Sonkey
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF and Cameroon Parliament have entered into synergy for the protection and promotion of children’s rights in the country. Meeting last May 6, 2026 at the Cavaye Yeguie Djibril Commission Room at the Paul Biya Glass House, both parties took firm resolutions to contribute to the Vaccine’s funding, to press for 15% budget for Health, promote systematic birth registration and encourage children to go to schools in conflict zones (North West, South Wouth, Far North regions.)
The high level meeting was also attended by the President of Experts Committee of the African Chart on human rights and the people, Prof Sabrina Gahar, UNICEF resident Representative, Nadine Perrault, Prof Ibrahim Iba N’diaye of Kayidara in Mali etc.
Chairing the opening ceremony on behalf of House Speaker Rt Hon Datouo Theodore, Deputy Speaker, Hon Kamssouloum Abba Kabir declared that “Parliament must be the shield for our children. Parliament must henceforth prioritise these rights with concrete and sustainable mechanisms.”
UNICEF representative, Nadine Perrault told the press in a chat that, “the mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of children, to promote respect, to encourage and support governments, actions in Cameroon and to really meet these obligations, because, as you have heard, Cameroon is a member and to ratify most of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. These concrete realities are vaccination, birth registration, protection against violence, access to basic services, access to health services for children, the reduction of maternal mortality, of infant mortality.”
She stressed that “but there are areas that are needed for reform such as, violence against children. We have heard it, that the high number of children being now sexually abused or infanticided or children really deprived of a family care environment. And there needs to strengthen those legislations to ensure that children are fully protected against all forms of violence, including harmful practises such as child marriage.”
UNICEF used the occasion to call for more inclusive education, so children with disabilities can access also the school system and have their rights enshrined as any other children in the country.