Commission partners gov’t to boost youths’ rights promotion, protection.

The Chairman of the rights commission, Prof James Kobila Mouangue, signed for the structure while Minister Mounouna Foutsou penned down the deal for the ministry.

The ceremony was attended by multiple senior officials of the two State institutions. The Chairman of the commission was accompanied among others by the structure’s President of the Sub-Commission for the Protection of Human Rights, Prof Amougui Tite Appolinaire, and the President in charge of the Prevention of Torture, Prof. Souley Mane.

The minister’s team included the Secretary General of the ministry, Benga Zachée Robert Théophile, and the Inspector General of Services, Dr Akede Metougue Éric.

The signing of the MoU follows the inclusion of the promotion of youths’ rights by the ministry’s medium-term expenditure framework for the current fiscal year. It binds the two institutions for a three-year partnership “renewable at the express request of both parties”.

Through the partnership, the ministry will be in charge of mobilising beneficiaries for support through projects and programmes developed by the commission, provide moral, civic, and entrepreneurial rearmament for youth involved in activities under the MoU, and provide technical support to the commission for the promotion and protection of the rights of youth.

The ministry will also involve the commission in its activities related to youth rights and organisations. 

The commission, it was said, will be in charge of providing technical support to the ministry in promoting the rights of youths, especially in terms of mobilising and educating youth on social issues, republican values, social cohesion, and living together in harmony.

The commission will also support the ministry in developing initiatives for the promotion and protection of youth rights, mobilise national and international partners to support the youth beneficiaries of the MoU and assist the ministry in developing initiatives to prevent violence among youths.

To ensure the effective coordination and monitoring of the project, both institutions are expected to appoint focal points who will be responsible for establishing and sharing semi-annual progress reports on the implementation of the requirements of MoU. 

Institutions hail newly-established link

Authorities of both structures said the deal lays the foundation for a fruitful collaboration in the promotion and protection of the rights and freedoms of young people, the promotion of civic education and efforts in building moral, civic, and entrepreneurial rearmament for youth.

Minister Mounouna Foutsou said the ministry was motivated to formalize the framework by the rich experience that the rights commission has in raising awareness on and protecting human rights.

He said the ministry is hopeful that the MoU will provide the ministry and the commission with the opportunity to synergise efforts for the benefit of young people for greater social impact.

“…I am convinced that the MoU embodies the transformative and innovative vision so long awaited. One that commands us to be at the service of the youth while taking into account their real needs, current stakes, and available resources,” Minister Mounouna Foutsou said.

He insisted the actions that are taken by the ministry in boosting the drive to promote and protect the rights of youths are fully guided by President Paul Biya’s orientation on youth. 

Enter rights commission chairman

On his part, Prof Kobila Mouangue said the framework comes timely to further strengthen collaboration between both structures. 

He said through the collaboration, the commission will go a long way in further closing the gap that has been established in the drive among others by the lack of international instruments that specifically address the rights of youths.

Prof Kobila Mouangue said Cameroon, whose youth represents approximately 35% of the population, must take crucial steps in addressing the concerns of youth to meet the demands of the age group.

He said through awareness raising campaigns and other similar initiatives, the institution and the ministry hope attaining the goal of helping young people to know their rights, exercise them, and contribute fully to building a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous society.

“We have noticed that a very large number of young people’s rights are not respected. They are not respected mainly because the young people themselves are unaware of these rights. That is why there is a need to strengthen the promotion of youth rights,” Prof Kobila Mouangue stated.

The article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3739 of Monday March 23, 2026