At Yaounde workshop: MPs, UNICEF recommit to protect children’s rights, curb growing violence.

This was during a parliamentary session on childhood and children's rights hosted by the National Assembly. It was co-organised with the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF. 

The event, held on May 6, brought together African experts, UN representatives and Members of Parliament, MPs, to translate years of legal commitments into concrete results on the ground.

The session was opened by the Vice President of the National Assembly, Hon Dr Kamssouloum Abba Kabir, on behalf of the House Speaker the Rt Hon Théodore Datouo. 

Addressing the gathering, Dr Abba Kabir pointed to a disturbing increase in cases of infanticide and severe violence against children.

“This situation demands a collective response from all of us. Childhood is not a sectoral question, nor a matter for specialists alone. It is, and must be, the very heart of our social project, and Cameroon can be no exception,” Dr Abba Kabir told delegates. 

He called on MPs to move beyond the adoption of laws, but actively advocate creation of a proper legal framework to enforce child protection policies. 

“Investing in children is investing in the stability, social cohesion and prosperity of our nation. This meeting must mark a turning point in how we act, in our level of commitment, and in the results, we produce for our children,” he said.

UN urges parliament to do more

The Regional Director of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, for Central and West Africa, Nouhoum Sangare, reinforced the message, stressing that parliament's responsibilities go well beyond legislation. 

In contexts scarred by conflict, poverty, climate change and migration, he said children remain the most vulnerable members of society.

Speaking on behalf of UN Resident Coordinator, Issa Sanogo, and the broader UN system in Cameroon, Sangare reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to supporting Cameroon's child rights efforts.

“Protecting children and investing in their future is how we guarantee stability, peace and sustainable development for our societies…what matters is guaranteeing every child, without exception, the right to survive, to develop, to be protected, and to participate fully in society,” Sangare said. 

Enter UNICEF Resident Representative

UNICEF Resident Representative for Cameroon, Nadine Perrault, cued in on the practical steps required to turn international obligations into lived realities for children, from vaccination and birth registration to protection from violence and access to basic services.

She acknowledged Cameroon's significant legislative efforts, including progress on modernising the civil registry, which has helped more children obtain birth certificates. However, she identified critical gaps that urgently require reform.

“There are areas where young girls are deprived of their right to a future because they are married so young and have to drop out of school. We are calling for more inclusive education so that children with disabilities can also access the school system and have their rights enshrined like any other child,” Perrault said.

She called on the National Assembly to strengthen laws against all forms of violence against children, including child marriage and other harmful practices.

Experts urge accountability

The Chairperson of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, ACERWC, Hon Gahar Sabrina, called for a dedicated parliamentary monitoring mechanism to oversee the implementation of children's rights and the harmonisation of national legislation with international and regional standards.

MP sounds alarm over vaccine shortfall

Speaking to reporters, Hon. Engelbert Essomba Bengono acknowledged that parliament has ratified relevant legislations but warned the real problem lies in enforcement. 

He revealed that as of April 30, 2026, just days before the session Cameroonian children were at risk of missing vaccinations because the government had not paid its financial contribution required to maintain vaccine stocks.

“We have adopted all the laws, but they must be applied. The second mission parliament must take on very quickly is to scrutinise whether the government is doing its job in this area. We all know what needs to be done,” Essomba Bengono said. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3783 of Friday May 08, 2026