NCHRF lauds progress in child rights protection

The National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms however expressed concern at the growing incidence of child marriages and trafficking.

The National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms, NCHRF, on June 16, 2015, released an evaluation report on the state of children’s rights in the country.

The five-page assessment was signed by NCHRF Vice Chair, Prof. James Mouangue Kobila. It noted with satisfaction the progress made in child rights protection in Cameroon such as the adoption of Law Number 2011/024 of December 14, 2011 on child labour, the offer of free malaria treatment for children under five and the distribution of mosquito-treated bed nets to reduce the incidence of malaria infection.

Also commended were measures taken to enable children continue schooling in areas of the Far North Region affected by Boko Haram attacks and the carrying out of a census of refugee children in the country; followed by their acquisition of birth certificates.

The Commission also lauded government for progress made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals on Universal Basic Education and the reduction of infant and child mortality. It however expressed concern at the high level of early marriages and the practice of arranging marriages for young people still in school. NCHRF pointed out that not only is the education of these children interrupted, but they also undergo much physical and psychological trauma.

The National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms did not hide its worry over the conscription of children by Boko Haram and the atrocities visited on other children by the terrorists. The national rights body expressed disquiet over the theft of the baby of Judith Djouala after she delivered in a Yaounde clinic on March 29, 2015 and a similar incident in Edea in the Littoral Region. It recalled with dismay the recent abduction of five children in Dschang in the West Region in two months and the dismissal of 17 students from Collège de la Retraite in Yaounde for consuming Tramol, a banned hard drug.

Other issues raised by the report include the illegal adoption of children, child trafficking and violence against children. NCHRF warned that ignorance, prejudices, customs, traditions and religious considerations cannot be used as excuse to justify violence against children.

The Commission therefore urged government to set up courts to try children and provide special training for magistrates and lawyers handling matters involving minors. Also, government was encouraged to implement Decree 92/52 of March 27, 1992, on the restructuring of prisons by creating jails for minors and putting in place oversight and monitoring mechanisms.

The Commission proposed that alternative forms of child punishment be sought instead of allowing them to go to prison. The evaluation called on parents and guardians to keep close watch on their children and wards, warning that if the family fails to function well, society will be in peril.