At a glance: Gabon

The big picture

Click for a detailed map (PDF)

This map does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers.

The situation of children and women in Gabon is likely to improve as recommendations from the Child Rights Committee will be discussed and used to influence policy development. The participation of Gabon has led to a better acceptance of the importance of adopting policies in line with human and child rights principles issues and create a favourable environment for child rights advocacy.

The Government has made a solid commitment to make available vaccines in all health centres in Gabon, however, immunization coverage is still unacceptably poor. The country faced some sporadic epidemics of measles and the country was again confronted with the extremely contagious disease of hemorragic fever "Ebola" in the northern part of the country. The main challenge in education sector is to improve quality education, to reduce the repetition rate that is unusually high in primary schools.

UNICEF priorities

UNICEF’s work in Gabon focuses on these areas:

• Social Planning: UNICEF's support to Governmental planning has provided positive results as data for several social indicators were made available. This facilitated the establishment of baseline data for the new programme of co-operation.
  
  
• Advocacy and Social Mobilization: UNICEF's name is increasingly being associated with combating child traffickers. Child trafficking has been introduced as on offence in the penal code. In addition, a decree was promulgated prohibiting child labour. Besides reform of the legal framework, other activities such as organizing a seminar on techniques to deal with victims of child trafficking, posters, radio and television messages have contributed towards building awareness at all levels.
  
  Organizing workshops throughout the country, discussions with children in selected secondary schools and involvement of ambassadors, especially from the countries of origin of the trafficked children, in social mobilization activities contributed to broaden partnerships for the promotion of children's rights.
  
  Several activities were undertaken to improve gender awareness amongst decision-makers through training of 25 government officials. Civil society also participated in social mobilization activities during the International Women's Day. Other activities have included the production of a film on violence against women and support provided to the preparation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women initial report.
  
  
• Basic Social Services: This project has an emphasis on urban health care and community participation in the organisation of National Immunization Days (NIDs) and activities geared at reducing repetition rates.
  
  Health workers were trained on the minimum packet of activities, 35 community agents were trained in the promotion of breastfeeding, followed by a sensitization campaign.
  
  NIDs were synchronized with countries of the southern block (Angola, DRC, Congo, and Central African Republic). An estimated coverage rate of about 100 per cent was registered. Subsequent evaluation was undertaken and underscored the effective implementation of the door-to-door strategy during the two rounds, including the administration of vitamin A to children from six to 59 months of age during the second round.
  
  
• Basic education: The preliminary results of the study on monitoring learning achievement (MLA) were made available, providing important information on the performance of children in schools. The project supported the formulation and adoption of a national plan of action to implement the Education for All strategy. A subsequent plan specifically to reduce repetition rates was also supported and adopted. In view of promoting the retention of girls in schools, the project supported the local wing of Forum for African Women Education ( FAWE ) in the production of sensitization materials that emphasised the importance of schooling and the acquisition of lifeskills.