Cameroon Parliament and UNICEF strengthen commitment to every child

Inside the Cavaye Yeguie Djibril Commission Hall of Cameroon’s National Assembly in Yaoundé, discussions on 6 May 2026 carried a clear message: the future of Cameroon depends on its children.

Parliamentarians, United Nations representatives, African experts and institutional partners gathered for a high-level dialogue, advocacy and awareness session on children and children’s rights, organized jointly by the National Assembly and UNICEF. The meeting marked an important step in strengthening political commitment to children at a time when many continue to face violence, poverty, insecurity and the growing impact of climate change.

“Faced with the rise in violence and infanticide, it is essential for Parliament to prioritize the promotion and protection of children’s rights through new, adapted and sustainable mechanisms,” said Honorable Kamssouloum Abba Kabir, Vice-President of the National Assembly.

Investing in children to build the future

At the center of the discussions was a shared conviction: investing in children is not only a moral imperative,  it is also a strategic investment in the country’s future.

UNICEF Representative in Cameroon, Nadine Perrault, highlighted the progress achieved in recent years in vaccination, maternal and child health, and access to education, while emphasizing that many children remain exposed to multiple vulnerabilities.

“What transforms a country sustainably is not only what we build — it is what we enable every child to become,” she said.

Participants highlighted several persistent challenges: nearly half of children in Cameroon still live in poverty, one in three children is not registered at birth, and many children continue to face violence, child marriage and barriers to education.

Discussions also stressed the urgent need to invest more in early childhood development, education and adolescent girls, recognized as key drivers of social and economic transformation.

The decisive role of Parliament

Through their legislative, budgetary and oversight functions, parliamentarians play a critical role in advancing children’s rights.

The dialogue identified several priority areas for action, including:

• strengthening legal frameworks to protect children from all forms of violence;
• combating harmful practices such as child marriage;
• improving access to inclusive and quality education;
• reinforcing community health and social protection systems;
• increasing public investment in essential social services for children.

“The future of Cameroon is shaped every day through laws and budget decisions,” Ms. Perrault reminded participants, calling for sustained investments to ensure every child can survive, learn, thrive and reach their full potential.

Concrete recommendations to accelerate action

At the end of the session, parliamentarians put forward several key recommendations, including:

• establishing a parliamentary network on children’s rights;
• increasing national budgets for health, education and social protection;
• strengthening accountability and monitoring mechanisms;
• accelerating birth registration efforts;
• expanding education solutions in crisis-affected areas.

Participants also called for stronger community-based protection mechanisms involving traditional and religious leaders to better prevent violence and support vulnerable children.