Wilfred Enow Agbor
Yaounde, Cameroon.
The 15th session of the children’s parliament brought together 180 children parliamentarians of both sexes from 10 regions of Cameroon under the theme, “Eliminate Harmful Social and Cultural Practices Affecting Children: Our Collective Responsibility.” The session emphasized on no to violence, negligence, degrading treatments and attitude that affects the physical, moral or psychological integrity of the child.
Cross section parliamentarians during 15th session of children parliament.
In attendance were the President of the National Assembly (NA) Honorable Carvaye Yege Gibril, Vice Prime Minister Ahmadou Ali, Minister of Public Health Andre Mama Fouda, Minster of sports Bidoungkpatt Ismael, representative for United Nations Children Emergency Fund( UNICEF) Geoff Wiffin and the civil society.
The session started with the singing of the national anthem by the young parliamentarians. The president of the NA welcomed every one present and expressed happiness for the occasion. He called on Cameroonians especially parents to avoid child abuse which was the principal worries of all the children parliamentarians as they are the most vulnerable of the society. As an advice to his junior colleagues he asked them to be of good examples to their communities as they represent all other children in Cameroon.
Geoff Wiffin could not stop thanking the government of Cameroon for inviting all her partners to the ceremony. He said, “The vices of the African society against children have been the reason behind UN joining the African Union to find a long lasting solution.”
He added that all is geared towards the interest of the child and non-discrimination.
Honourable Mutuyimana Peace Mary, Children parliamentarian.
Geoff Wiffin said the UN is out to fight against female genital mutilation, harmful traditional practices, violence against children like torture and early marriages. Mr. Wiffin encouraged equality treatment for both poor and rich children and education of the girl child. He acknowledged the government’s efforts with partners like Plan Cameroon and UN to change the situation with the following:
-The sensitization campaign since 2010 to stakeholders on harmful practices affecting children, building schools and training teachers, a draft law has been developed and a national action plan put in place to fight against female genital mutilation.
-The deadline for birth registration which has been extended from 30 to 180 days and a central registration office has been created.
-Inter-ministerial committee fight against human trafficking created under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
Geoff urged that more efforts be made concerning such practices like adopting the draft code of child protection and the code of persons and family which has been ready since 2008, increasing the minimum age of marriage to 18 for girls, putting in place a strengthened national child protection strategy for the better protection of the child’s rights.
Finally he called on religious leaders to continue preaching against such harmful practices and ended up with the word “Merci.”
The children parliamentarians had an interactive session with the ministers.
During which they put forth questions to the ministers demanding to know what the government has done to solve some of the societal ills plaguing children. They were in turn given answers.
Honorable Florence Ngoyo, a form four student in government high school Limbe, was interested in knowing what solution has been found by the Ministry of Public Health with respect to the practice of female genital mutilation when it is done with unsterilized medical equipment.
As an answer to Ngoyo’s concern, the minister condemns the practice out rightly and said sensitization has been carried out.
To crown it all, Honourable Mutuyimana Peace Mary from Douala advised that female genital mutilation be put to an end, abandoned children be taken care of , no discrimination against girl children, sensitization of parents against child labour, and the above points were unanimously adopted by the general house of the children parliamentarians.
