Description

IDF with the support of Plan Cameroon, oversaw the process of raising awareness about child rights in communities in addition to obtaining birth certificates in a number of villages and divisions in the North West region as well as the Centre region. 

Children of the North West with their Birth Certificates

Project Context

Every child has rights according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which was ratified in 1993, however many children’s rights are not respected by parents, teachers or authority figures.  IDF was integral in helping PLAN Cameroon raise awareness of child rights in Cameroon.  One of the biggest challenges faced by children is the low rate of birth registration; overall only 70% of children in Cameroon have birth certificates according to UNICEF.  The rate is even lower, 58%, when only children in rural areas are considered. A birth certificate is a document that establishes the identity of the child and offers him/her the right to his/her origin, nationality and the exercise of human rights such as the right to education, health services , the family environment etc.  Without a birth certificate children cannot register for official examinations and in consequence are limited in their possible schooling. 

Playing Community Games to Raise Awareness about Child Rights

Activities

In her capacity of consultant, IDF not only ensured that birth certificates were obtained for 770 children but also carried out action research to find out the causes of non registration of children at birth and to seek an understanding of the phenomenon of age reduction which is at the origin of the high increase in false birth certificates. IDF also undertook:

• Village by village awareness campaigns in the Menchum Division through football games with local children and parents, recognition of parents who are exemplary in supporting their children and public readings of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Ensuring action plans for local AIDS control committees included the identification or children without birth certificates and the necessary interventions

A child recognizes her parent

Results and Impacts

• 425 non-registered students were identified in 16 primary schools.
• 425 birth certificates were established with the help of local medical professionals and 254 were established by the mayor. 
• We trained 48 traditional birth attendants on the importance of birth registration and their role  in the process at the level of the villages
• 22 representatives of village development committees, 22 traditional chiefs and more than 60 teachers were informed about the importance about birth registrations
  • Over 5000 children without birth certificates were identified for future campaigns
  • A local mechanism was identified in 15 villages to automatically detect and register non-registered children by the village development union.

Public readings of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Testimonies

• Children from the Catholic School Bamunkumbit who received birth certificates expressed their gratitude with the following words of thanks –

  “I thank Plan. The birth certificate will permit me to write the First School Leaving Certificate and the Common Entrance  exams. It will help me to continue my studies.”

  “I am feeling fine with my birth certificate. It will help me to write the First School Leaving Certificate exam. I will advice those who do not have to convince their parents to do so.”

  Patrick Fon a parent said,

  “You have given the national and international certificate to these children. You have given them the key of life. Continue your education.”