Child Rights Enhancement: Because The Voice Of The Academia – Truly - Counts

“Cameroon, through the 2020–2030 National Development Strategy, places human capital at the heart of public action. The promotion of children's rights is fully integrated into the country’s priorities: improving education, strengthening maternal and child health, social inclusion, and combating violence,” said the Minister of Higher Education, Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo. 
He spoke in Yaounde on November 19, 2025 while opening the International Conference on the Role of the Academia in Promoting and Protecting Children’s Rights. Which was hosted by the Catholic University of Central Africa, UCAC from November 19-20, 2025 in Yaounde. The conference was organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and UCAC.

Transformative Rethinking
“The vision of the conference is profoundly transformative: to rethink the university as an engine of social change, a space for innovation, and a strategic partner in the development of public policies. By bringing together experts from diverse disciplines - law, health, education, social sciences, economics, philosophy, and more - we are laying the foundations for an interdisciplinary approach, grounded in scientific evidence and rooted in African realities,” the Minister stated.

Included In Decentralization 
Adding that as part of Cameroon’s decentralization process, government is working to ensure that municipalities have the necessary resources to meet children's needs. “Through partnerships with universities and the establishment of Child Rights Centers, Cameroon reaffirms its commitment to building modern, participatory governance focused on the well-being of every child,” Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo stated. “The work that begins today is not simply an academic exchange. It represents a foundational moment, a decisive step for an Africa that is asserting its intellectual and moral leadership in the defense of children's rights,” the Minister went on.

Commitments Honoured 
According to Issa Sanogo, Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cameroon, Cameroon has taken concrete steps to honour its commitment to children. With the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Basic Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, and other institutions placing children’s rights at the heart of public policy. 
“Laws now protect children from online risks, a law passed in December 2024 modernizes civil registration to guarantee legal identity from birth, and a ministerial decree allows pregnant girls and young mothers to continue their schooling, affirming that motherhood should not interrupt education. Government programmes combat child marriage, violence, and malnutrition, while strengthening social protection for the most vulnerable,” Sanogo mentioned.

Challenges Persist
However, too many children, especially girls and those in rural areas, continue to suffer discrimination, poverty and unequal access to opportunities, he admitted. Thus the place of the academic world in questioning, innovating, and transforming knowledge into concrete actions. Through the creation by UNICEF of Child Rights Centres in UCAC and the Universities Yaounde I and II, Dschang and Bertoua.

Of Sustainable Development Goals 
“These Centres bridge the gap between research and local realities, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). The centres raise awareness among teachers and students, integrate children's rights into the curricula of teachers, lawyers, economists, ...