Child Rights Protection: Plan International Empowers Students As Child Ambassadors

The vent brought together school children to address the rising concerns of child rights violations within educational institutions.

From Passive To Active Participants 
Held in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, MINAS, the event aimed to transform students from passive observers into active defenders of their own rights. According to Beri Gaelle, Child Protection Specialist at Plan International Cameroon, the initiative was specifically designed for schools to ensure that "child rights violations in schools" are directly confronted.

Follow-up Sessions 
"We informed them of their rights and gave them a platform where they can acquire more knowledge to be able to sensitize on child rights in their schools," Gaelle stated. She emphasized that the organization plans to conduct follow-up sessions with various schools to train staff and students on identifying violations and navigating the appropriate referral pathways.

Government Collaboration, Local Impact
The Ministry of Social Affairs remains the primary oversight body for child protection in Cameroon. Gaelle noted that Plan International works "hands in glove" with MINAS to bolster government efforts, asserting that a unified front with the State is essential for the effective protection of children.

Better Understanding
The impact was immediate among participants. Afiba Marie Chantal Andreya, a student from Government High School Biyem-Assi, Yaounde, shared that she now understands the full scope of her protections. "I retained that every child has rights - the right to education, to a birth certificate, health, family, and feeding," she said, noting that the legal definition of a child extends to anyone aged 0-18.
Another student attendee highlighted the broader cultural shift the event encouraged: "From the sensitization, I should be able to talk to other children on their rights."

Inclusive Protection Frameworks
Educational leaders are already implementing structural changes based on these principles. At Government Bilingual High School Nkol-Eton, Yaounde, teacher, Mrs. Messina Nomo Sandrine explained that the school has established an "inclusive club". This club specifically ta...