Actualités Régionales of Friday, 26 September 2014

Source: Cameroon Tribune

Importance of birth certificates highlighted in Yde

"A child without a birth certificate is a child without identity," said Jean Claude Angaye, Director of operations-Plan Cameroon programs, this Wednesday, September 24, 2014. It was in the context of the day of awareness on the rights of the child.

This year's theme: "promoting the right of refugee children to identity through the establishment of birth certificate and education for better social integration. Also, there was an awareness campaign organized at the public school of Etoa Meki.

According to Plan Cameroon, nearly 70% of parents do not register the births of their children. The situation is even worse for the refugees who, for the most part, are afraid to face the administrative authorities.

According Masari Miyoshi, responsible for protection at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), "the birth certificate is an official document that ensures the identification of a child. It is a document that allows a child to attend examinations and thereby facilitates the respect of his rights.

In the absence of it, the child is not satisfied, he does not exist and its rights are violated. "The awareness campaign is therefore open to all children to promote inclusive education taking into account respect for the right to education and to the registration of the births of all children," recalled Jean Claude Angaye.

This day was also marked by the distribution of the manual entitled: "The alphabet of the rights of the child" in eight educational structures and 12 primary schools with high concentrations of refugees in the District of Yaoundé I.