Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
In a bid to promote child rights and create a society that prioritizes the well-being of children, UNICEF has partnered with some universities across Cameroon to educate and empower university dons to become champions of child rights.
The partnership, which was recently formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed in July 2024, aims to create a culture of child rights awareness and promotion within universities.
As part of this initiative, UNICEF has been conducting training sessions for university lecturers and professors, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to promote child rights and prevent violations.
The recent training session in the series took place at the University of Yaoundé II – SOA.
Dr. Cécile Renée Bonono-Momnougui, coordinator of the Children’s Rights Center at the University of Yaoundé II, praised the partnership, saying it would help to create a society that prioritizes the well-being of children.
“Working with the intelligence that the university develops and cultivates allows us to convey a universal value, particularly the awareness of the need to give great importance to the well-being of the child.”
The training sessions, which have been conducted in several universities, including the University of Yaoundé I, have covered topics such as child rights, child protection, and prevention of child abuse.
Participants have included lecturers, professors, and other university staff who interact with children.
According to Eteri Kirtskhalia, assistant director at UNICEF Georgia, the partnership is part of a broader effort to promote child rights and create a society that values and respects the rights of children.
“We believe that universities have a critical role to play in promoting child rights and creating a culture of child rights awareness.”
The partnership between UNICEF and universities in Cameroon is expected to have a significant impact on the promotion of child rights in the country.
By empowering university dons to become champions of child rights, UNICEF hopes to create a ripple effect that will spread beyond the university walls and into the wider community.
