A name, a document, a future: Cameroon’s fight to register every child
Summary
Cameroon is working to register more children at birth to provide them with legal identity and protect their rights. Many children in Cameroon do not have birth certificates, which affects their access to education and other services. UNICEF and the government have started programs to help local authorities register children and issue birth certificates more easily.Key Facts
- Every child in Cameroon has the right to a birth certificate, which parents should obtain within 90 days of birth at no cost.
- After 90 days and up to one year, birth registration becomes complicated and costly due to court procedures.
- About 30% of primary school children in Cameroon (over 1.5 million) are enrolled without birth certificates.
- Lack of birth certificates prevents children from entering secondary school, taking public exams, and getting national identity cards.
- Only 43.77% of the 560,000 births in health facilities in 2023 were officially registered.
- Children without official documents are at greater risk of being unprotected, including risks of child trafficking or recruitment into armed groups.
- The “My Name” campaign was launched in 2024 to help register children without documents across Cameroon’s councils and cities.
- Since the campaign started, over 17,000 children have been registered, and efforts include bringing services closer to rural areas.
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