UNICEF has launched the "Mon nom, mon identité, mon droit" campaign with a clear goal of accelerating birth registration across Cameroon. This initiative, officially kicking off on April 27th, boasts the support of prominent figures like Fabrice Ondoa, the Indomitable Lions goalkeeper and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

The campaign essentially functions as a challenge directed at municipalities. UNICEF is urging all 374 mayors to improve children's access to legal identity and essential services.

"Coinciding with the first National Forum of Mayors on Universal Registration, held under the President's patronage, we're challenging Cameroon's 374 mayors," stated Anne Fouchard, UNICEF Cameroon's Chief of Communication. "We urge them to increase registration points, streamline processes, and address the backlog of 1.5 million unregistered children currently in primary schools." These remarks follow a press breakfast with media on April 25th, leading up to the forum (April 26-27).

By November, UNICEF plans to reward the 10 municipalities demonstrating the most significant strides in birth registration. This fundamental right, enshrined in Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by Cameroon in 1993), will be recognized with financial and logistical support. "We aim to make 2024 the year of birth registration in Cameroon," Fouchard emphasized, "and for Cameroon to become a continental champion."

The lack of birth registration significantly impacts one-third of Cameroonian children, denying them a legal identity and hindering their future prospects. It also presents challenges for governance, from local mayors to the national level. "Not knowing the exact number of citizens hinders planning for schools, healthcare systems, and other vital services," Fouchard explained. UNICEF, working closely with the government, aims to address this critical issue.

"Mon nom, mon identité, mon droit" is a national adaptation of the African Union (AU) and UNICEF's "My Name is Nobody" initiative launched in June 2020. This broader campaign advocates for every African child's right to a legal identity and access to justice. UNICEF in Cameroon echoes this call, urging stakeholders to accelerate progress in providing children with this fundamental right.

Patricia Ngo Ngouem