Cameroon will host its inaugural National Mayors' Forum on Universal Birth Registration in Yaoundé from April 26 to 27, with backing from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This was announced by Georges Elanga Obam, the Minister of Decentralization and Local Development (Minddevel), at a press conference on Monday. According to the government official, the forum aims to reduce the number of “invisible” children in the country who currently lack birth certificates.

The decision to organize this forum was prompted by the realization that the birth registration rate in Cameroon has not only been stagnant for almost a decade, but has even seen a decline in certain regions. This is in spite of the state’s efforts, supported by technical and financial partners, to reverse this trend. These efforts include extending the deadline for declaring civil status events from 30 to 90 days, establishing nearly 2,900 additional civil registration centers to complement the existing 432 primary centers, 374 of which are located in municipal buildings, and launching special operations to provide birth certificates to those who do not have them, among other initiatives.

The minister revealed that “currently, there are close to 7 million Cameroonians, predominantly children, including over 1.5 million primary and nursery school students, who do not possess a birth certificate.” In his address to the media, Georges Elanga Obam underscored the significance of this document for both the individual and the nation. He pointed out that from a legal standpoint, birth registration is not just a fundamental right but also a requirement for accessing services, especially in the health, education, and justice sectors. “From a statistical perspective, the registration of births, deaths, and marriages is crucial in shaping government policies and identifying developmental challenges. It aids in the design and evaluation of better policies, as well as in accurately predicting future demographic trends without the need for a general population census,” he added.

The first National Mayors' Forum on Universal Birth Registration will evaluate the current state of birth registration, identify obstacles impeding this process, and suggest solutions. “Upon the conclusion of this meeting, the mayors and officers of the 374 primary civil registration centers, which include secondary civil registration centers, are expected to pledge their commitment through a ‘charter’ to prioritize birth registration in their respective municipalities,” the Minister of Decentralization concluded.

Patricia Ngo Ngouem