In memory of the massacre of innocent children in SOWETO in 1976 by the racist apartheid regime then in power in South Africa, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), established, through Resolution CMRes-1290 (XL) of July 18, 1990, the Day of the African Child, which is celebrated annually on June 16.
Indeed, at the height of the apartheid policy, thousands of Black South African students were massacred in Soweto while demonstrating against the substandard quality of their education and demanding respect for their right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young boys and girls were shot and wounded, and by the end of the two-week protests, around 100 people had been killed and over 1,000 injured. Among the first victims was a young Black man named Hector Paterson.
At that time, the Apartheid regime sought to develop a truly racist education policy specifically for indigenous peoples, based on the learning and teaching of a dialect, without any other living language. This not only aimed to keep them in second place by limiting their knowledge, but also to uproot an entire people from their history and culture, and to dominate them for several centuries.
Celebrated since 1991, the Day of the African Child provides an opportunity to remember these sad events on June 16th each year. In an effort to mark each celebration in a special way, the African Union has chosen a theme around which the related events are organized at the state level. It is important to recall that significant events preceded the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to establish a Day of the African Child, notably marked by the adoption in 1990 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. This Charter was inspired by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989.
II- OBJECTIVES
General Objective
To mobilize the national community around the issue of protecting, respecting, promoting, and fulfilling children's rights.
Specific Objectives
• To raise awareness of the rights, capacities, and potential of children and draw attention to the situation of those who are particularly vulnerable to marginalization and/or violence;
• To popularize national and international child protection instruments and promote a better understanding of the practical implications of the various obligations they entail; • Encourage the commitment of public and private administrations, as well as partners, to carry out synergistic actions to ensure the realization of children's rights;
• Identify effective mechanisms and strategies for preventing and addressing violations of children's rights;
• Organize activities celebrating the DEA throughout the country.
III- STRATEGIES
• Communication for Development / "C4D" (Communication for Development);
• Capacity building for families and communities;
• Strengthening partnerships between public and private stakeholders;
• Advocacy;
• Awareness raising.
IV- ACTIVITIES
• Preparatory meetings;
• Selection of Junior Deputies;
• Advocacy for synergistic action in the promotion and protection of children;
• Official launch of the DEA;
• Organization of radio and television broadcasts on the theme and its sub-themes;
• Creation and distribution of awareness materials (advertisements, banners, leaflets, and posters) related to the theme;
• Organization of conferences, educational talks, and round tables;
• Organization of sociocultural and sporting activities;
• Organization of the Children's Parliament session.
V- PARTNERS
National Assembly, Prime Minister's Office, MINEPAT, MINJUSTICE, MINATD, MINFI, MINREX, MINDEL (SCRA), MINEDUB, MINESEC, MINJEC, MINSEP, MINSANTE, MINPROFF, MINCOM, MINCULT, DGSN, SED, CNLS, DG Taxes, DG Customs, French Cooperation, ARMP, FEICOM, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO, ALES/FAIRMED, CNDHL, CNUDHD, SIGHTSAVERS, ILO (Sub-regional Office), IAI, UNHCR, IOM, Chantal BIYA Foundation, CERAC, African Synergies, Plan Cameroon, CARE Cameroon, SOS Kinderdorf (VSOS/Cameroon), CRTV, SOPECAM, CERAS, IRONDEL, Religious Communities, OSP, NGOs, Associations, and Civil Society Organizations Supporting People with Disabilities families, opinion leaders and others.