In the vibrant cities of Garoua and Tiko, Cameroon, a significant transformation is underway as local governments and UNICEF join forces to tackle the critical issue of birth registration. This initiative not only seeks to provide legal identity to millions of children but also emphasizes the importance of acknowledging every child’s right to education and protection, reinforcing the idea that a child’s existence should be recognized from the very beginning. By streamlining registration processes and engaging communities, Cameroon is taking a proactive stance toward safeguarding the futures of its youngest citizens.
A year ago, Oumarou Sanda, the mayor of Garoua 2 in northern Cameroon, proudly raised a trophy after his municipality was named Cameroon’s Citizenship Champion for its remarkable initiatives to enhance birth registration. This recognition stemmed from a collaboration supported by UNICEF and the Cameroonian government, aimed at addressing a persistent gap in child protection: the absence of legal documentation for thousands of children in the country. According to Cameroon’s civil status law, every child has the right to a birth certificate, and parents are encouraged to register births within 90 days at no cost. After this period, however, the registration process becomes more complicated, often requiring families to navigate through costly and time-consuming court procedures.
For many parents, like Aissatou Bouba, a mother of four from Garoua 2, the registration system can feel inaccessible. Bouba recalls how one of her eldest children was sent home from school due to a lack of official documents. Fortunately, in 2024, she successfully registered her youngest child immediately after birth at a local health facility, illustrating a larger movement towards increasing birth registration in Cameroon. According to the Ministry of Basic Education, over 1.5 million children—around 30 percent of primary school pupils—are currently enrolled without birth certificates. The implications of this documentation gap can severely hinder children’s educational and social opportunities later in life.
In Tiko, Anna Enanga epse Itoe, head of the civil status bureau, stresses the long-term consequences of not having a birth certificate, which can affect admission into secondary schools and prevent access to national identification services—critical for participating in various aspects of society. UNICEF reports that in 2023, only 43.77 percent of the 560,000 births recorded at health facilities were officially registered, leaving countless children vulnerable without proper identification.
In light of these challenges, the need for improved birth registration systems has gained urgency. Following the inaugural Mayors’ Forum on Birth Registration in April 2024, local authorities pledged their commitment to strengthening civil registration processes within their municipalities. UNICEF, alongside the government and various local partners, launched the “My Name” campaign, aimed at identifying and registering children lacking legal documentation across Cameroon’s 360 councils and 14 cities.
Since the campaign began, officials report registering over 17,000 children. Municipalities have been evaluated based on their effectiveness in enhancing registration systems, including integrating civil registration services into local health facilities and actively identifying undocumented children in schools. In Tiko, authorities have made it easier for remote communities to access registration services by collaborating with traditional leaders to document births in rural areas. Enanga highlights that there has been a significant increase in daily registrations, underscoring the positive community response to these initiatives.
Despite notable achievements, considerable challenges persist. Many communities continue to overlook birth registration, often only engaging with the system when their children encounter obstacles in accessing education or national exams. Social norms also present barriers; for instance, some rural areas still hold beliefs that girls do not require formal documentation or education, which increases the risk of child marriage and further undocumented status. In response, community leaders are being actively involved in awareness campaigns designed to encourage a cultural shift towards earlier birth registration.
Globally, UNICEF estimates that approximately 166 million children under the age of five remain unregistered. In Cameroon, experts assert that overcoming this registration gap necessitates not only administrative reforms but also a transformative change in how communities perceive a child’s legal existence. Ultimately, as Bouba expressed joyfully, knowing her son can pursue an education without hindrance is an inspiring step forward in ensuring every child’s right to a secure and recognized identity.
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