Children’s Parliament : Assuring Participation In Planning, Budgeting For Their Rights

The 26th Cameroon Children’s Parliament is holding in Government Bilingual Technical High School, Nkolbisson, Yaounde from June 17-27, 2025. The session is organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs, MINAS. The theme this year is “Mobilising the nation for child rights-sensitive planning and budgeting.” In attendance are 180 Junior Parliamentarians from all of Cameroon’s 10 administrative regions – being representatives of different social, ethnic and linguistic groups in the country. 

Plan International Special Day
Sunday, June 22, 2025 was the special day with the children for the international charity, Plan International Cameroon. A team from the Non-governmental Organisation discussed and sensitized the children on their rights and what Plan International Cameroon offers in support of government’s efforts to promote the rights of children.

Emphasising Child Rights, Protection
Speaking to the children, Plan International staff restated the importance of the Children’s Parliament. Saying the event was to strengthen their knowledge in children’s rights and child protection. And to reassure the children that if there are any cases of abuse in their communities, they should not hesitate to report, and their identities will be concealed. 

Carrying Them Along Every Stage
Revisiting this year’s junior parliamentary session theme, Plan staff clarified that mobilisation, planning and budgeting are aimed at everybody – children, community people, government ministries, mayors, teachers… through structured discussions, meetings… “You cannot budget for an activity without planning for it. Children should be involved in all the stages of mobilization, planning and budgeting because the bear the brunt of abuses,” they noted. 

Voices Of Junior MPs 
The 180 children were reminded of their role as ambassadors and community relays for all the other children in the country. On their part, the children urged Plan International and government to help safeguard the rights of children suffering from albinism as they tend to be discriminated against.  
A Junior Parliamentarian from the South West Region said the parliamentary session will help him to return home and sensitise people in his constituency. “It is about understanding my rights and how to best make use of them. Plan International sensitized us on the rights of children to education; for their voices to be heard in their communities, and to be treated with dignity. We were encouraged to promptly report any abuses through the toll-free number that was givenm,” he said. 
According to a Junior Parliamentarian from the Centre Region, they were encouraged to reports incidents of violence against children in their communities without fear. “We learnt that violence against children also involves boys, and how to prevent such violence. Plan International promotes children’s rights by assisting those facing abuse and violence – all over the country – as well as the right to participation in decision-making…,” she noted.

As Stakeholders In Decision-making 
Mrs. Sandjock Annie Pascaline, Subdirector in charge of Social Readaptation of the Child in the Ministry of Social Affairs said the Children’s Parliament aims to teach them to become stakeholders in decision-making. And to make their voices heard because the future of the country lies in the hands of children. 

Cultural Blending
“By bringing together children from all over the country, they are able to blend with each – despite disability, different cultures, mother tongues and ethnic backgrounds. Those with disability are promptly assisted by their able-bodied colleagues. The goal is to break barriers between the children,” Mrs. Sandjock emphasised.

Plan International’s Role Acknowledged 
She said without interferenc...