Human Rights
In this particular context, studies conducted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Association for Children, Youths and the Future (ASSEJA) in collaboration with ECPAT International have proven the manifestation of this problem in the Cameroonian society. These reports stipulate that this form of exploitation is certainly emerging, but also reveals the number of victims and the different forms of exploitation existing.
In its actions concerning the support given to the underprivileged children/youths, ASSEJA identified many CSEC cases which have been rehabilitated. The continuation of these actions has led to the adoption of the fight against CSEC as one of ASSEJA’s permanent activities. As a fervent militant of the fight against the sexual exploitation of children, ASSEJA is working towards the adoption of a national policy to fight against the phenomenon. To achieve this, the NGO is using various means such as research, meetings with stakeholders and social awareness campaigns and advocacy.
2- APPROACH
After the identification of cases of sexually exploited children with some of them being sponsored by ASSEJA, the latter in collaboration with ECPAT International recommended that a study be carried out on the sexual exploitation of children in Cameroon. The study that was conducted in the cities of Yaounde, Bertoua and Bamenda was effectively done and confirmed the existence of the phenomenon and recommendations were made. The implementation of these recommendations confirmed during the national consultation meeting that was held in July 2006 with the social actors; this is how ASSEJA started fighting against the phenomenon. The NGO’s action plans show an evolution of the fight, the sensitization done with respect to the phenomenon and the involvement of children in the promotion of their rights.
3) ACHIEVEMENTS
a) Studies carried out
During the past decade, many sexual exploitation cases were recorded without a true knowledge of neither the gravity of the phenomenon nor its manifestation. The various studies conducted on the phenomenon were aimed at exploring the manifestations of the phenomenon and its forms. Thus in 2006, ASSEJA, in collaboration with ECPAT International, published a study on the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Cameroon: Case study: Yaounde, Bamenda and Bertoua.
The results of this study were made public during a workshop organized in July 2006, at the Yaounde Congress Hall
The fact that ASSEJA published the results of this study with ECPAT, did not mean denying the contributions of the studies done by other social actors. Thus, when necessary, in its interventions, the NGO usually mentions the studies carried out by CASPAN, Plan Cameroon and many other social actors who demonstrated the existence of the phenomenon in Cameroon by questioning the perception of the phenomenon, its manifestations and also its consequences both at the level of the victim and at the level of the entire society.
Participation in CSEC meetings at the national and international levels
The restitution workshop of the study conducted by ASSEJA led to the national consultation worshop that was held in July 2006 on the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Apart from the discussions held during the workshop, there were interviews with government officials of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MINTSS), Ministry of Tourism (MINTOUR); Forces of Law and Order (Interpol ) and civil society actors (ECPAT and others).
The discussions were followed by a meeting bringing together all organizations involved in child protection, in Tanzania in 2006 with the aim to discuss child protection issues. A year after, in Lusaka, Zambia, African organizations, members of the ECPAT network such as ASSEJA met in order to evaluate child protection policies and government actions.
The Rio Summit that held in Brazil in 2008 marked a decisive turn in the discussions given that all the non governmental and governmental actors such as ASSEJA met in order to adopt resolutions to effectively combat the sexual exploitation of children worldwide. All the states agreed to adopt an action plan, at national levels in the fight against CSEC. Thus, conferences, forums and workshops were held in a bid to come up with harmonized effective strategies in order to fight against CSEC.
c) Awareness, education and information at the level of the national and international community
From 2006, awareness, education and information actions have been undertaken in favour of the general public in Cameroon. The awareness touched the children, communities, authorities and other civil society actors. Programmes, brochures, posters, talks and campaigns were the various sensitization mediums used.
The education of victims is extended through actions such as the social and economic reintegration of victims while families are assisted through income generating activities. All cases of CSEC are treated in a bid to provide them and their families with a sustainable alternative when necessary.
Awareness actions carried out by ASSEJA fully benefits from the full participation of youths and children at risk. Thus apart from the campaigns organized by ASSEJA community workers, awareness and counselling actions are initiated by the victims or vulnerable youths themselves.
Awareness and information is continuing at the international level as ASSEJA contributes in updating data concerning the implementation of the Yokohama action plan at the level of Cameroon. As member of the ECPAT International network and due to its collaboration with other state institutions, ASSEJA helps in updating information with respect to the fight against the sexual exploitation of children in Cameroon and militates for the implementation of all national and international recommendations.
3- Results
NGO ASSEJA has carried out some studies on the sexual exploitation of children for many years now:
Exploratory study on “The commercial sexual exploitation of children in Cameroon. Case study: Yaounde, Bertoua and Bamenda”.
Documentary/study as contribution to periodic reports on the situation of CSEC in Cameroon since 2001, 2005 and 2006 in collaboration with international organizations like ECPAT.
Concerning awareness, many actions have been undertaken:
Awareness materials produced and distributed
8 radio and television programmes produced
8 information meetings with communities were organized
11 educative sessions with youths organized
Training of 23 peer educators
More than 2 million persons sensitized on the existence and dangers relating to the commercial sexual exploitation of children during the national restitution consultation on the study carried out in collaboration with ECPAT International on the 27 and 28 of July 2006 at the Yaounde Congress Hall.
In terms of rehabilitation and care for CSEC victims, ASSEJA takes care of the victims permanently and 10 of them have received assistance within the framework of ASSEJA’s partnership with ECPAT International.
In terms of protection, ASSEJA has taken part in several brainstorming sessions which have led to the drafting of an action plan to fight against the sexual exploitation of children (2006 national consultation, workshop to draft the 2007 Action Plan, workshop to validate the 2009 action plan, the 2009 material production workshop and other workshops and reflection meetings of stakeholders at different levels).
III/-THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING
1-Background to the problem
When the Itinero ship accosted the Wouri River in 2001, heading for one of the Central African countries, the Cameroonian authorities did not believe that child trafficking existed in Cameroon, whereas, many children support structures like ASSEJA had already identified children victims of trafficking. The civil society organized in a vast information campaign on child trafficking which led to the signing of an agreement between the government of Cameroon and the ILO’s regional office for Central Africa. This agreement led to the implementation of the international programme in view of the abolition of child labour in Cameroon. In fact, during the last decades, the world significantly intensified discussions on the issue of trafficking in general and that of children in particular. The various human rights violations suffered by trafficking victims, most especially those faced by women and children are a cause for concern.
NGOs, governments, the United Nations and other actors have tried to look for a solution to this problem.
The first strategy that ASSEJA came up with in order to fight against trafficking was within the IPEC programme, a project to fight against child trafficking/child labour in West and Central Africa. Then it established other partnerships leading to the fight against the trafficking of young girls, women and of persons in general and domestic labour. Although the fight against trafficking is now recognized and organized, it is not yet eradicated reason why it is still continuing.
2- Approach
The approach used in the fight against this phenomenon includes:
Awareness campaigns, communication and information of administrative, military, religious, traditional authorities and the population on issues of trafficking and exploitation of children;
Training, information seminars and capacity buildings in favour of NGOs, associations and other social actors;
Meetings and experience sharing on the issue and advocacy;
Production and distribution of sensitization and communication materials for a better understanding of the regulations and adoption of new behavioural patterns;
The structuring of communities in order to promote and protect children’s of their rights by involving them in the fight against these social ills.
Establishing socio-economic partnerships with other organizations and networks in order to carry out vast advocacy/lobbying campaigns;
Identification of victims in risk environments;
Education/counselling
Victim rehabilitation
Vocational training
Supporting income generating activities
Creation of vigilance committees
Law application clubs and structures
Sketches, witness statement by children and their family members help in public awareness. LUTRENA actions gave a dimension to the national fight with the involvement of other actors in the mobilization towards the amelioration of the children’s living environments. The second phase of the project essentially concerned the promotion of a legal framework and the rehabilitation of victims. Since then, the LUTRENA global practices are exploited in the fight against the domestic labour of children, trafficking in persons especially in young girls with partners such as BLinN, Future Group, CRS and other actors involved in the fight against drug abuse; thereby making this fight a permanent activity.
3-REALIZATIONS
Up till date, many activities have already been carried out by ASSEJA and its partners in line with the fight against trafficking. They are:
Awareness activities during the international day celebrations of the African child (16th June), the International day for the fight against child labour (12th June), International day for the prevention of child abuse (19th November), Education for all week (24th April,) etc. These activities challenge the national community on specific topics every year.
Awareness on trafficking and advocacy for the adoption of a specific legal framework for the fight against child trafficking. This advocacy led to the adoption of law no 2005/015 of December 29th 2005 on the fight against child trafficking.
Publication of communication materials such as a strip cartoon on the law against trafficking in both English and French, news bulletin “Traffic News” in three editions and many other information materials.
Contributing in the ILO studies titled “La traite des enfants aux fins d’exploitation de leur travail au Cameroun” (Trafficking of children for the exploitation of their labour) carried out by S.S ABEGA and “Le cadre juridique sur la traite des enfants” (Legal framework on the child trafficking) by M.T. MALONGUE.
Publication of a finding on child labour in the quarries of Yaounde in 2005 within the framework of the LUTRENA Project.
Establishment of a boarding pass in 2003 bearing a message on the fight against child trafficking in Cameroon in partnership with the ADC;
Collaboration with the GICAM, the U.S Embassy and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security concerning support to the rehabilitated victims;
Organization of information seminars and advocacy actions in line with child abuse prevention (trafficking, domestic exploitation, drug trafficking, forms of violence and abuse, etc) for the rehabilitation of underprivileged children and youths, victims of abuse, and against the violence suffered by women such as the trafficking of young girls.
4- ACHIEVEMENTS
Sensitization favoured the involvement of different actors and the setting up of an intervention chain in line with the fight against child trafficking. Through this intervention chain, different administrations and social actors started working in close collaboration.
The training of actors led to the involvements of other civil society organizations and even by administrations in the fight against this phenomenon. This training is continuing through other seminars and the introduction of specific modules in schools.
Exploratory studies have led to specific research (End of course essay) and a quantitative national finding published in 2009. Child trafficking is no longer known only through its manifestations but also through its proportions.
Advocacy actions led to the adoption of a law in 2005 and the setting up of an implementation committee within the framework of the IPEC programme, of a child trafficking commission in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and of a custom’s brigade at the Interpol national office.
ASSEJA has been the execution agent of the programme relating concerning the communication and sensitization action in the fight against child trafficking. The NGO is a member of the commission for the fight against child trafficking in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
