Combating Violence Against Children: Community Leaders Trained

Some community mediators, civil society activists, local authorities, and other stakeholders from Douala II and IV municipalities have been trained on various techniques to intensify the fight against violence against children within their communities. This was during a two-day workshop organized by “SOS Village Enfants” in Douala from June 5-6. Violence against children and youth constitutes a serious violation of their rights and has devastating consequences on their physical, psychological, and social development. In Cameroon, despite national efforts, such violence persists and takes various forms, including physical, sexual, emotional violence, neglect, and exploitation. Local stakeholders play a crucial role in their communities by facilitating conflict resolution, promoting social cohesion, and serving as a vital link between the population and local authorities. Their proximity to families and knowledge of the local context position them to contribute to preventing and combating violence against children and youth. However, they often face significant challenges, including lack of specialized training, absence of structured coordination mechanisms, and limited support from competent institutions. It was therefore imperative to strengthen their capacities and equip them with the necessary tools to fully play their role in protecting children and youth. As a result, for two days, they received training on children's rights and the legal framework for child protection in Cameroon, local mechanisms for preventing violence, community awareness, education, family and community involvement, local mechanisms for caring for child victims, identification, reporting, referral to specialized services, and first-level support. They also learned about the role of communal mediators in preventing and combating violence and communication and mediation techniques adapted to situations of violence. According to the local coor...