UNICEF /UDs Partnership

A concrete ecosystem for the promotion of Child Rights

Dschang,UDs/SIC-21/01/25. After the First Child Rights Centre in Cameroon opened at the Yaoundé II, University on December 11^th 2024, it was now the turn of the   Dschang University Child Rights Centre that saw its inauguration on Tuesday, January 21^st 2025 at the International House of the University of Dschang. Another fruitful story of partnership between UNICEF and academia in Cameroon.

The inauguration was preceded by an opening ceremony that took place at the Joseph FONDJO Auditorium during which Prof. Bridgitte DJUIDJE, the Project Focal Point, presented the Child Rights concept which was followed by the representative of UNICEF, Mrs Nadine PERRAULT who lauded the partnership, “This partnership  creates an academic ecosystem, a new chapter to fashion the child rights”.She added that the partnership reflects the shared ambition to create an academic ecosystem where child rights become a lasting priority through research, teaching, and advocacy.

This Center is the second of five to be established in Cameroon by the end of 2025; the Universities of Yaoundé I, Maroua and the Catholic University of Central Africa will follow suit. It brews the ambitious vision to integrate child rights into university curricula while raising awareness and mobilizing future generations of professionals and leaders.  The Child Rights Centre is aimed at strengthening the university’ roles in driving societal change while equipping students and researchers to become active advocates for children’s rights in their respective disciplines. The Centre is a win-win project through which the University will benefit from a focal point for research, policy influence and training in children’s rights. In the same light the wider children’s rights programme will benefit from academic resources and expertise.

It is worth noting that the Centre will serve as a platform to: Strengthen the University’s capacity to produce policy-oriented research and train professionals involved in the protection and promotion of children’s rights; Institutionalize children’s rights in university curricula in collaboration with UNICEF; Promote children’s rights through training programmes, campaigns and community activities.

The  Children’s Rights Centre at the University of Dschang will work in the following areas:- Research and production of evidence: Facilitating interdisciplinary research on issues related to children’s rights, such as education, health, nutrition, social protection, inclusion and climate change.- Training and mainstreaming children’s rights: Co-develop specific modules to strengthen students‘ and professionals’ knowledge of children’s rights.- Advocacy and social mobilisation: Organize campaigns to mobilize the university community on the importance of children’s rights and their implementation in local policies.- Capacity building: Train teachers and administrative staff in approaches based on children’s rights.

The Rector of the University of Dschang, Prof Roger Tsafack Nanfosso appreciated the UNICEF team and assured them total commitment  at ensuring that the vision is attained. The event was marked by the presentation of the UNICEF honorary distinction conferred to the Rector and an interesting conference debate on child Rights protection which brought together key personalities in different disciplines/