Children Deserve Protection, Not Abuse

Every child has the right to a safe and nurturing environment. When caregivers, who are meant to provide love and protection, instead inflict violence and torture, it inflicts deep physical and emotional wounds that can last a lifetime. Studies by UNICEF show that children exposed to violence are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, poor academic performance, and difficulty forming healthy social relationships.

Globally, UNICEF reports that six out of ten children between ages 2 and 14 are subjected to violent discipline regularly. In Sub-Saharan Africa, this number is often higher due to cultural and social acceptance of corporal punishment.

In Cameroon specifically, a 2014 UNICEF study revealed that over 80% of children experience some form of physical punishment at home, and many cases go unreported due to fear, stigma, or lack of awareness. The child in Douala is therefore not an isolated case but part of a much larger, systemic issue of violence against children.

Legal and Human Rights Frameworks

This abuse violates multiple legal and human rights instruments that Cameroon has signed and ratified:

• National Law (Cameroon):

  • The Cameroonian Penal Code (Sections 350–356) criminalizes violence and assault against minors.

  • Law No. 2020/009 on child protection outlines the duty of the state to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and torture.

• Regional Law (African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990):

  • Article 16 obliges states to protect children from all forms of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment.

  • Article 20 stresses that parents’ responsibilities must not infringe on the rights and wellbeing of the child.

• Global Framework (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989):

  • Article 19 requires state parties to protect children from “all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation.”

  • Article 37 prohibits subjecting children to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

Human Rights Watch has repeatedly emphasized that Cameroon must strengthen its child protection systems, noting that weak enforcement of child protection laws and lack of resources for social services leave children particularly vulnerable to abuse.

PATHS Internationals’ Call to Action

PATHS Internationals urgently calls upon:

1. The Government of Cameroon to:

   • Conduct a transparent and thorough investigation into the Douala case.

   • Prosecute perpetrators to the full extent of the law.

   • Establish community-based child protection units with rapid response capacity.

   • Increase funding for social welfare programs that address child abuse and violence prevention.

2. Law Enforcement and Judicial Authorities to:

   • Strengthen child-sensitive investigative and judicial procedures.

   • Train officers to respond appropriately to child abuse cases.

   • Ensure victims receive immediate psychological, medical, and social rehabilitation services.

3. Civil Society and Communities to:

   • Break the culture of silence around child abuse and violence.

   • Encourage community-based monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

   • Promote awareness campaigns to shift cultural norms away from violent discipline.

The Urgent Need for Cultural and Systemic Change

One of the biggest challenges in Cameroon is the widespread normalization of corporal punishment. According to UNICEF, nearly 60% of adults in Cameroon believe that physical punishment is necessary to raise children. This mindset creates a dangerous environment in which acts of abuse, such as the one in Douala, may be excused as “discipline.”

PATHS Internationals stresses that violence against children is not discipline—it is abuse. It is a crime. It must be eradicated from households, schools, and communities.

Conclusion

PATHS Internationals reiterates its absolute condemnation of the abuse suffered by the seven-year-old child in Douala. This case must mark a turning point in Cameroon’s fight against child abuse. The government must act with urgency to enforce national laws, uphold its commitments under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and honor its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Children are not possessions—they are human beings with rights. They deserve dignity, protection, and love. Violence against them is not only unacceptable; it is illegal and destructive to the future of society.

PATHS Internationals stands committed to supporting survivors, advocating for stronger protections, and working with communities and authorities to end violence against children in all its forms.