Cameroon: survivors of violence lead a week of activities against child marriage

On 3rd December 2024, Survivors' Network Cameroon began a sensitization and awareness-raising campaign against the interlinked areas of human trafficking, gender-based violence, and child marriage. 

The first events were held in the Bertoua I subdivision in the Eastern Region of Cameroon, working in a Presbyterian Christian community. There were community education activities on human trafficking, gender based violence and child marriage that addressed the causes, consequences and preventive measures. 

At the end of the awareness education activities, everyone took a pledge to end child marriage in Cameroon and the world.

This is just one of the education activities being organised this week by the Survivors’ Network Cameroon, an organisation that was set up by survivors to provide support for other survivors, which believes in ensuring survivors have a central voice in advocacy.  

Speaking at the event , Endah Queenicia Soh, an activist from the Cameroon campaign, highlighted how child marriage is a violation of girls' fundamental human rights, robbing girls of their childhood, their education, and their potential.

“Child marriage is not a cultural tradition to be cherished and encouraged; it is a social ill that forces young girls into premature adulthood, denying them the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential

It is necessary that we take collective action to eradicate this harmful practice. We must challenge the harmful norms and beliefs that perpetuate child marriage, and we must empower girls to know their rights and to be able to make their own choices about their lives. We must strengthen our laws and enforcement mechanisms to protect girls from child marriage.”