The fourth edition of the International Day of the Girl Child was commemorated in Cameroon yesterday October 13, 2015.

Adolescence is a period of preparation for adult hood. It is an important period for they are often victims of abuse of all sorts sometimes perpetrated in the family milieu. These include rape, incest, domestic exploitation and early marriages, among others. It is in this light that the fourth edition of the International Day of the Girl Child was commemorated in Cameroon yesterday October 13, 2015 on the theme: “Power of the adolescent Girl-Vision 2030”.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie Thérèse Abena Ondoa said commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child, Cameroon marks its adhesion to set objectives on the protection of children in general and the girl child in particular. She called on the general public to join their efforts for the improvement of the living conditions of girls.

In his message on the occasion of the day, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called for the elimination of all forms of violence against the girl child and to grant them their rights. The day was an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the achievements of the past and what solutions to take to improve the conditions of the girl child.

The International Day of the Girl Child celebrated on the 11^th of October every year was instituted on December 19, 2011 by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the initiative of Plan International within the framework of the campaign; “Because I am a Girl”. The campaign aims at sensitising public opinion on the importance of the education and the protection of girls in the world, especially in developing countries.

The event took place in the presence of members of government, representatives of international organizations, authorities of Yaounde IV Subdivision and other invitees.