UNICEF Working to improve conditions for juvenile prisoners in Cameroon
Living life behind bars. Pascal is just one of 85 juvenile inmates doing time in Douala’s Newbell prison. Here they live
on top of each other. They sleep, eat and wash in an area meant for only 30 prisoners. An open sewer runs through
their cellblock, the roof leaks, and all the mattresses are lice ridden. In Yaounde’s Central prison some boys are
forced to sleep on the floor. 17 year old Bernard has been here for over three years, it took 2 of those years for his case to get to court, and now
with 9 months to go until the end of his sentence, he feels he’s lost out on life.
Apart from the inhumane conditions, minors are also vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse by older inmates. HIV
and Aids are rampant.
But UNICEF in partnership with Cameroon’s ministry of Social Affairs is working to improve conditions for minors in
the country’s prisons. Televisions, educational materials, books, beds and blankets have been provided while
UNICEF trains judicial, police and prison officers on the correct treatment of children in conflict with the law.
But the ultimate aim is to get Cameroon’s children out of prison and in to rehabilitation centers. Preparation is under
way for one such center in Douala.
Embed code for Blogs
Simply copy and paste the following HTML code below into your blog, website, or MySpace profile.
Copy to Clipboard
Share this video:
Simply click the button below and select your social bookmarking site.
Tag Cloud
Category: Human Services
Living life behind bars. Pascal is just one of 85 juvenile inmates doing time in Douala’s Newbell prison. Here they live
on top of each other. They sleep, eat and wash in an area meant for only 30 prisoners. An open sewer runs...
Views: 57245
Category: Human Services
Junior Goodwill Ambassador ‘Name Six’ visited child victims of the recent natural disaster, in ‘child friendly spaces’
set up by UNICEF in or next to camps for those displaced by the cyclones and related flooding.
Cyclone...
Tags:
child victims, natural disaster, sanitation and hygiene, working, Child friendly spaces, health, nutrition, education, protection, human rights, protecting
Views: 79641
Category: Human Services
Two weeks after renewed fighting brought chaos and destruction to Jabalia, located on the
North end of Gaza, these damaged homes, schools and storefronts remain as powerful
reminders to children of the latest episode of violence...
Views: 29111
Category: Human Services
At a remote police station in eastern Guinea-Bissau, 53 boys are resting after police
caught a man trying to smuggle them across the border into neighbouring Senegal. The man in
custody is a marabout, a religious instructor....
Views: 22579
Category: Human Services
Everyday 6400 girls are taught in this school. Due to the lack of classrooms and qualified
teachers lessons take place over three shifts, with some being held in tents or under trees.
UNICEF is working alongside the ministry of...
Views: 22364
Category: Human Services
Approximately 120,000 children in Burkina Faso have lost a parent to HIV/AIDS. Among them,
is Kiemde, 12, who lost his father two years ago. Now, he dedicates every weekend to
teaching his classmates and friends how to protect...
Views: 19941
Category: Health & Care
Children prematurely moved to seat belts are 4 times more likely to suffer serious head
injuries during a collision than children in child safety or booster seats. Safety belts
are designed for adults, and children under 4'9" tall...
Views: 25292
Category: Education & Career
However, despite these high aspirations, low-income and first-generation students are underrepresented on college campuses. The reasons vary, but key barriers include affordability, a lack of college-going knowledge and preparation,...
Views: 32157
Category: Education & Career
Due to their financial circumstances, many of America's student do not have access to a college education. Since 1944, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has sought to provide a quality education to these financially disadvantaged,...
Views: 17687
Category: Health & Care
Americans are inundated with "get healthy" messeges, but with little results. Their health
continues to be negatively affected by high obesity, physical inactivity and smoking rates.
Each year, 1.5 millon people die from diseases...
Views: 20326
Category: Health & Care
To create awarness and educate parents of young children who have outgrown their toddler
seats that a booster seat is a must for any child under 4'9" before the transition into an
adult safety belt alone is safe. Parents of chifren...
Views: 10671
Category: Human Services
More than 2 and a half billion people live without safe toilets... that's 200 million tons of untreated human waste a year. Away into the water supply, or into direct contact with hands and feet. Bacterial infection from human waste...
Views: 22932
UNICEF: At regional forum, Latin America unites to recognize children's first right - to identity
American Lung Association: Asthma PSA
UNICEF: Floods in Indonesia
Hilary Swank, Oscar Winning Actress
Red Cross: Thank-A-Thon to the Midwest
Great Moments in UNICEF History: The 60th Anniversary Video
Clinton Global Initiative: Richard Branson on Global Warming
International migration could help reduce poverty in poor countries
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Juan y Maria (Spanish)
Volvo Alcoguard
American Cancer Society PSA
Ford Models 360 - Trends from the Runway
IBM Release of Blade Center
ABD-UNAIDS: HIV and AIDS Report in Asia-Pacific
UNICEF: Gender Equality - Dolly's Story
General Motors: Hip Hop Booster Seats
Generous Nation - Kids
UNICEF: Temporary classrooms get earthquake-affected students back to school