 holistic support to families and communities in emergency or humanitarian crisis situations. CHAPTER 4: PROTECTION OF SPECIFIC RIGHTS 472- In a bid to guarantee the rights of some groups, the State took into account their specific realities to adapt measures geared towards inclusion as enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution. Indeed, during the reference period, many challenges were to be addressed including the coordination of actions for vulnerable groups, mobilisation of adequate human and financial resources, and the effective consideration of specific dimensions or vulnerabilities in policies and programmes. Progress made in the integration of the gender approach will be discussed in the Report on the Maputo Protocol (Article 18 (2); Rec. 20, 21). This Chapter will examine the rights of the child (Article 18 (3)), the rights of the elderly (Article 18 (4)), the rights of persons with disability (Article 18 (4)) and the rights of persons deprived of liberty. Section 1: The Rights of the Child (Article 18(3) ACHPR) 473- During the period under review, and considering the cross-cutting nature of child-related issues, the strategic and institutional framework of child protection was restructured for a better design of actions on the protection of the rights of the child. The emergence of new security concerns highlighted the involvement of children in armed groups. §1: Restructuring of the Strategic and Institutional Framework 474- At the institutional level, the duties of the main Ministries concerned such as MINPROFF and MINAS298 were reviewed to facilitate family support, the privileged place for child development, early childhood support, and protection of children in difficulty. 475- Discussion and coordination mechanisms were either set up or revived. Thus, in addition to the National Committee on Combating Child Labour in Cameroon already referred to above, the National Commission for the Protection of Children in Moral Danger, and Delinquent or Abandoned Children formed in 1990 was revived in 2017 and holds regular sessions299. Besides, a national platform for the protection of children including those in emergency situation was set up in 2016300. Thematic platforms also exist, in particular, the Multi-sector Platform of Stakeholders for the Elimination of Violence, Exploitation, Abuse and Discrimination, Harmful Cultural Practices and Child Marriage. Its goal is to structure the activities of different stakeholders involved in the fight against cultural beliefs and practices that are harmful to the development of the child. 476- At the strategic level, a National Child Policy Paper was drawn up in 2017. It comprises 5 strategic thrusts on (i) deepening the consideration of child protection in all aspects of national life; (ii) promotion of a sociocultural environment that encourages child protection; (iii) modernization of the legal child protection framework; (iv) enhancement of access to child protection services; and (v) consolidation of the governance of actions to implement the national child protection policy. An implementation plan of action is envisioned. 298 Decree No. 2017/383 of 18 July 2017 organising the Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS): MINAS is in charge of drawing up and implementing Government policy on prevention, assistance, and protection of socially vulnerable persons, and monitoring procedures for the protection of children in difficulty in collaboration with the Ministries concerned. 299 The meetings are biannual. Thus, the Commission held 2 meetings in 2017 and one in 2018. 300 Decision No. 2016/98/D/MINAS/SG.DPSE/SDPDE of 20 October 2016 to set up a National Platform on the Protection of the child in Cameroon, including in Emergency Situations. In 2017, the platform held 3 sessions; session 1 focused on the drawing up of an annual plan of action on child protection and presentation of the reference draft of the psychosocial care of children involved in armed forces or groups; session 2 discussed best practices on juvenile justice and combating gender-based violence; and session 3 sought solutions to the management of unaccompanied children who are former hostages of Boko Haram. 81