§2: Protection as a Platform for Guaranteeing the Rights of the Child 477- In addition to enhancing access to basic social services, health, and education as discussed above, actions carried out as part of protection of the rights of the child included safeguarding the identity and personality of the child, promoting the involvement of the child in decision-making processes, and promoting a protective environment for children. The inclusive approach required specific actions for children in need of special protection. A: Safeguarding the Identity and Personality of Children 478- Enhancement of access to the civil status continued since the intention was to significantly reduce the proportion of children not entered in the civil status register that stood at 66.4% in 2014301. In this regard, and through the readjustment of the normative302 and institutional framework with the extension of the period for the declaration of birth from 30 days to 90 days, the establishment of a National Civil Status Office in 2013303 and the installation of its governing bodies in 2016 and regional offices in 2017, the adjustment of the territorial coverage with civil status registries304, the Strategic Civil Status Rehabilitation Plan (2018-2022)305 was adopted. 479- Besides, Cameroon was chosen for a 3-year regional pilot project dubbed “Towards Universal Birth Registration in Africa”. The aim of the project was to test at the Subdivisional level, a registration system through the use of ICTs with a view to increasing the rate of birth registration to 20% by 2019. In a bid to support the demand for civil status registration, a civil status module was introduced in the syllabuses of Secondary schools and Teacher Training Colleges. 480- Awareness-raising campaigns were organised on the importance of birth certificates and on the social and political implications of the non-declaration of births. From 20 April to 22 July 2016, for example, a film screening campaign on the importance of birth certificates, time limits for registration and the consequences of not respecting same involved some 100 communities in the country. Similarly, in 2016, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization organised 90 training sessions for 4,100 Civil Status Officers and Secretaries and 700 other interested persons such as village chiefs, health staff, the Ministry of Justice, etc in 74 communities nationwide. The modules focused on the basis of civil status, the regulation in force, registration procedures for civil status acts, keeping registers and best practices. The action included indigenous peoples and minority groups. 481- Supporting the most vulnerable people as part of the procedures was also one of the levers of the action. Assizes and/or special court sessions were held to deliver declaratory 301 MICS 2017 Survey Results. The lowest rates were observed in Far North Region (42%) and South West Region (55%). The problem was acute in rural areas where the rate stood at 81%. In relation to purchasing power, the poorest quintile is the most affected with only 28% of births registered. 302 See Law No. 2011/11 of 6 May 2011 amending and completing certain provisions of Ordinance No.81/02 of June 29 1981 on the organization of the Civil Status Registration and Provisions relating to the status of physical persons is the instrument to determine the legal status of persons in Cameroon 303 Decree No. 2013/31 of 13 February 2013 on the organisation and function of the National Civil Status Registration Offices (BUNEC). 304 In December 2018, Cameroon had 2,818 Civil Status Registries nationwide, comprising 374 main registries and 2,399 secondary registries. In diplomatic representations abroad, there were 60 main registries of which 46 in Embassies, 4 in High Commissions, 2 in Permanent Missions and 8 in Consulates. 305 The aim of the Plan is to implement the following 7 recommendations of the Civil Status Evaluation Report: (i) consolidation of the legal thrust for the registration of civil status facts and establishment of statistics on civil status facts; (ii) consolidation of the organization and functioning of registration of civil status facts; (iii) consolidation of institutional coordination and the role of BUNEC; (iv) enhancement of demand for civil status registration and vital statistics services; (v) comprehensive computerization and control of the civil status; (vi) establishment, dissemination and use of civil status statistics; and (vii) sustainable financing of civil status. 82