This second level of coordination and monitoring of cooperation programmes is not too much. It deserves to be reinforced by a dynamic permanent secretariat and to be provided with technical, human and financial means in order to raise its level of authority and visibility. Placed within the Ministry in charge of Planning, under the Inter ministerial Committee of Directors General, the Permanent Secretariat should lead the interdepartmental group of central departments of all relevant ministries. Thus, with the support of UNICEF, programmes and projects managed by branches of Territorial Administration (Directorate of Civil registration), human rights (towards the legal protection of the child), Health (Department of Family Health, Directorate on the fight against disease and Directorate of Studies and Planning), primary and secondary education and technical and vocational education (deans and Planning and specialised departments of children's education), Social Affairs (Directorate of Studies and Planning and directorates and programmes on the protection and promotion of various vulnerable groups of children and indigenous peoples) would benefit from working together periodically to monitor, evaluate and redevelop the action plans for children. Technical services from techniques from other departments such as the Ministry for Culture and the Arts, must be added, one in charge of Recreation and the one in charge of communication on issues of dissemination and popularisation of international instruments, which is responsible for the Promotion of Women for aspects of violence against women and girls as well as in the fight against female genital mutilation, etc. Under the supervision and coordination of the permanent secretariat and operational planning of public interventions for the child, one might expect a greater willingness to work together and support each other in order to better monitor stakeholders’ interventions, better documentation situations for an increased effectiveness. It goes without saying that the participation of NGOs and civil society, very active and on the ground would provide a more complete view of the situation. I.4 Dissemination and popularisation of the provisions of the Charter The African Charter, which does not have structural or institutional framework clearly identified for the implementation and monitoring of progress, like UNICEF to the CRC, does not have, at present, campaigns dissemination and comprehensive popularisation. These are considered in the near future, in the most relevant ministries (Social Affairs, Justice and Human Rights, Territorial Administration and Health). This intends to, among others, conduct a wide dissemination of the Charter and the initial national report through: (i) awareness-raising sessions with political and administrative authorities, community leaders and with parents and children, in all major cities and districts’ main cities, and in major towns of the country; (ii) the establishment of permanent mechanisms for information and education, using, among others, the Children's Parliament. I-5 Definition of the child in Congo According to Article I of Law No. 4-2010 of 14 June 2010 on the protection of the child in the Republic of Congo, "within the meaning of this Act, a child means every human being below the age of eighteen years and who has not yet reached the age of majority by special provision. 24

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