developed, as well as platforms for collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders contribute to improve the well-being of this social group. Measures are equally being taken to assist single-parent mothers in taking care of their children by funding their income-generating activities; regularly providing assistance and support to needy and very poor persons and families. In 2014, 725 persons and families received assistance as part of this process. Concerning the guidance and raising the awareness of parents and other education stakeholders on the development needs of a child from birth to adolescence and the imperative need for mothers to be personally responsible for the upbringing of their own children during early childhood, the following actions are underway: the implementation of a far-reaching pre-marital, matrimonial and family education programme; the drafting of a handbook for community schools in view of ensuring an appropriate family care of children and the organization of educational campaigns on Essential Family Practices. In perspective, the Decree on the establishment and organization of nurseries and day-care centres (PFE), with particular focus on the early development of the child, is under review. As concerns the prevention of situations of children who have lost their mothers, actions geared towards intensifying the African campaign on the reduction of maternal mortality are being carried out and have integrated a community dimension, especially the organization of campaigns to offer free healthcare services (prenatal consultations, family planning, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, immunization of pregnant women). In perspective, emphasis shall be laid on accelerating the adoption process of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the implementation of instruments specifically relating to the protection of children with disabilities. In addition, the Government intends to train specialized professionals in sufficient numbers and make the National Institute of Social Work go operational, in order to have as many social workers as possible, likely to better handle the specific needs of this category of children. Furthermore, it remains a major preoccupation to have a study conducted on the collection of statistical data based on the specific type of disability. b) Children in Armed Conflicts (Art. 22) Cameroon ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, concerning the involvement of children in armed conflicts, which compels States Parties to take all necessary measures to ensure that their armed forces who are under 18 years of age do not take a direct part in hostilities, ensure that persons under 18 years are not subjected to forceful enrolment into their armed forces. Despite the unavailability of statistical data relating to the involvement of children in armed conflicts, the interventions of the Government, in collaboration with Agencies of the United Nations System and CSOs, aim at preventing the recruitment and use of children into armed forces/groups, through awareness-raising campaigns, follow-up, reporting and assistance to families and communities, in areas where refugees are found. Aware of the magnitude of crises on the lives of the Cameroonians in border areas, the Government organized, in October 2014, a workshop to build the technical capacities of 32