The Protection of the Welfare of Children After Divorce in Cameroon: Legal, Institutional and Policy Frameworks

Abstract

The welfare of children after divorce has been an issue of concern for years in the world in general and in Cameroon in particular. Every nation strives hard to safeguard their welfare in every aspect because, when properly nurtured, children give rise to a great nation, and for this reason, they are often considered a nation’s future. The cornerstone of a child’s growth is their family environment. Thus, when its stability is broken due to the occurrence of divorce, necessary measures are taken by the government to safeguard the child’s welfare. The welfare of the child following a divorce is still in jeopardy, despite the existing institutional and legal structure. As such, this article aims at examining the effectiveness of the measures in place and the extent to which they ensure the safeguarding of the
welfare of children after divorce in Cameroon. The study uses a qualitative research methodology that entails examining the content of both primary and secondary sources of information. This study reveals that the inability to protect the welfare of the child after divorce is because of the disregard for some vital aspects of the welfare of the child. The study therefore recommends the implementation of the laws, the creation of a social service for the protection of children who are victims of divorce, and the creation of a training program for divorced parents. This will help enhance the protection of the child’s welfare after divorce.