2007 TIP REPORT: CAMEROON DEMARCHE

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000766 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR AF/C, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CM ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SUBJECT: 2007 TIP REPORT: CAMEROON DEMARCHE REF: STATE 78699 ¶1. (U) Embassy delivered the advance copy of the Country Narrative for Cameroon to Joe Nzume, Head of the Americas Division at the foreign ministry (MINREX) on June 12 by fax. ¶2. (U) In addition, DCM addressed government leaders at an event jointly sponsored by the government of Cameroon and the International Labor Organization (ILO) at the Palais des Congres commemorating ILO's World Day against Child Labor. ¶3. (U) For the seoond year in a row, Embassy Yaounde sponsored a Child Labor Day Fashion Show at the Embassy on June 13, in partnership with the ILO and Cameroonian NGOs whose focus is to end child labor and rescue trafficked children by providing them with education and vocational training to enable them to acquire professional skills. The fashion show featured former child victims as models posing in outfits victims have fabricated after receiving vocational training, a handicrafts fair featuring the work of these young tailors and seamstresses, and a documentary presentation by ILO. The event was covered by local press, and also featured a number of government representatives, including many involved in the government's efforts to end child trafficking, posing as models. MARQUARDT