Festival in Brazzaville champions child protection
For forty-eight hours the gardens and halls of the French Institute of Congo in downtown Brazzaville were transformed into a living manifesto for child protection. The Children’s Rights Festival, held from 14 to 15 November 2025, was orchestrated by the country-wide Réseau des intervenants sur le phénomène des enfants en rupture, better known by the acronym REIPER, together with the foundation Apprentis d’Auteuil and with strategic support from the Agence française de développement. Though festive in form—with music, theatre and hands-on art—the gathering addressed the serious theme chosen by the organisers: “Protecting street-connected children from violence.”
Civil society and international partners in concert
Opening the proceedings, REIPER coordinator Joseph Bikié Likibi reminded participants that Congo-Brazzaville has subscribed to the principal international conventions on the rights of the child. “This festival is our shared pledge to turn legal clauses into lived realities,” he observed, applauding the presence of more than twenty member organisations, municipal officials and diplomatic representatives. Apprentis d’Auteuil, which has worked with vulnerable youth across Francophone Africa for over a century, underlined the importance of pairing advocacy with vocational reintegration schemes. In a message read on behalf of the AFD, the French development agency highlighted that protecting children in precarious situations is not only a moral imperative but also a catalyst for inclusive growth.
Creative workshops redefine public awareness
Throughout the two days, children who once slept under porches or market stalls led theatre sketches illustrating the pitfalls of the street and ways of resisting abuse. Nearby, visual-arts corners allowed participants to paint murals depicting safe urban spaces, while coding games introduced by young Congolese engineers demonstrated how digital tools can locate emergency shelters. Parents and teachers joined round-tables on early-warning signs of trafficking, and legal advisors offered concise explanations of the Juvenile Protection Code adopted in 2022. The variety of formats, according to educators on site, made the subject accessible without diluting its complexity.
Security forces reaffirm institutional commitment
A highlight came with the address of Commander Aurélien Ngadia, speaking for the National Gendarmerie. He assured the audience that law-enforcement units “will not relent in confronting violence against children living on our streets,” stressing that specialised officers have received training to identify and refer minors in distress rather than merely disperse them. His words were welcomed by applause, signalling the audience’s confidence in a protective rather than punitive security approach. Observers noted that the statement aligns with the government’s broader programme to humanise public order operations.
Nationwide helpline offers rapid assistance
Beyond declarations, organisers promoted concrete mechanisms. Foremost among them is the free hotline 2231, accessible across the national territory. A single call, volunteers emphasized, can trigger immediate intervention by social workers and partner police units. Since its launch the number has enabled dozens of children to exit exploitative situations, according to figures shared by REIPER. Plans are under way to integrate the hotline with popular messaging applications to reach youngsters who have sporadic access to mobile data.
Toward sustained momentum ahead of World Children’s Day
As the festival closed, banners were folded but commitments remained. Participants adopted a brief communique inviting municipalities to set up child-friendly spaces in busy transport hubs, and calling on private companies to sponsor apprenticeship slots for youths leaving the street. With World Children’s Day on 20 November providing an international echo chamber, organisers expressed hope that the energy generated in Brazzaville would ripple through classrooms, barracks and boardrooms alike. In the words of Joseph Bikié Likibi, “The dignity of a nation can be measured by the way it treats its most vulnerable members. Our city has just offered a promising testimony.”