Exploring the Child Labour and Human Security Nexus in an Armed Conflict Setting: The Case of the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon

  ABSTRACT: This article examines the intricate relationship between child labour and human security in the context of armed conflict, with specific focus on the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. Despite international conventions and national legislation prohibiting child labour, armed conflicts often exacerbate its prevalence due to the breakdown of societal structures, displacement, and economic instability. In the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, the protracted conflict has significantly impacted the lives of children, pushing many into exploitative labour practices for survival, posing significant threats to the well-being and security of the children and communities. Using the quantitative research design, this article elucidates the ways in which armed conflict perpetuates and intensifies child labour practices in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. It explores how factors such as displacement, economic hardship, breakdown of social structures, and lack of access to education contribute to the vulnerability of children to exploitative labour conditions. Consequently, the article examines the various forms of child labour prevalent in the region, including the worst forms of child labour such as child trafficking, and recruitment by armed groups, and assesses their implications for human security. Findings reveal that child labour has multifaceted impacts on human security, affecting not only the immediate well-being of children but also the stability and security of the communities and societies as a whole. The various dimensions of human security such as: education, health, personal and economic security of the child labourers is affected imposing long term consequences such as perpetuating cycles of poverty and limiting future opportunities for socio-economic advancement and also hampering broader efforts to build resilient and prosperous communities. This research contributes to the broader discourse on child labour and human security by highlighting the specific dynamics at play in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

KEY WORDS: Armed Conflict, Anglophone Regions of Cameroon, Child Labour, Human Security.