SW: OHCHR initiative enforces youth education rights amid crisis via stakeholders, CSOs
By Joy Bikom
Addressing the challenges facing education in the South West region of Cameroon, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Central Africa Regional Office spearheaded a two-day symposium aimed at bolstering youth education rights amidst ongoing crises.
The symposium, held from Wednesday, April 17, to Thursday, April 18, convened educational stakeholders and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Buea, South West region.
The event, characterized by panel discussions, workshop sessions, and interactive engagements, served as a platform for robust dialogue on access to education and the right to education within the region.
The symposium was held on the heels of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Kickstarted last December.
Acknowledging the profound impact of this seminal document on shaping international human rights norms, participants acknowledged the importance of aligning educational initiatives with the principles enshrined in the Declaration.
Kiven Fonyuy, a Human Rights Officer at the OHCHR Central Africa Regional Office, emphasized the significance of youth engagement in advancing the right to education and promoting human rights education in their communities.
Against the backdrop of challenges stemming from conflict-related disruptions to schooling, including the prolonged closure of some educational institutions, Fonyuy stressed the timeliness of the symposium and expressed satisfaction with the fruitful exchanges and recommendations that emerged from the deliberations.
“You know that there are challenges that are related to conflict in these regions. The fact that some schools have been shut down for several years and so on, those are clear facts. Those are challenges that are facing education in this region and the Northwest region and the South West region. We believe that as members of the Cameroon civil society and as youth leaders that we all are it is imperative that we take active part in coming together and sharing ideas to make the civil society in which we live better,” said Kiven Fonyuy.
Nju Lucas, a representative from a Civil Society Organization while talking to the press highlighted the imperative of collective action in improving the civil society landscape.
Lucas highlighted the need for active youth participation in the educational system and advocated for increased efforts to address existing gaps in education provision.
“Basically this is to ensure that the young people themselves should get involved in the educational system and to also educate them, which is one of the challenges that we currently have. On the subject matter, the education is relatively lacking,” added Nju Lucas.
Elizabeth Mende, a teacher at GPNS Likoko Membea, voiced concerns about the impact of the crisis on education, citing the pervasive influence of social media and its implications for youth perceptions of schooling.
Elizabeth emphasized the need for comprehensive strategies to counteract these negative influences and underscored the role of education stakeholders in safeguarding the right to education for all youth.
“With the crisis that erupted, with the social media too, it hasn’t helped because there is so much that the youths watch on TV, the Internet, and to them, it’s just a normal way of living, whereas it has an impact to the extent that it has affected even schools,” said Elizabeth Mende.
The symposium culminated in a call to action for sustained collaboration among stakeholders, CSOs, and youth leaders to address the multifaceted challenges confronting education in the South West region.
