Cameroon: Increasing acts of violence perpetrated against women, girls- MINPROFF

By Vera Fon

Violence against women and girls is taking on a worrying and unacceptable scale in our society, and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has cried out. Since the beginning of the year, cases of maltreatment, rape, ritual crimes, murders, and killings targeting women and girls are said to have hit the headlines, causing shock, grief, and horror.

The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa in a press briefing on June 15, 2023, lamented the increasing number of murders and acts of violence perpetrated against women and girls in Cameroon.

The press briefing which took place in Yaounde, Center region of Cameroon was aimed at reiterating to all women and girls of the country, the determination of the government to put an end to the inhuman butchery.

According to Minister Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa, the Cameroonian government will continue to implement family and mental life education programs as well as positive parenting programs and accelerate the implementation of the National Strategy to combat Gender-Based violence.

“Under the very high impetus of the head of State, and the coordination of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, we intend to intensify the denunciation of perpetrators and set up structures for this purpose. We equally intend to promote the culture of peace, living together, and the rule of law,” she stated.

“Through me, the Government of Cameroon is taking this opportunity to rejoice over the happy outcome that would have led to the tragic disappearance of some thirty women abducted by separatists in the North West on May 20, 2023, and condemns this pernicious instrumentalization of women,” she continued.