Cameroonian Women Committed To End Years of Conflict In Trouble Regions
Though holding within the context of the armed conflict in Anglophone Cameroon, women from all over the nation and beyond met in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon for a three-day National Women’s Convention for Peace with more than 37 women’s groups taking part in the deliberations.
For the first time, Cameroonian women have left the streets where they usually demonstrate, to the dialogue table, where they met with key stakeholders to discuss ways forward out of the political impasse that has gripped the nation from Boko Haram in the far north to the armed conflict and threats of a breakaway by Ambazonians in the Southwest and Northwest regions, Southern Cameroons.
For three days, the women brainstormed on:
1.Understanding the role of women in the peace process
2. Historical Dynamics of women’s engagement in conflict and peace process
3. Women, peace and civil society: What role, what actions and for what results.
4. Women in Cameroon’s peace processes: a cross-sectional analysis of women’s contributions in the Far North, North West and South-West Regions.
5. Strategic Dialogue as a tool for conflict resolution.
6. Strategic Dialogue as a tool for conflict resolution: definition, conditions, and implications.
7. Dialogue initiatives that have been undertaken by Cameroon to overcome security crises: what results?
8.prospects for continuous dialogue towards sustainable peace in Cameroon.
9. Conflict-Related sexual violence, psychosocial support, and trauma healing
10. Forms of sexual violence during conflict
11. DDR and reintegration: for whom? How? When?
12. The importance of psychosocial support for victims of conflict. These and many more topics related to peacebuilding will be dissected by women grouped to discuss during different workshops.
A leader and peace crusader, Obah Rose opines that “I also envisage an inclusive approach towards peacebuilding, with women especially focusing on being intentional in their actions in peacebuilding. I also look forward to the warring parties giving women the opportunity to broker peace through ensuring a conducive atmosphere for genuine dialogue with relevant parties in conflict especially in the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West Regions.”
Dr. Sakah Bernard, Managing Director of Big Steps Outreach Network says that such an avenue has given grassroots women the opportunity to make their voices heard.
On the sidelines of the National Women’s Convention for Peace in Yaounde, Yaa Gladys Shang Viban- Women leader, Inspirational Speaker and Peoplepreneur spoke to CNA on the contribution of women in peacebuilding. She says that the women must be involved in preventing atrocities by working to silence the guns, engage in protection, psychosocial care among others.
In the opening ceremony on Friday, July 29, 2021, women leader, Yvonne Muma from Cameroon Women’s Peace Movement, said
“Women, daughters, sisters, cousins, mothers, etc have protested, lamented, and buried their children, brothers, and husbands. However, this is time women are coming together to celebrate them. Although women have done several things since 7 years ago when they were introduced to new arm conflicts causing them to fear, this convention is the first event bringing all of them together from the 58 divisions in Cameroon. Women are hoping this convention:1. Enhances understanding of the pain women face during conflicts.2. Renew women’s enthusiasm in the leadership3. Development of diverse partnerships for concrete action.4. Women to feel involved in political issues. Hence, if one woman’s voice is too weak, 1000 women will pass across the message.”
The convention is sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Germany.
Also read: National Women’s Convention For Peace: A Crucial Day Two Workshop – Cameroon News Agency
