Event held on the 19th, October 2022
Due to the ongoing armed crisis that has plagueg the two English speaking regions of Cameroon, victims have suffered from conflict issues, lost of humans and properties.
It is noticed that most of the survivor's are members of religious groups, njangi groups, cultural groups etc. COEDEM and BAWAC Cameroon found it necessary to empower more groups on collective conflict prevention efforts and strategic alliance to strengthen women's groups for maximum impact. COEDEM is an association based in the North West region and BAWAC Cameroon & CONTRUDE are both based in the south west region.
The objective of this networking is to strengthen group leaders of social, cultural, political, economic and religious groups on the ability and resources that the community needs to survive, adapt and thrive for a peaceful now and future.
-22 grassroots group leaders were mobilised from the various divisions of the North West region.
- COEDEM office was prepared for the training.
-BAWAC Cameroon and COEDEM trained the women on the following:
1.) Countering violent extremism: Protection, respect and fulfillment of all human Rights is a powerful weapon. Inclusion of all intervention and development related to violence against women.
2.)Hate speech: to harness the voices of women's groups to agree on roles and responsibilities in conflict prevention to combat hate speech and xenophobia in communities and on media.
3.) Promote peace building and initiatives collectively for sustainability and stability.
4.) Human Rights in conflict prevention: To strengthen people to become more tolerant, avoid hate speech and introduce the values of leadership, alternative conflict resolutions related to the crisis faced.
5.) Legal framework in conflict prevention : structures protecting women and children like conflict related Gender-based violence, Human Rights in conflict prevention, conflict analysis, Gender mainstreaming and peace building processes. Such as, International levels( CEDAW rules), universal declaration of Human Right. Vietnam rules, Beijing conference, Regional instruments, Cameroon laws, the Cameroon penal code, family quotes, North West norms etc.
Discoveries in the workshop:
- Every item of presentation was done in an interactive manner and the women where relaxed to ask questions.
- there were two male leaders from an economic and a youth group.
- the audience were very happy with the training and Empowerment. Many shared their experiences on
Gender -based conflict and sexual conflicts.
- All their worries, fears, threats, intimidations were handled through one on one dialogue approach to their satisfaction.
- the various group leaders promised to continue the networking to their group members, other groups, individuals, families and communities
- the take home message was " stay away from hate speech.
Challenges:
- need for more funds to network with other groups in the sub- divisions of the North West Region.
More trainings opportunities to build members capaties.
Not enough space if members were to be more.
