Cameroon commemorates the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, and kicks off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence Campaign

UN Women Cameroon in collaboration with the other agencies, government and civil society organized the official launch of the 16 days activism against gender based violence.

Date: Wednesday, 25 November 2015

Cross section of participants during launch of 16 days activism in Cameroon. Photo credit : J Fajong /UN Women Cameroon

Yaounde 25 2015 - The Cameroon Minister of Women’s empowerment and the family Marié Theres Abena Ondoua has called on the family, educational, religious and private institutions in Cameroon to double efforts in the crusade to end violence against women and girls. The Minister also called on men and boys to join the bandwagon to fight against gender based violence.

The Minister was speaking this Wednesday November 25, 2015 during the official ceremony to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and girls and the launch of the 16 Days of activism against Gender based violence campaign.

The Minister also used the occasion to decry the use of young girls as suicide bombers by terrorist groups in Cameroon.

Hundreds of participants pose for family photo with Ministers, UN Women Representative, UN agencies and diplomatic corpe ofter kick off of 16 days activism campaign in Yaounde.Photo credit : J Fajong /UN Women Cameroon

The message of the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki –moon was delivered by the representative of the UN system Coordinator to Cameroon, calling for collective action to put an end to violence against women.

“Let us join forces to end this crime, promote full gender equality and realize a world where women and girls enjoy the safety they deserve – for their sake and for all of humanity”, The SG message stated.

The official kick off of the campaign by the Minister was preceded by a joint conference between the government, UN system and the civil society organization on the distance covered in ending gender based violence in Cameroon.