UN Women Cameroon moderates high level conference on Women sports and Tourism
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UN Women Cameroon Country office Representative, Adama Moussa (center) moderates discussion on Women, sports and tourism. Photo: UN Women/Fajong Joseph
Within the framework of the ongoing 2016 Female African Nations cup in Cameroon, the World Tourism Organisation in partnership with the government of Cameroon and the African Football Federation held a high level conference under the theme “Women, sports, tourism: female sports events and the promotion of tourism destination in Africa."
The conference was launched by the Prime Minister and Head of Government Philemon Yang, personal representative of the Head of State Paul Biya.
Speaking during the conference, the Secretary General of World Tourism Organisation, Taleb Rifai, revealed that despite the fact that women occupy over 65 percent of jobs in the tourism industry, only 17 percent are placed in managerial positions. “we cannot continue to listen to voices that reduce and deprive women from their rights, even if they are coming from presidential candidates. We need to make sure that women are respected in every domain,” said Taleb Rifai.
Cameroon Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Bello Bouba Maigari, highlighted the growing interests of female African football, adding that if well managed, it can greatly contribute in in scaling up revenue collected from female sport tourism. “It is important to remove all discriminatory practices in sports and ensure equality between male and female footballers” the Minster added.
UN Women Cameroon Country Office Representative, Adama Moussa, moderated the first round table discussion which focused on stakes and challenges in organising female sporting activities. Adama Moussa, like his panellist concluded that women should be involved in to play key role in using sports and leisure as a tool for sustainable peace and development, that stereotypes have to change, and more investment in female sporting activities and the same remuneration and bonuses be equally paid to both the male and female players.
UN Women Cameroon has capitalised on the Female African Nations cup to sensitise the general public on the need for gender equality and the elimination of violence against women within the football arena in Africa.