Young Muslim girls receive support in development and security challenges
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The Resident Representative of UN Women Cameroon, Adama Moussa has pledged to support young Muslim girls in meeting the challenges of modernity and development.
Participants at the workshop in Yaounde: Photo credit: UN Women, Fajong Joseph
“Our mandate in Cameroon is also focused on protecting and promoting the socio economic, political and cultural rights of all women, including young Muslim girls”, Adama Moussa stated.
The President of the Council of Imams and Muslim Dignitaries in Cameroon, Dr Moussa Oumarou, highlighted some of the challenges faced by young Muslim girls in Cameroon.
“Violence, exploitation, abuses, early marriages and the use of young Muslim girls by the Boko Haram terrorist group as suicide bombers are some of the challenges which we must all overcome,” Dr Moussa underlined.
The Minister of Women’s empowerment, Pr. Marie Therese Abena Ondoua, said that the government is determined to support the socio-economic and political empowerment of young Muslim girls and women in Cameroon. “We are very conscious that Cameroon cannot attain the SDGs and become an emerging Nation by 2035 if women and particularly when the young Muslim girl is refused her basic rights like that of education”, the Minister explained.
Group photo including Ministers of Public Health, Communication, Women’s Empowerment and Resident Representatives of UN Women Cameroon and UNFPA |Photo credit: UN Women, Fajong Joseph
The workshop which was aimed at raising awareness with religious leaders, traditional rulers, parents, Muslim girls and NGOs working with Muslim girls on the challenges faced by the Muslim young girl brought together over 200 participants from all walks of life.