Registration of Female Voters in Cameroons East Region
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Registration of Female Voters in Cameroon’s East Region
Over 400 women and girls in marginalized and under-represented communities in Bertoua have been registered to vote during a UN Women-led campaign intended to awaken political consciousness in the target population.
Bertoua, 06 March 2018: Indigenous women in Bertoua came out in hundreds to register to vote in response to calls to participate in political activities. They queued to do biometric registration in the Manjou council hall, determined to have a say in the choice of their leaders when polling booths will open.
“Every woman is a citizen of Cameroon, and as citizens we have rights and responsibilities. Voting is a civic duty for people above 18 years”, said UN Women Program Coordinator, Paulette Beat Songué, to the women. The Governor’s representative at the event, Claudine Nga Biloa, highlighted that the East region cannot be left behind in the fight against discrimination and in the drive to achieve 50/50 gender equality by 2030.
“Your votes will count if you participate. Do not say voting will take much of your time because you can vote and still have time to do your work”, Claudine Nga Biloa appealed.
To Elections Cameroon’s East Regional Delegate, Nazaire Beika, women have the power to decide what happens in Cameroon but cannot use that opportunity if they do not participate in local and national elections. “Government needs more women to complement men in decision-making. For the first time, we have so many women seeking our services in my area of operation. The mobilization has really been great” said Nazaire Beika.
The campaign is coming against the backdrop of low women’s political participation in the region which has 4 female mayors out of 33, 22 assistant mayors out of 70, 4 parliamentary seats out of 11, and 4 seats in the senate out of 10 according to recent government statistics.
It aligns with the objectives of the Women’s Leadership and Political Participation Program of UN Women. The first phase prioritized capacity building of female political actors, experience sharing and sensitization through Gender Cafés organized in the 10 regions of the country.
The Bertoua outing is the 3rd lap of the voter registration campaign which was launched in February 2018 by the Country office with the objective to mobilize 2000 women to register to vote before Elections Cameroon’s March deadline.
By Alice Tatah