Cameroon commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
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UN Women Cameroon Representative delivers UN Women’s Executive Director’s statement during official launch of 16 Days activism. Photo: UN Women/Fajong Joseph
Yaoundé, November 28, 2016. The United Nations System (UNS) in collaboration with the government of Cameroon and the civil society organization commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of violence against women and also launch the 16 days of activism against gender based violence on Friday, 25 November 2016 in Yaounde.
During the event, both the government and the United Nations System in Cameroon underscored the need to scale up resources as an effective means to end violence against women.
Speaking at the event, Cameroon Minister of Women’s empowerment and the family, Pr Marie Therese Abena Ondoa said “the success of our collective actions in eliminating violence against women are based on three key conditions; permeant implication of all-men, boys women, enhancement of universal access of women to education for the defense of their rights and the mobilization of resources.” The Minister added that “If men and boys adhere to the HeForShe campaign which the Prime Minister launched in Cameroon in August 2016, violence against women will be successfully eliminated”.
Participants group Photo. Photo: UN Women/Fajong Joseph
While delivering the message of the UN Secretary General, Dr Felicite Chebinda, representative of the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Cameroon, called on governments to show their commitments by dramatically increasing national spending in all relevant areas, including in support of women’s empowerment and civil society organizations.
The Representative of UN Women Cameroon, Mr. Adama Moussa, presented the Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women which reinforced the theme. “Experts are unanimous that the benefit of ending violence against women and girls would far outweigh the investment necessary. We know that even relatively small-scale investments that are timely and well targeted can bring enormous benefits to women and girls and to their wider communities”, he said.
Beside the official launch which highlighted the urgent need to scale up financing in efforts to end violence against women in Cameroon, the campaign is integrated in the ongoing Female African Nations cup, and the University community for sensitization on the need to eliminate gender based violence amongst others.