UN Women builds the capacity of 25 girls in leadership and participation in HIV / AIDS decision-making in Cameroon.
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From 3 to 5 July 2019, 25 young girls from the Cameroon Network of Adolescents and Positive Youth (RECAJ+), took part in the training organized by UN Women Cameroon at Departmental Hôtel at Mbalmayo. The aim was to provide participants with tools to strengthen their participation in decision-making on HIV/AIDS policies and programs in Cameroon; to instill leadership skills by integrating gender aspects into their actions to ensure that the gender dimension is better taken into account.
Bouchard ZAMBO, Gender and HIV Expert at UN Women, highlighted that with the "Leave No One Behind" policy, it is important to involve adolescents, especially young girls, in programs and projects to fight HIV and AIDS so that their needs are better taken into account, thus fully contributing to the achievement of the three "90. »
During these three days, participants were trained on women's leadership modules, administrative management of a community-based organization, therapeutic education and counselling for tertiary and primary prevention, as well as opportunities for participation in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Patrick FOUDA, President of RECAJ+, took the opportunity to present the Network's 2018-2022 national strategy, whose priority areas of intervention are health and well-being, community mobilization and organization of the AIDS response, legal protection for adolescents and young people living with HIV and the promotion and protection of young girls living with HIV. In the same the network, which they believe will better integrate gender issues into their activities and practice more effective management.
As part of the implementation of its Strategic Note for 2018-2020, the United Nations entity for gender equality and women's empowerment is supporting the government and its partners in mainstreaming gender in HIV and AIDS programs and projects. It supports organizations of women living with HIV/AIDS to develop joint action programs, define solutions that are better adapted to their priorities and strengthen their participation. The entity also supports women in developing their leadership skills and in reviewing national strategies, laws and policies related to the pandemic. The training followed by RECAJ+ will thus enable girls and adolescents to maintain a concerted advocacy for public policies that protect their rights and lives.