Preaching the Gospel of Gender Equality to the People of Mudeka, Wfac's Team write

"Living in this little creek has made people forget and abandoned us", says the V.P of GBHS #Mudeka, "we need this education for empowerment and development"

On June 19, Michel and Nancy of WFAC visited Mudeka for their usual community outreach and educational talks to youth and women's groups. Unlike the usual speaking to women, the  visit this time had participation from men, youth, boys and elder, as well as women who had previously attended the May workshop along with some new faces who joined them for a first time.

Michel Bélanger-Roy, WFAC’s legal intern, opened the floor by talking about marriage and the law in Cameroon. The workshop was designed to inform married women of their rights and responsibilities. As Michel and Nancy stressed out, marriage can often protect women in vulnerable positions, but it is essential for women to know their rights in order to enforce them. He also pointed out that it is important to distinguish a marriage that is recognized by law, one that is not, and one that is only recognized by customary law. However, as he explained, whatever the situation you are in, there are many different ways to protect yourself from uncertainty. Some examples were given, such as registering property in your name, drafting a will or making a living together agreement.

Nancy Makeoh, WFAC’s community outreach coordinator, took over and gave a presentation on gender equality. After discussing the differences between gender and sex, she pointed out the many ways in which gender inequalities persist today in Cameroon, and the consequences of these inequalities on our lives. Drawing from various perspectives, she insisted on the many advantages of attaining gender equality for women and for society as a whole. Thus, she presented the social and economic advantages, and talked about the role of stereotypes in the evolution of gender equality. She also emphasized the role of education in achieving gender equality. Finally participants were invited to be part of the change themselves by teaching others around them on the advantages of gender equality.

This introduced Michel’s presentation about the importance of education. By various examples, Michel discussed with participants how education was closely linked to equality, employment, politics, economy, health and safety. Participants talked about their heroes and realized how education had played an important role in their accomplishments. Finally, Michel narrowed the topic down to the education of girls, and showed how education was a key to improve their lives, but also those of their families and communities.

The workshop ended with a discussion about the struggles of poor families to provide a good education to their children. A group picture was taken to immortalize this rewarding afternoon with the inspiring women of Mudeka.

For more info about Wfac's activities / Community Outreach, contact: wfacbuea@ymail.com or click here 

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Member States overlook Agreed Language on Women’s Rights at Beijing+20

I have always wondered whether when it comes to [inter/governmental ] negotiations on military spending, do member states overlook agreed language in the same way as they do on women’s rights and gender equality. 

For several decades, state authorities have compromised, overlooked and marginalised women’s issues. They give more precedence to military expenses, economy, bilateral / multilateral trade agencies and infrastructural development and little attention to gender responsive actions. Most states have failed to realised that for growth to be attained, efforts must be made to address the gender gaps.

BEING AFRICAN AND A YOUNG WOMAN, WHAT TO SAY FOR IT?

Catherine Nyambura at UNGA speaking on ACCPD

I am African and a young woman, these identities for some reason need to be emphasized, why is that? Catherine Nyambura reflects on what it means being an African Young Woman on this day - African Youth Day

Our society a few years ago would have me explain what am doing, thinking and I can just take the stage (in this case - this virtual stage) to dare air my opinion.

A WEEK AT THE UN MEETING WITH AFRICAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES

pic source: AAI

Meeting with some African Permanent Representatives (PRs) to the United Nations (UN) in New York (NY) was quite empowering and enriching. As a youth leader, having been involved with the post2015 process for over 20 months and having also been working at grassroots with young people for community good; I found our experience as youth task force, meeting with PRs in NY very relevant and timely. Especially as, very soon world leaders will be negotiating the adoption of the next development goals, and also since most at times there are hardly such opportunities for grassroots activists like myself to engage and share lessons with our leaders, particularly those in NY. 

At UNGA 69th, Member States Promise the World Again

September 22 - at the UN headquarters in NY,  along with world leaders,  I joined colleagues from the CSOs and public / private sectors, at the 69^th session of the UN's General Assembly and Special Session to the follow-up of the ICPD PoA,  to listen to member states renew their promises - to invest in girls education, promote their SRHR services and need, as well commit to the further implementation of the ICPD PoA review, including the findings of the Secretary General & regional ICPD review outcomes into the post2015 framework.

This is not the first time, we have listened and heard governments make promises. 20 years ago, 179 member states assembled in Cairo and in a consensus they committed to promote gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as protecting and promoting women’s reproductive health and rights.

A Young Cameroonian Woman's Reflections on CPD47

The Cameroon we want by 2035 is certainly not a Cameroon that rejects and abuses peoples’ rights. It is certainly also not a country that doesn’t realize that it is a development profit to involve and invest in young people, including aspects that promote the full realization of their sexual and reproductive health rights.

Last month, April, I left my little city, Buea, for New York to attend the 47th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD). Joining over 300 youth activists across the globe, together we spent a week hopping from one UN building and/or corridor to the next, to one government leader/head to the other,  exchanging thoughts and opinions, and / or contributing to inputs on language around the negotiated document. There were moments that we spent several hours and sometimes staying up till 2am or 7am, monitoring each move for opportunities to share our voices and imposed our presence and negotiated language to government authorities at the outcome documents. Which were either written on paper, text and / or narrated orally.  And when we were not at the corridors lobbying, we were either attending side meetings or were active on social media, engaging with young people around the world, garnering their local support and urging them to amplify our voices locally and widely.

This year’s CPD marked an important moment in development history. Firstly, it is 20 years after Cairo consensus of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA). Secondly, it negotiated outcome document shall play an important role in influencing the post2015 development review. Like most of my colleague, particularly those in the civil society, I had great expectations and hopes on the outcome document. I knew for sure that world leaders, including Cameroon government will be more progressive and positive in articulating strong human rights language, especially that which addresses youth and women empowerment, adolescents and young people’s sexual and reproductive health rights and services.

Having realized that, the regional outcome documents - Addis Abeba Declaration was quite progressive in  the promotion amongst other, young people’s sexual and reproductive health rights and services, access to comprehensive sexuality education.  I was very confident of the CPD47 negotiated outcome document to be a landmark of the century. Sadly, my expectations were a little shattered when Cameroon (negotiators) were far from admitting to existing commitments that were agreed upon at the ICPD, 20 years ago in Cairo, as well as last September 2013 in Addis Abeba. They rejected every language that had sexual rights and reproduction that it was a masked for SOGIE (sexual orientation and gender identity and expression). And instead aligned and led a team of conservative groups of some African countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Sudan (excluding the Holy See, Rome), all under the banner of "African group" to reject on any language on rights. It was very devastating and at the same time surprising for me, seeing Cameroon of all nations leading an African Revolution against Rights at the UN headquarters suddenly becoming friends with countries that have got little or no mutual relationship.

Inasmuch as I do recognized Cameroon’s timid approach towards advancing gender equality, youth and women's empowerment rights, particularly in women's political leadership and education, With the experience at New York, I wonder if it indeed cares about the people, especially the women, youth and girls, and whether it is ready to realizing vision 2035 that seeks to make Cameroon an emerging, democratic and united nation in diversity by 2035.

What do YOU think about abortion?

In one of the International Family Planning Perspectives, Volume 29, Number 1, March 2003 - it revealed that one in five young urban women have had unsafe abortion, many at least once performed by a physician or nurse. What has the state done to ensure women and girls have safe abortion? 

ABORTION – they say, it is religiously and morally wrong. It has never been a human right even under international human rights instruments; it violates the most fundamental human right to life. And so on, the story continues…

Before I decided to write on this topic, I have experienced several confrontations as a sexuality educator– both positive and negative ones.

I have even engaged on sexuality conversation with all sort of personalities; clergies, academics, entrepreneurs, social workers, entertainers, politicians,  health professionals, artists, religiouslists, activists etc.; each of whom having a strong voice for change. A voice that seeks development, democracy, good governance, improved livelihood, education, good health, leadership, security and safety, and even gender equality…, but not that which supports women and girls being able to get reliable information about and access to safe abortion methods, information on how to induce a medical abortion and women’s  sexual and reproductive health services. Whereas, this is equally a human concern like any other issue that demands human intervention. 

Like many societies, the law in Cameroon supports this non-sensitivity towards women’s sexual rights. For instance,  the Cameroon Penal Code, Section337(1)  states: Any woman procuring or consenting to her own abortion shall be punished with imprisonment for from fifteen days to one year or with fine of from five thousand to two hundred thousand francs or with both such imprisonment and fine.

Some 3 to 4 years ago, I participated in a door-to-door Female Condom peer education project here in Buea. This was part of the joint Universal Access to Female Condom (UAFC) program. I recalled in some of my female condoms educational talks, there were some boys who spoke so vociferously against the work we were doing. Alluding that it was making men feel honey as well as to encourage promiscuity. Conversely, the women seldom spoke and the few who even tried to speak made very few sentences which gave a feeling like, if they spoke, they would be scolded.  And all these perhaps was simply not be seen as the evil and bad one.

Again, just recently I wrote a post on facebook where I asked the question: what do you think about abortion? Like always, the responds from majority of my male friends felt it was a wrong deed and should not be encouraged.  

Therefore, you change agents; health, development, education advocates and activists, who crave to be heard, remember that in the same way you desire change, so too are women with their bodies. Women are better masters and decision-makers in controlling their body. Let women make the CHOICE!

To respond the question: what do you think about Abortion? I think and believe that should abortion be made legal, many of the risky reproductive health problems would reduce. 

This article was previously posted onYouth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights  WatchDog Page