Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development (CAGEAD)
June 2022 – The Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development (CAGEAD) continues to increase awareness about women peacebuilders and their work with diverse stakeholders including mayors, government administrators, local and traditional leaders, church leaders, and civil society organizations. At a convening on February 2, 2022, they signed commitments to stand with women peacebuilders with specific action points. For instance, one mayor will include the language of women peacebuilders in their budget; a journalist committed to allocate free space in newspapers and blogs for women peacebuilders; and a local flight agency pledged to a 5% discount for flights for women peacebuilders.
In addition, 25 women peacebuilders from seven divisions in the northwest region gathered on February 3, 2022 to increase their understanding of the She Builds Peace campaign pillars and how to integrate them into their advocacy and peacebuilding work. They will incorporate the campaign into local community peace clubs and track the levels of commitment made by the stakeholders who support them.
July 2020 – The Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development (CAGEAD) launched the She Builds Peace campaign in March 2020 in the Northwest region of Cameroon with a conference that brought together over 150 participants. The event aimed to brief the press, government officials, traditional rulers, academics, and civil society members on the campaign; start a discussion on the important work of women peacebuilders in Cameroon; and increase awareness of the security threats women peacebuilders face. One speaker described the consequences such security risks have on women peacebuilders and their families. Others highlighted best practices, challenges faced, and the roles women play when conducting peacebuilding work.
The conference featured a traditional dance from the Kom royal family and the performance of songs which call for men to drop their guns and give women the chance to bring peace to their communities. In addition, three CAGEAD youth ambassadors recited a women’s peace poem and performed a peace song.
The launch event mobilized the attendees, all of whom pledged to join the call to stand with women peacebuilders. The Regional Delegate for Women Empowerment and the Family, speaking on behalf of the government, said that he and his office will accompany CAGEAD and other women peacebuilders in their peacebuilding work in the Northwest region. Traditional rulers promised to encourage other men in their communities to allow their wives to join peace movements and to also support in any way they can. The event was widely publicized, resulting in many requests from various stakeholders for more information on the campaign and next steps.
Speakers Key Points:
- Oba Rose, the National Coordinator Cameroon Community Media Network- CCMN, highlighted challenges faced by female journalists and the network’s best practices for peacebuilding.
- Dr. Fochu, representing the University of Bamenda, spoke about the various risks that women peacebuilders face and the consequences these threats have on them and their families.
- Madame Foncham Gladys, representing the South West North West Women Taskforce, spoke on the role of women in peacebuilding and shared strategies on how to overcome challenges.
- The Regional Delegate for Women’s Empowerment and the Family, speaking on behalf of the government, urged women to join peacebuilding initiatives.
