Pathways for Women’s Empowerment and Development (PaWED)

Pathways for Women’s Empowerment and Development (PaWED) organized a She Builds Peace campaign launch event in Yaoundé for women peacebuilders to present their work, network and develop partnerships. The participants agreed to collaboratively advocate to authorities for the safety, fulfilment of obligations, appreciation and resourcing (SOAR) of women peacebuilders. Following their participation at the launch event, the Cameroon Human Rights Commission expressed its interest in working to promote women’s participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and to work more with women in producing national human rights reports. As a response to the launch event, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family invited PaWED to a workshop on the second National Action Plan for the implementation of the UNSCR1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Cameroon. Finally, the Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon pledged his country’s continued support to ICAN and WASL members in Cameroon. Many others who became aware of the campaign through radio and television publicity contacted PaWED to find out more and express their willingness to collaborate and participate in future activities.

As part of its campaign activities, on June 13, 2021 PaWED distributed thirty-five bags of fertilizer to vulnerable grassroots women in Akum Santa Subdivision of the North-West Region of Cameroon. The project aimed to highlight the economic and social impact of peacebuilding work by integrating economic empowerment, livelihood recovery opportunities and SGBV prevention at the grassroots. PaWED also liaised with local administrative officers to conduct field surveys on the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons and assisted other organizations to facilitate workshops on the localization of the UNSCR 1325. Finally, PaWED’s Founder, Nicoline Nwenushi Tumasang Wazeh, engaged in informal talks with women parliamentarians to evaluate their knowledge and interest in the WPS agenda in Cameroon.