Visionary Reports

They don’t want to be limited as a result of their sex.

Improving the living standard of women and making their voices heard was the core of a meeting organized by the Women for Change Cameroon (Wfac) in Douala on Monday March 2, 2020. The  meeting that came on the heels of the 64^th session of the  commission on the Status of women (CSW64)  to take place in New York from the 9-20 of march , the meeting brought together over 100 gender equality rights activist including adolescence girls from across the central African region including Chad and  Congo. The meeting also saw the presentations on the road map covered so far after 25 years of the Beijing conference. In addition,  the women also brainstormed on how to enable women attain their full potentials. While appreciating the Cameroon government for steps taken towards upgrading the lives of women, they also challenged the government to do more as some of the decisions are in papers and implementation is still slow. They said women should be given the opportunity to tell their stories and partake in decision making process.  

According to the Executive Director of women for Change Cameroon (Wfac), Madam Zoneziwoh Mbengue Wondie, it is the 3^rd time they are organizing such a meeting to ensure that women bring their ideas together so that they will have one voice during the upcoming 64 session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York. She said it was necessary for the Cameroon government to do more in taking more steps in eradication of some of those cultural, societal and traditional roles ascribed to women which make them not to attain their full potentials.  In her words “we want to see Cameroon as a reference in positive gender transformative norms and advancing gender equality. We want Cameroon to advance the growth of women’s right, not just putting them in positions but making their voices heard wherever they find themselves.”

GINA ESONG

 Reaction            

“Women should be seen and heard” Sally Mboumien- Civil Society  Activist

“Women are been discriminated upon because of their sexuality, most decision are taken in such a way that most women don’t develop their full potentials. We are adding our voices to ensure there is gender equality in the society. Gender are ascribes roles by the society to sooth their needs, so such ascribed roles should not oppress a particular sex. There should be no discrimination, no sidelining, no subordination and oppression. Every human being should be allowed to attain their full potentials. I want to use this opportunity to plead with the government of Cameroon to ensure that women are not only seen but heard. They should create an enabling environment to ensure that every woman attain her full potentials. Women should be at the forefront of every decision making position.  The government of Cameroon has done more but in papers it is high time such beautiful decisions should be put in practice. The government should bring the civil society on board for an effective implementation and follow up and feedback”.