Bamenda: Women Leaders revisiting the Women Peace and Security Agenda in the fight against GBV

Participants 

The experiences and role of women and girls during and after conflict is different from what boys and men go through. Women and girls have been targets of war,  constantly subjected to different forms of gender-based violence.


In commemoration of International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, Common Action for Gender Development, COMAGEND, have held talks with women leaders in Bamenda to discuss the harmful practices suffered by women and girls in peace and conflict times and deliberate on how the Women, Peace and Security Agenda can be followed to  fight such obnoxious crimes perpetrated against women and girls.


COMAGEND'S Founder, Sally Mboumien 


The one day consultation meeting which took place on Saturday 18th June 2022, at COMAGEND office Savannah Junction, was facilitated by COMAGEND's founder, Sally Mboumien. Rape, incest, sexual harassment, female genital mutilation, child soldiers amongst others were identified by these women leaders as some of the harmful practices which are on the rise in a conflict like the one in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon.


These women in groups of five, discussed what the Women, Peace and Security agenda which are participation, prevention and protection means to them and how they have been able to use such agenda in cases of GBV.

Group session

Inclusion and meaningful participation of women on GBV, lending a voice to Adolescents Girls and Young Women, taking the opportunity to participate in decision making processes beginning from home to the community were among some of recommendations dished out by these women during the plenary session. 


The session had in attendance heads of Non-government organizations, traditional councilors, faith-based women leaders who aim at using their positions to protect the rights of women and girls during and after conflict.


Photo credit: COMAGEND.


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