CIPCRE Empowered women and youth to combat Gender-Based-Violence (GBV) in Bamenda, as part of activities commemorating the “16 days activism against GBV”.
In an effort to promote social cohesion and community development, CIPCRE organized a training on GBV for women and youth leaders. The event was in the context of the ongoing rehabilitation works Babadjou-Bamenda road, and in commemoration of the internationally celebrated 16 days activism against GBV which usually runs from the 25th of November to the 10th of December. With 2024’s theme being “Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls”, a training aiming at empowering women and youth/girl leaders, and some men representatives who can continue the fight against GBV in the communities were trained on GBV.
The training session which took place on the 05th of December 2024 in CIPCRE’s conference hall situated in Bayelle quarter, brought together more than 96 participants: including only 04 men, 22 women leaders, and 70 youth leaders from of Bamenda 1, Bamenda 2, and Bamenda 3. This giant event aimed to educate and empower women and youth leaders to become pivoting agents of change in preventing and responding to GBV cases.
In the course of the training, it was made to understand that GBV is a pervasive phenomenon affecting women and girls globally, and in Cameroon, GBV is a significant concern with many cases unreported. The training emphasized on the importance of recognizing and addressing GBV in all its forms, including; physical, emotional, sexual and socio-economic abuse.
As the training unfolded deeper, women and youth leaders were empowered to engage in active role in preventing GBV. They learned about the importance of consent, healthy relationships, and gender equality. Highlighting the forms, causes, consequences, intervention, and prevention of GBV. As the discussions went further, interesting points came from participants, giving some of the GBV causes in their quarters to be “Drug abuse and Poor parenting”.
It should be noted that this training session was organized in the context of the ongoing rehabilitation works on the Babadjou-Bamenda road. The road project which aims to improve road infrastructure and promote economic development, also seeks to address the many social issues affecting communities along the project corridor. Thus by empowering women and youth leaders to combat GBV, CIPCRE aims to contribute to a safer and equitable environment for all.
As the training drew to an end, the call for action to be taken by these participants was highlighted, urging all the participants to share knowledge and skill gained from the training with others in their communities. Women and youth leaders pledged to work together and create a safer and more equitable environment for all. The quarter head of Bayelle 1(Azinue Ngufor) who attended the training called on parents, and particularly men to pickup their responsibilities and co-opt positive parenting strategy in managing families, also making emphasizes for CIPCRE to double efforts on awareness raising activities in his quarter, terming lack of awareness as the main catalyst to rising GBV cases in the society.
This training session with women and youth leaders ignited another beginning of a broader initiative by CIPCRE in the fight against GBV in Bamenda, which is guaranteed by the organization’s plans to constantly conduct follow-ups, capacities reinforcement sessions, and to establish a network of community advocates to support GBV survivors.