CAGEAD, ICAN Launch She Builds Peace Campaign: Invites All To Stand By Women In Peace Building.
By Raymond Dingana
The Center
For Advocacy In Gender Equality and Action For Development, CAGEAD working in
closed collaboration with the International Civil Society Network ICAN has
launched a campaign dubbed ; She Stands For Peace#StandWithWomenPeaceBuilders.
During the launching that took place at the EPIC Center, Ayaba Street in
Bamenda, Thursday March 13,2020 with several women groups answering present, Madam Waah Clotilda Andiensa of CAGEAD underscored the need for the
population to stand by women in their efforts to build peace.
“We call on all stakeholders in the ongoing conflict, religious and
traditional authorities and the international community to recognise women as
key actors within the civil society family who can lay the foundation of long
lasting peace. To stand with Women Peace Builders, we are looking at four
different pillars. The first is safety meaning the powers that be should ensure
that Women Peace Builders are safe as they go out. The second is recognition,
third is appreciation and the last point is to provide resources for the
sustainability of their work”. Madam Waah Clotilda Andiensa
intimated.
She
furthered that, in every crisis situation, women suffer the most and are also
the first to raise the alarm as was the case in the early days of the current
socio political crisis rocking the two English speaking regions of the country.
She said more women are needed in Peace Building, more women leaders to sustain
Peace and Development and more men to stand by them.
Madam Waah Clotilda Andiensa of CAGEAD |
Women Peace Builders have not been finding it easy on the field, the challenges have been enormous, but the women say, peace is priceless and they just have to go after it. Rose Obah is National President of Cameroon Community Media Network which is also peace oriented with women playing an important role. She however cried foul saying Women Peace Builders are ignored and undermined and that, some women have actually put the blame for their inability to build peace on the men not knowing that, their efforts are actually being watered down by fellow women.
Rose Obah ,National President of Cameroon Community Media Network-CCMN |
To Dr. Gladys Focho, Women Peace Builders also face the challenge of finances, multi tasking, resistance from spouses and the list is long. Despite the challenges, Dr. Gladys said as Women Peace Builders, have been trying to bring normalcy among internally displaced by providing shelter, food among others saying if some of these things are not provided, many may be tempted to go back into the bushes and start fighting again.
According to
Dr. Wirba Hassan, Regional Delegate of Women Empowerment and the Family, the
delegation is coming as a facilitator and a structure to accompany Women Peace
Builders in their effort to win back peace. He added that, they have been
working with partner organizations and those of the UN System in accompanying
women who are internally displaced by giving them psycho social support
providing them with dignity kids and also help those who are in difficulty to
see how they can be able to give them some life skills that they can use to
generate income to enable them sustain their lives.
Dr. Wirba Hassan, Regional Delegate of Women Empowerment and the Family |
The Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action For Development, CAGEAD has as mission to empower women and girls for sustainable development. It has a vision to see a society where skilled women and girls are making informed decisions and effectively participating in the development process of their communities. Grass root mobilization, school based interventions among others are some of the strategies put in place to attain the vision.
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