Alarming rate of Gender-Based Violence: Gov’t reveals 56 women killed this year!.

The member of government made known the figures during a ceremony to launch the 17th edition of the 16 days activism to end violence against women and girls. 

 Activities were launched November 27 at the Yaounde City Council.

The 16-day campaign, which started on November 25, will run till December 10. It is being observed under the theme: “Unite, Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls”.

The number of women killed has left stakeholders calling for urgent action to reverse the trend, which some are now saying is alarming. 

Violence against women reality in Cameroon

According to the member of government, “violence against women and girls is still a reality in Cameroon, and the data available on the subject are ample proof” of the situation on ground.

Minister Abena Ondoa added that “for some time now, there has been an upsurge in cases of extreme violence against women. How can we erase from our memories the atrocities experienced by some women in recent times in the hands of those with whom they share their lives within the family unit?” 

Despite the 56 deaths, the minister cited the recent case in Douala. According to the member of government, the aim of the campaign is to amplify actions aimed at preventing violence and to strengthen protection of rights of women and girls advocacy. 

Collective action to reverse trend

In the course of the 16-day activism, the minister said, actions will be “focusing on: raising awareness at all levels, starting with the family circle for non-violence, equality between men and women, respect for others; building the capacities of those involved in the domain among them social workers, medical staff, police, gendarmes as well as teachers”.

The campaign, she reiterated, will equally seek to promote women's economic empowerment and promote positive masculinity by encouraging men and boys to get involved in the fight against the scourge.

In this light, she talked of “integrating modules on equality and respect for one another into school curricula as well as working with associations and non-governmental organisations, the media and the private sector to reach the public”.

The celebration this year, she said, falls within a context marked by an increase in the humanitarian, environmental, security and economic violence against women.

 This, the minister said, must be addressed, be it at home, workplace or online.

Eroding GBV in society

GBV, the minister said, have social and economic consequences on victims and society as a whole. 

The Ministry and its partners, Prof Abena Ondoa added, are involved in awareness-raising and advocacy, capacity-building, prevention and protection. The minister also talked of the urgent need to promote the rights of the child.

Gov’t & instruments to end GBV

According to the minister, Cameroon has ratified almost all international and regional conventions and resolutions promoting human rights in general and women's rights in particular.

The principle of gender equality, the minister said, is affirmed in Cameroon's Constitution. 

She enthused that the legal framework for protecting women against attacks on their dignity and physical integrity has been strengthened with the adoption of Law  No. 2016/007 of July 12, 2016, on the Penal Code.

Draft bill against GBV in gestation

With the situation persisting, the minister disclosed that her ministry is drafting a bill against Gender-Based Violence, GBV. 

When the bill is adopted in parliament, she said, genuine advocacy will be intensified to better address the specific violence that has not yet been taken into account in current legislation.

The statistics of this year, the minister lamented, calls for collective action to address GBV, in line with the legal provisions ratified by the government.

Civil Society calls for urgent action

According to the Coordinator of the Gender Data Journalists Network, GDJN, Emmanuel Batake, the alarming rate of GBV signals the need for joint action to end the plague.

Batake said: “…the first solution is to raise awareness because no one is safe. It is also appropriate for public authorities to communicate on the evolution of the situation by reminding the population of the provisions provided for by the law so that no one is unaware of them”.

16 days activism in brief

The campaign was first launched in 1991 by activists from the Women Global Leadership Institute to protect the rights of women and girls. 

It also has as goal, to prevent and eliminate violence against women and to push for collective actions to put an end to abuse of women in any form.