At Women’s Day celebration: Defence minister reiterates gov’t’s resolve to empower women.

Minister Beti Asssomo presided over the event on behalf of the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. 

It was in the presence of the Secretary of State to the Minister of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Galax Yves Landry Etoga; Secretary of State to the Minister of Defence in charge of Ex-Servicemen and War Victims, Koumpa Issa; Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Rene Claude Meka; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, Said Kamsouloum, and many Generals and top officials of the ministry.

In his address, Minister Beti Assomo said the government submits to the argument of the United Nations for Women’s Day as a moment for reflection and activities along the theme calling for the scrutiny of various aspects of women’s rights and their ultimate participation in the national development efforts.

He said women’s rights to equality remains an ongoing struggle, adding that despite genuine efforts by the international community to achieve greater social justice and protection of human rights, and the determination of states to establish an enabling environment for the participation of all in citizenship, women’s aspiration are still being undermined by various obstacles such as ancestral customs, cultural trends and certain religious practices.

“We need to identify the difficulties that women still face and put in place a range of actions. This March 8 is not a day devoted only to celebration, but it is a day on which we must reflect on the problems that undermine the existence of women,” he said. 

He said under the theme: “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”, action is being taken in Cameroon to promote women's rights.  

“In Cameroon, the Head of State, His Excellency Paul Biya, has been taking actions for years, putting in place public policies for the development of women. In his speech to young people on February 10, 2024, he called on women to seize the opportunities offered by the import-substitution policy,” Minister Beti Assomo stated. 

At the Ministry of Defence, he said, “we are putting in place this gender policy to ensure that women are not discriminated against, in order to empower them”. 

It should be noted that women are central to the workings of the Ministry of Defence, occupying strategic positions and sparing no effort to accomplish the missions assigned to them.

Recognising the woman as mother of humanity

Speaking earlier in a welcome address, Colonel Mbom Yek Mpaloa Edwige, Deputy Director of Sports, Cultural and Artistic Activities at the Ministry of Defence, and MINDEF Women's Representative, emphasised that "the woman, mother of humanity is recognised for her dynamism and on this day”.

“As is customary, there were several activities at MINDEF relating to the celebration of women's rights. First of all, I would like to thank the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who is putting in place an efficient policy for women in Cameroon,” she said. 

She added that the aim of Women’s Day is to resolve the problems that are undermining the development of women throughout the world. 

“On a national level, the March 8 celebration takes place against a backdrop of the introduction of the policy of major achievements, the implementation of the presidential plan for the reconstruction of regions affected by the crisis, the promotion of entrepreneurship, the fight against tribalism, and the fight against violence against women and girls," Colonel Mbom added

This year’s theme, she said, “calls for more action and reaction, because while much has been done, much remains to be done to curb the phenomena that disproportionately affect women and girls”. 

“By focusing the government's interest on the development of women, we urgently need to put in place a synergy of efforts. All women must continue to work for a world where there is equality between men and women, and each of us has a role to play in Cameroon's development," Colonel Mbom noted.

The event was marked by feasting and merriment, animation by a musician and a comedian.