Menchum: UNFPA Cameroon, Reach Out partner to edify community on gender-based violence.

The one-day sensitisation outreach took place at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church on July 13. It was organised by the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, in collaboration with the local nonprofit organisation, Reach Out Cameroon.

The awareness raising programme was organised as part of a project funded by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF.

The community outreach activity brought together members of the Catholic Women's Association, CWA, and a host of other members of the community.

Going by the UN agency tasked with improving reproductive and maternal health, the event is part of UNFPA stride towards ensuring a safer community by tackling GBV. 

According to UNFPA communication unit, the programme specifically focused on educating the participants about the various forms GBV can take, along with exploring the root causes that perpetuate the harmful phenomenon. 

Recognising the influential role certain community members play, the activity strategically targeted over 50 persons who were chosen due to their significant presence within Wum and their potential to be powerful agents of change.

During the programme, participants took the commitment to speak out against GBV and to advocate for positive change. They equally pledged to actively challenge societal norms that contribute to a culture of gender-based violence.

To Reach Out Cameroon officials present at the event, the collective commitment signifies a crucial step towards a future where women and girls in Wum feel safe and empowered.

It is worth noting that the awareness-raising event falls within the framework of a humanitarian project implemented by UNFPA Cameroon across the North West and South West regions. 

The project, funded by UN CERF, underscores the organisation’s unwavering dedication to fostering a more just and equitable society for all Cameroonians.

CERF is a humanitarian fund established by the UN General Assembly in 2006 to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts. 

The fund is replenished annually through contributions from governments, the private sector, foundations and individuals and constitutes a pool of reserve funding to support humanitarian action.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3173 of Friday July 19, 2024