Gov’t recommits to protect widows rights, properties.

The assurance was made during a ceremony organised in Yaounde, Monday, by the Policemen’s Wives Association, POWA. The ceremony was to mark the pioneer edition of the International Day of National Security Widows. 

The event held at the National Advanced Police School, NAPS. It was chaired by the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Prof Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa. 

The event unfolded under the watchful eyes of the founding President of POWA, Philomène Mbarga Nguelé; the Secretary General of the General Delegation for National Security, Commissioner Dominique Baya; and the Commander of NAPS, Commissioner Tang Enow Lawrence Oben, 

Government assures support

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Abena Ondoa assured the widows that the principal mission of the ministry she heads is to protect women’s and children’s rights.

“Widows in Cameroon still face numerous challenges, including confiscation of property, stigmatisation, degrading and dehumanising traditional rites. She is sometimes considered as a bearer of darkness and curses and sometimes a witch,” Minister Abena Ondoa revealed.

She said following international recommendations from the United Nations, UN, and provisions from the National Development Strategy, NDS30, the state has put in place adequate measures to protect women and children, especially widows. 

Minister Abena Ondoa added that her ministry works in collaboration with the association of female lawyers in Cameroon who offer judicial assistance to women in distress all over the national territory.

She said the ministry regularly organises training workshops, conferences and seminars on widows’ rights in the official languages as well as several other local languages that are widespread. 

The member of government added that there are also several other documents, flyers, books, and a collection of communication tools that are handed to widows in such occasions.

All these, the minister pointed out, is in a bid to educate the widows and equip them with valuable information and knowledge.

Minister Abena Ondoa also advised parents to be considerate when levying bride price on children as exorbitant bride prices can sometimes push children into cohabitation, which is bad in the long run.

She called on couples and widows to make sure they have the necessary civil status certificates such as marriage, birth and death certificates, which are often handy in legal proceedings to establish status and property rights.

Importance of widows’ rights

As explained by the Sub Director in Charge of Protection and Promotion of Children’s Rights at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Jean-Baptiste Nyebel, widows in Cameroon still face numerous challenges.

Nyebel said a good number of women are linked to lack of knowledge and information on the available mechanisms put in place by the State for their protection and that of their children, in the event of the demise of their husbands.

He encouraged widows to know their rights and administrative procedures relating to pension, death benefits and the rights of their children.

According to Nyebel, knowhow on civil status documents and a mastery of the process of their establishment is indispensable for widows.

“With the right information, widows have power and they will know how to manage themselves and take care of their families,” he said.

For the National Secretary General of POWA, Gouleu Sophie Estelle, the sensitisation falls in line with efforts geared towards the economic empowerment of widows, especially those of the national security. 

“With activities like this, we seek to ensure that widows become financially autonomous. It is important that they learn how to fish so as to avoid begging for fish,” Gouleu stated.

At the end of the ceremony, Minister Abena Ondoa handed over copies of the practical guide for the legal assistance of widows to the founding President of POWA Philomène Mbarga Nguelé, to distribute to the members of the association.

It is worth recalling that the 2024 edition of the International Widows Day was celebrated on June 23, on the theme: “Combating the vulnerability of widows and improving their social situation”. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3204 Tuesday August 20, 2024