Inter-religious platform drills women on GBV, community peace.

This was during a four-day seminar organised in partnership with the Department of Women and Social Affairs of the Council of Protestant Churches in Cameroon, CEPCA. The training spanned 9 to 13 September in Yaounde.

The seminar took place under the theme: “Women’s leadership in the service of peace and the fight against Gender Based Violence”. It featured interfaith prayers, meditation, group work among others.

Participants were drawn from CEPCA, National Episcopal Conference, NECC, Orthodox churches, Council of Imams and Moslem Dignitaries of Cameroon, CIDIMUC, and other civil society organisations.

According to the Executive Secretary at the Department of Women and Social Affairs at CEPCA, Regine Djiki, challenges affecting women were discussed and proposals will be channeled to the government.

The Secretary General of CEPCA, Rev Dr Ngando Mbende Paul, on his part called on women to live in peace. 

Rev Dr Ngando said women by nature are vectors of peace and social cohesion in society. He appealed to participants to be examples of such virtues.

Women as good human resource for peace

The Associate Professor at the Mzuzu University Malawi, Rachel Nyagondwe Fieldler, also reiterated that women should uphold peace wherever they find themselves.

Prof Nyagondwe who has authored several books on GBV underscored that: “Women are good resource to bring peace to the society because they are custodians of the culture”. He drummed for the inclusion of women in decision-making at all levels.

He added that women in Cameroon must work to harness ideas to promote peace and social cohesion. Prof Nyadondwe at the end of her lecture was offered one of Cameroon’s traditional attires. 

It was presented to her by the Chairperson of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC, East Mungo North Presbytery, Gladys Viban.

The moderator of the seminar, Rev Etaka Elsie, appealed to women to always create space for their peers. 

“I call on every woman here present to make room for another woman in any occupation you find yourself,” the woman of God stated, adding that: “Let the lie told to us by the men that a woman is another woman’s enemy be rejected”.

Rev Etaka said even in circumstances wherein cultures, denominations and constitutions of churches fail, women should stand out as unifying factors.

For Rev Mbakwa Juliette, Associate Pastor of Presbyterian Church, PC, Nsimeyong, Yaounde, some female ministers of God have not been given the space to perform their roles well. 

She urged women not to give up irrespective of circumstances given that they have much to offer society.

One of the participants under the umbrella of CIDIMUC, Fadimatou Abubakar, said thanks to the training, he is aware that to address issues, one must start from the root causes. 

Abubakar also said she left the training with a better understanding of the different forms through which violence manifests.

Another trainee, Eteki Desiree, affirmed that she acquired knowledge to cultivate internal peace for the good of society.

By Cyprain Bekhali (Journalism student on internship)

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3235 of Friday September 20, 2024