Political reporting: CIVITAS Cameroon builds resilience of female journalists.

Other participants at the workshop were; human rights advocates, researchers, and institutional actors, including officials from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family and Elections Cameroon, ELECAM. 

According to officials of CIVITAS Cameroon, the initiative aimed to identify challenges faced by female reporters, dismantle structural obstacles, and facilitate reforms that promote women’s human rights and media freedom. 

Despite progress, officials said women remain significantly underrepresented in political journalism. The representation of women in media, they stressed, is essential for building an inclusive and democratic environment. 

Referencing Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 5, which calls for equal opportunities for women in leadership, resource persons challenged female journalists to expand their capacities.

The capacity of female journalists, it was said, must go beyond SDG 16 on access to information to the full breadth of the 17 SDGs for more inclusive reporting.

Enter CAVITAS National Coordinator

The National Coordinator of CIVITAS Cameroon, Barrister Buokejung Nsen Abeng, underscored the urgency of empowering female journalists ahead of upcoming elections.

The resilience of female journalists, she said must be strengthen “…so they can go out there and have their voices heard, voices that truly represent the political landscape”.

According to Barrister Abeng who was also an expert in human rights and humanitarian action, “too often, women journalists remain in the office”.

“They rarely occupy top positions in the media. Political reporting, the ‘serious bit’ is usually reserved for men. But today we are emphasising resilience so women do not shy away. Patriarchy has pushed female journalists to the back for too long,” he said. 

Given that the training coincided with the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, Barrister Abeng said female journalists must be remembered so that they can can amplify their voices and those of women political actors. 

Drawing from CEDAW General Recommendation No. 40, she noted that global efforts are now targeting 50-50 representation, not only in numbers but also in effective leadership. 

“It is not just about the numbers. It is about women being efficient and effective in leadership roles, not just doing errands,” she stressed. 

Towards 2026 twin polls

Making references to the October 12 presidential election, officials said the training also focused on the twin polls of 2026. Officials emphasised that the role of female journalists is more critical than ever. 

“Moments of political crisis often propel gender issues into public discourse,” CIVITAS Cameroon officials noted, while insisting that the same tensions also expose women journalists to heightened risks.

Participants agreed that the gender-specific attacks highlight broader patriarchal norms that restrict women’s leadership and visibility.

During discussion, issues such as gender-based bias in media were brought up. Participants at the workshop revealed that they are frequently sidelined from major political stories, leaving male journalists dominating political beats. 

The imbalance they said, results in a lack of gender-inclusive analysis in electoral reporting, reinforcing stereotypes and silencing women’s voices. 

Others mentioned cyber misogyny, particularly during election periods was identified as a growing threat. Several participants shared experiences of online intimidation aimed at discouraging them from covering sensitive political issues.

The training also featured interactive thematic sessions moderated by the project Technical Adviser, Fri Asanga. Discussions centered on accountability mechanisms, policy reforms, and strategies for combating gender-based discrimination in media.

Facilitators addressed questions such as: How can perpetrators of media-related violence could be held accountable?; What zero-tolerance policies should newsrooms enforce to protect female journalists?; How national and international legal frameworks on gender-responsive political reporting can be implemented and How can female journalists can navigate digital spaces safely during elections.

The psychological dimension of reporting was also discussed. Experts explored the impact of trauma and mental stress on female journalists, particularly during tense political moments. 

Institutional perspectives, call to action

The Social Affairs Inspector at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Oliver Acheyang, acknowledged the progress made by government in protecting women’s rights.

He urged women to empower themselves if they want to create meaningful societal change. “Barriers exist, but women must continue building their capacity. Empowerment is essential for participation and influence,”Acheyang stated.

Another facilitator, Endouh Anna Yerimah, who is Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Building Together Cameroon, encouraged journalists to embrace what she called the “Three Vs”—Vision, Value, and Voice. 

Other facilitators viz; Beatrice Lawsamba and CRTV’s Becky Bissong shared experiences with participants. Bintou Sarr of the communication unit of ELECAM also gave insights on the Electoral Code. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3656 of Monday December 15, 2025