Ahead of Commission on Women Status: Plan International, UN Women mobilise youth for structured advocacy.

This was during a workshop in Yaounde on Wednesday, February 18. It brought together young advocates and representatives of partner organisations to reflect on the priority theme of CSW70. 

Officials also said the goal was to align their contributions with national development priorities. 

They underscored the need to prepare strong advocacy messages aligned with the priority theme of CSW70 and placing young people at the heart of action design and implementation.

The CSW70 is said to hold under the theme: “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including through the promotion of inclusive and equitable legal systems, the elimination of discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and the removal of structural barriers”.

Structured youth-led advocacy messages, with a central role in their formulation and implementation were discussed. 

Participants also talked about how to consolidate ideas into a common document and a youth action plan.

According to the President of the Positive Masculinity Ambassadors Club, Ovono Ondoua Ulrich Xavier, it is important to support young people to state their commitment to a non-violent society. 

He said “these young people want to make their voices heard regarding the necessary involvement of young girls and the necessary consideration of their well-being in specific public policies regarding gender”.

Ovono Ondoua said the initiative will encourage the “…involvement of youth with more inclusivity in the public policies that are ultimately dedicated to them”. 

He also talked about the need for the practical implementation of a long-expressed government will to involve young people in political decision-making.

Ovono Ondoua added that for several years, the government has been committed to drafting a law on the fight against gender-based violence and protection of women and girls. 

“Gender is a bit more inclusive whether against men, women, or children. The process is continuing, and it is going quite well,” Ovono Ondoua remarked, adding that work previously done is being reviewed at the level of government.

The positive masculinity official expressed hope that “…it can be tabled at the National Assembly this year”.

He added that together with the youth, “we are working to ensure it happens as quickly as possible through the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family that is working with the civil society on this important draft text”.

PEJ Youth representative, Nga Fils Dave Patrick, expressed gratitude to the partners for mobilising young people to voice their views on the issue.

“Young people have decided not to just be represented, but to be represented through actions that concern them, actions that address their problems and their realities,” Nga Fils told reporters.

He furthered that it will ensure “…that decision-making for young people is not done without them, but with them and, above all, for them”.

On strategic priorities that matter for young people, Nga Fils said there is need for effective participation in decision making “…and the fight against Gender-Based Violence, because a society filled with violence is a society that loses its humanity”.

Nga Fils sounded positive that with President Paul Biya’s new mandate, many things will change in the interest of young people especially when it comes to leadership.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3708 of Thursday February 19, 2026