Friedrich Ebert Stiffung, women group call for peace in troubled regions.

The call was made February 15 in Yaounde. This was during the launch of their publication titled: “Piece by Piece-building Cameroon through Women’s Action”.

In attendance were government officials, representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, diplomats and other partners from the political and social strata of Cameroon.

Among the big names at the meeting was the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Prof Marie Therese Abena Ondoa; German Ambassador to Cameroon, Dr Corinna Fricke, the National Chairman of the opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi among others.

Women building Cameroon

The book unveiled at the event on women’s role in building peace is divided into five chapters.

It contains a mix of facts, figures, some theories and experiences and international experience.

It catalogues the views of grassroots women in communities most affected.

‘Piece by Piece’ is written in plain, lyrical language and beautifully illustrated with original paintings of nine of the 25 categories of women represented in the convention.

According to Minister, Marie Therese Obama, “this document is very important because it shows the work that women have done,” adding that, “a written book is always better than words of the media because it can fly away meanwhile the written documents remain”.

She urged people, “to read it and share, “because we need to rebuild peace and women have a very important role to play”.

The member of government insisted on the need for women not to exclude men in their crusade for peace.

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung official on book

The Country Representative of Friedrich Ebert Stiffung Foundation, Nina Netzer, main organizer of the book launch, sounded positive that the publication would enhance the return of peace.

She told reporters that, “we are going to have impact, because it’s one small step after many steps that we have already taken,” stating that, the road “to peace is a long and stormy”. She called for consistency until when the desired is objective.

 She said the presence of psychosocial experts at the convention was to take care of the girls affected by conflicts. Netzer underscored for the girls to have access to education and their life revived.

Participants hail publication

One of the participants at the launch, Esther Oman, Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon, Omam Esther, said “the book is a symbol of what we stand for”.

She said the book, “represents our pain and suffering, it represents our hope, it talks about our emotions, our perspectives and the need for peace”.

Other participants such as SDF’s Fru Ndi, ambassadors, Members of Parliament, MPs and Senators lauded the book as a vital contribution to the quest for peace.

About women convention for peace

The National Women Convention for Peace in Cameroon is a national platform of women peace builders. In 2021, it organised a convention, which was attended by 1,800 women from all across the nation.

It also organised another convention in 2021with members of the National Assembly.  

The group also organised in 2022 a Women Peace Negotiations which brought together key female voices in the push for peace.