Auteur/autrice : TimesNews2

Non-Governmental Organization, Plan International Cameroon has put in place a new partnership platform to boost its media coverage nationwide. On Friday, January 13, 2023, in Yaounde, Cameroon’s nation capital, the country office of Plan International launched a new collaboration platform with media practitioners and some partner institutions such as the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education. The event dubbed media corner and launched at the Bastos head office of Plan International Cameroon gathered close to 20 Journalists, Bloggers, influencers, and staff of some communication units identified as key partners of the Non-Governmental Organization that strives for the rights of children and equality for the girlchild. Speaking on behalf of the Country Director of Plan International Cameroon, the acting Director of Programmes, Dr. Fagnon Paul said the media corner is an initiative put in place to boost the organization’s visibility. While acknowledging the pivotal role that the media plays in highlighting untold stories, he wished the newly set up initiative will help support the objectives and missions of Plan International which has been fully engaged alongside the government for over 25 years. In his address, Dr. Fagnon equally said the hosting of the media corner will permit journalists and other partners present to have an in-depth knowledge of the various activities carried out by Plan International and by the way grant the opportunity to media practitioners present to outline some strategies to be put in place at the level of the communication and influencing department and see how to ameliorate the existing collaboration. According to Dr. Donkeng Eddy Patrick, Head of the communication and Influencing department of Plan International, the media is at the heart of activities carried out by the organization. He said the organization has been working with different media outlets for impactful results and today has established a sort of media platform that will greatly help in transmitting information to communities and all societies. Dr. Donkeng said: “At Plan International Cameroon, it is part of our strategy to work with the media. Media are enablers of change and then working with them within our communities in Cameroon is something that we prioritize this year we would like to establish a sort of bridge between the media and our institutional and financial partners as well as our programs department because what we are doing on the field should be seen. And most of the time the problem is that people on the field are doing a lot but nothing is shown. We, therefore, decided to have this sort of gathering and agree on a road map to know how we can work better and impact and to show the impact we have in our society…” He added that such gatherings will be multiplied as they henceforth enter within the framework of a collaborative move which is crucial to Plan International. Institutional Partners as a support Even though Plan International collaborates with the government and various institutions, the organization has invited to the media corner some key ministries which are in charge of children’s rights. The Ministries of Social Affairs; Women’s Empowerment and the Family; and Youth Affairs and Civic Education were part of the session and the staff representing these communication units praised the initiative which to them will accentuate actions carried by the government and advocacy campaigns launched by Plan International. Mrs. Mbakong Edwige Grace, Head of the communication unit of the ministry of women’s empowerment, MINPROFF expressed the will to see the collaboration link established and consolidated by concrete programmatic actions and called on Plan International Cameroon to keep organizing joint activities with its institutional partners as a way to support them mostly at the financial level. Mrs. Mbakong said: “We have a series of activities that we organize and which necessitate media coverage but due to lack of financial resources most of them are underreported. We hope with this initiative that takes off that we shall at an extent try to solve this issue and the different media partners will build more interest in reporting some thematics highlighted.” On his part, the representative of the Head of the communication unit of the ministry of social affairs, MINAS said they have a good number of media partners with whom they have been collaborating for several years now and this has been fruitful. Reason why he equally applauds the move of Plan International Cameroon. Mr. Awana said the communication unit of MINAS is open to any collaborative action and equally seized the occasion to inform participants at the media corner of the existence of a toll-free number (1503) for reporting child abuse and trafficking. Just like the institutional partners who highly welcomed the new collaboration platform, spokesperson for the communication unit of the ministry of youth affairs and civic education, Rick Assyla said MINJEC is in the process of revising a Youth Plan that has been dormant for several years and Plan International’s role will be vital in defining some of its lines according to its mandate and missions. The Media, a key player During discussions, journalists, influencers, and bloggers present at the first-ever held media corner of Plan International Cameroon posed a chaplet of demands and said they hope to see this initiative as long-lasting. Media partners who accompany Plan International on daily basis through their activities have equally expressed the need to be more involved in field visits to palpate realities and report with live testimonies. Moreover, they expressed the will to receive on regular basis newsletters, information notes, images, events, etc. from Plan International. Media men underscored its commitment to intensify its collaboration with Plan International as media partners of Plan International Cameroon and accepted the safeguarding policy which is already part of their good practice in terms of verification and publication of information. To close the media corner session, Dr. Kwake Simon, chief of party in Plan International Cameroon thanked the media invited and said this innovative approach

Within the framework of the 6th edition of the National Solidarity and Social Entrepreneurship week, a workshop to prepare the extension phase of the Unified Social Register took place on January 11, 2023, in the Conference Hall of the East Regional Council under the chairmanship of the Minister of Social Affairs Mrs. Pauline Irene Nguene. The Director of National Solidarity and Social Development, Mr. Nyambi III Dikosso presented the project of the Unified Social Register. His presentation highlighted the National policy on social protection, issues of universal health coverage, mechanisms for registration and management of information on socially vulnerable persons, vulnerability mapping approaches, and methodology of the Unified Social Register in Cameroon.  Mr. Aboubacar Guindo, Deputy Director of the World Food Program highlighted the importance of international solidarity and cooperation in order to strengthen social protection in Cameroon as well as some of their works in line with the social protection of vulnerable persons. Mr. Mohammed Aly Hamana, Head of the UNICEF sub-office in Bertoua talked about issues and challenges of vulnerable persons such as lack of birth certificates and potable water.  Pauline Irene Nguene, Minister of Social Affairs in her opening speech reiterated that 2023 is a year that opens in a context marked by national and international economic hardships with social repercussions that will bring new social vulnerabilities thus there is an urgency to have good information system and database for social resilience.  For efficiency, the social protection system has to rely on a national vulnerability map and an accessible information system for all national and international actors that will bring adapted responses to socially vulnerable persons all over the 360 municipalities of the Republic. The Unified Social Register is the solution to these pressing problems. She emphasized on the importance of the availability of reliable data and information for the planning and implementation of social protection policies in Cameroon. Cellcom MINAS

Bertoua, regional headquarters of the East region played host to the 6th edition of the National Solidarity and Social Entrepreneurship week from January 10 to 14, 2023. The 6th edition of the national solidarity and social Entrepreneurship week, known by its French acronym as SESES took place from the 9th to the 14th of January 2023 in the town of Bertoua, East region of Cameroon. This year’s edition placed under the theme: “Stakes and challenges of social protection in Cameroon” was mainly aimed at mobilizing all national actors and development partners around the need to set up a public and private partnership-based answer to decentralized social protection system in order to respond collectively, effectively and efficiently to social protection needs of socially vulnerable persons. As underscored by Minister Pauline Irène Nguene, Social Affairs Patroness in Cameroon, the SESES is a major activity included in Programme 71-Social Protection of Groups with specific vulnerabilities and National Solidarity.” This program just like many which are of high importance in the ministry of social affairs is to facilitate the reduction of social vulnerabilities and effectively transform generally excluded categories into true citizens who are aware of their obligations and capable, according to their capacities, of contributing to the achievement of the growth objectives set out in the Development vision “Cameroon, an emerging democratic country united in its diversity by 2035”. In her key address, the Minister stressed on the fact that 2023 will be quite challenging and difficult due to health and security crises nationwide and worldwide. “Climatic risks such as floods or landslides and human disasters like the recent agro-pastoral conflicts in the northern part have in turn contributed to the displacement of populations and their precariousness. This situation of social fragility has been further exacerbated by the negative impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the daily lives of Cameroonians and particularly Socially Vulnerable People known as PSV (children including those in difficult situations, disabled people, elderly, internally displaced persons, women, young people, etc.).” She outlined. Minister Nguene equally underscored the urgent need to support socially vulnerable people who are greatly affected by some impacts in our society. The Minister stated: “It should be remembered that the said categories constitute more than 2/3 of the total population of Cameroon estimated in 2017 at 23,248,044 inhabitants. Indeed, the proportion of dependents, that is children under 15 and people over 60, represents 49% of the population. To this, must be added persons with disabilities 15% (according to the United Nations ratio), internally displaced persons and refugees, indigenous populations within the meaning of the United Nations, and all the indigent and needy whose request for assistance received in the Units Operational Techniques of MINAS is increasing.” In her closing remarks, she added: “The National Solidarity and Social Entrepreneurship Week appears then as a forum for advocacy, partnership building, and commitment taking aimed at promoting social inclusion of socially vulnerable persons. For this reason, I urge The Regional and local Councils and all of the stakeholders to adhere to this action of beneficial social work and give their maximum support and necessary synergy to it, by taking the commitment to reserve every year a permanent contribution for national solidarity in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs in order to ensure the socio-economic reinsertion of socially vulnerable persons.” One key issue outlined during the 6th edition of SESES in Bertoua was that of Cameroon’s commitment to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals which are part of strategies mapped out by the government in the National Development Strategy (NDS30). Elise Kenimbeni

During the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual campaign that takes place from November 25 to December 10, RADD organized a series of activities with women, actors affected by agro-industries, and major projects in Cameroon. The Network of Sustainable Development Actors known by its French acronym RADD, the Journalists for Earth Association (J4E), the Association for the Defense of Human Rights (APPDH-Assistance and eight (8) associations of women living around industrial plantations in Cameroon say STOP!!! As part of activities to mark 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence, GBV coupled with the international day on the elimination of violence against women, on November 25, 2022, under the theme: “Ending violence against women and girls in the context of climate change”, RADD and its various partners launched series of activities for the 16 days of activism against GBV. On day one, RADD, J4E, APPDH-Assistance, and 8 neighborhood women associations living around industrial plantations took an active part in the activism campaign against violence. The campaign launched was aimed at raising awareness and denouncing different abuses and outrages suffered by women and girls living near large monoculture tree plantations. The objective of this campaign, which begins on November 25, 2022, is to encourage women to continue the fight to safeguard their fundamental rights and their vital resources; to take public opinion to witness and call on governments and donors to increase measures and means to protect women and young girls living near major projects, the precariousness of which is increasing with climate change. The call made was to provide local residents with tree monoculture plantations in Cameroon. They said extractive industries such as dam projects, extraction of natural gas, coal, and oil, major deforestation for large monoculture tree plantations, infrastructure projects, etc. which are carried by our states and are the main culprits of climate change. These large projects in villages monopolize most of the time essential resources (land, forests, water, air, etc.) used by women and young girls to develop their means of living and to be autonomous, and sheltered from violence. of all kinds and particularly economic violence. RADD and partners denounce the fact that the State does not guarantee these local women deprived of their resources substantial lasting compensation. As a result, women find themselves abandoned to themselves, risking the worst violence and frustrations of all kinds that undermine their dignity. Activities marking Day two were focused on the theme: “My land, my life, my workplace” According to these networks and associations, large-scale plantation development involves the grabbing of traditional customary lands and the destruction of forests and resources that rural women and girls have in their families’ livelihoods. To stop this: We, the neighborhood women say STOP to grabbing by agro-industries and major projects! Respect the minimum strip of 5km around our villages On Day three focused on the theme: “My water, my life”, it was outlined that Agro-industrial plantations and major projects consume more than half of the world’s drinking water resources, and are responsible for the pollution of surrounding water and groundwater, causing suffering and disease to small farmers and their families. Women and young girls are particularly affected by the consequent violence of this scarcity of drinking water around industrial plantations. This situation is worsening with climate change. To stop this: “We, the women living near agro industries and major projects, say STOP to the grabbing and pollution of water!!!” That the agro-industries build boreholes for the benefit of the neighbouring villages and that the polluter pays principle applies. “My health, My life” was theme highlighted on day four by these networks which said large-scale plantations and large projects have a negative impact on women’s health. Companies do not keep the promise to provide efficient health services to local residents. However, many diseases arise as a result of soil and water pollution by chemical inputs from business activities. To stop this: We, neighbourhood women of agro industries and major projects say STOP to the destruction of the physical and mental health of local women and girls. That agro-industries build and equip health centers for the benefit of local residents. Activities of day 5 centered on the theme: “My good, My life” as stated by these various associations and networks who believe that the implementation of large-scale plantations and major projects are, because of the destruction of goods and resources and the monopolization that it entails, the cause of famines, economic shortages and poverty of the local populations. To stop this: We, the women living near agro-industries and major projects, say STOP to famine and the impoverishment of our families and YES to inclusive and sustainable development. Day six’ theme was on: My freedom, My life. The agro-industrial companies disseminate barriers and enclosures in the public passageways, dig trenches 4m long and deep in the village said RADD and partners. These restrictions on freedom of movement are amplified by incessant and outrageous checks. The people living near these plantations are forced to travel long distances to access their traditional activities. They end up in green prisons. These numerous attacks on individual freedoms result in the frustration, misery and economic dependence of women and young girls. To stop this: We, the women living near agro industries and major projects, say STOP to attacks on individual freedoms! Freedom of movement is a fundamental Human right.  “Violation of religious and cultural places”, it was the theme chosen to highlight day seven activities. It is said the establishment of agro-industries has taken place without taking into account worship and cultural sites. It literally destroyed the sacred sites, the trees planted on the graves and the places of worship, all this in defiance of the attachment of these citizens to their cultural values. To stop this: We, the women living near agro industries and major projects, say STOP to the violation of religious and cultural sites in these industrial plantations. The cultural and natural heritage of a people is an inalienable good, necessary for its social