Auteur/autrice : TimesNews2

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

Les 20 et 21 Décembre 2022, un colloque international sur les violences en milieu scolaire au Cameroun s’est tenu à Yaoundé à l’initiative d’une collaboration stratégique entre le Fond du Secrétariat Général des Nations Unies pour la Paix et le Ministère des Enseignements Secondaires. L’objectif des travaux est de réduire à sa plus simple expression le phénomène des violences scolaires. Selon le contexte, ces dernières années scolaires ont été marquées par des faits divers qui racontent des actes de violences dans l’enceinte de nombreux établissements scolaires à travers le Cameroun. Plus de 10 cas d’actes de cruauté ont alimenté les colonnes des journaux et suscité un tollé général au sein du pays. Des faits dont les auteurs sont des élèves et leurs camarades et, de plus en plus, leurs encadreurs ceci à la faveur du développement fulgurant des réseaux sociaux. La variante des vidéos sexuelles est apparue des nouvelles formes de violence. La conférence internationale de Yaoundé a réuni plus de 150 acteurs des « différents segments de la société camerounaise… des parlementaires, des enseignants du secondaire et du supérieur, des élèves, des parents, des représentants des forces de sécurité, des membres d’organisations de la société civile et des partenaires au développement ». La cérémonie protocolaire d’ouverture a connu la présence de la Ministre des Enseignements Secondaires, le Pr Nalova Lyonga, le Ministre de l’Enseignement Supérieur, Ministre d’Etat, le Pr Jacques Fame Ndongo, La Ministre de la Promotion de la Femme et de la Famille, Marie Thérèse Abena Ondoa et la Ministre des Affaires Sociales, Pauline Irène Nguéné. Les Ministres de l’éducation de Base et de la Jeunesse et de l’éducation Civique se sont fait représenter respectivement. La cartographie de la violence scolaire a été présentée par Bernadette Mbiah Sansi, Directeur de l’orientation, de la vie et de l’Assistance scolaires au Ministère des Enseignements secondaires. Elle dit : « la violence est un fait social. L’école est dans la société et donc les actes de violences qui se produisent dans la société se reproduisent forcément à l’école. L’école est un microcosme de la Société et il est difficile d’identifier les causes de la violence scolaire qui exclue les causes de la violence en société. C’est les mêmes causes c’est-à-dire un mal être selon les cliniciens. Un individu qui commet des actes de violences est un individu mal dans son être et qui a des problèmes de santé mentale. L’environnement lui-même est devenu violent vous partez de votre maison au travail vous vous faites insulter dix mille fois par des jeunes Camerounais et donc ces élèves vivent dans cette société là… » Elle précise dans son exposé liminaire que 70 pour cent des violences sont issues de l’enseignement secondaire général et 30 pour cent de l’enseignement secondaire technique. En dehors du panel d’honneur essentiellement constitué des membres du gouvernement, 4 autres panels ont porté les travaux à travers des thématiques d’analyse de la situation et de proposition des solutions. Des élèves ont présenté des témoignages émouvants tout comme des enseignants et autres experts. La principale résolution de ces travaux de deux jours, est de susciter la prise de conscience de toute la communauté éducative nationale sur l’intérêt de mutualiser les forces pour ramener à sa portion la plus congrue, la violence en milieu scolaire dans le pays. « Un travail ardue » confie un syndicaliste de l’éducation, participant au colloque. Par Jean Patient Tsala