Auteur/autrice : TimesNews2

Irate visually impaired persons staged a series of peaceful protests in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Monday, 27th June 2022 in a bid to draw government’s attention on their deplorable living conditions. The group comprising of 27 visually impaired persons known in French as: “Collectif des aveugles et malvoyants indignés du Cameroun (CAMIC)”, launched a series of peaceful protests in the capital after their failed move to meet Prime Minister, Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute, on Monday, June 27, 2022. They were dispersed in front of the Prime Minister’s services by police men of the number 1 central station and later on locked in a corridor. Patrick Bevolo, spokesperson and one of the victims told us: “We found ourselves at the Hilton hotel roundabout around 6am. We were equipped with placards for our sit-in. The police arrived in a pick-up vehicle and started assaulting us. They took us with force to the number 1 central police station. Hours later we were called into the manager’s office. So far, we had a series of meetings with officials of the Ministry of social affairs about our demands. The only thing that we obtained from the ministry of social affairs was on age waiver. We understood that we had to go to the prime minister’s office in abid to express our dissatisfaction. We are marginalized!  We wished through our peace protest to pass on a strong message not only to the national community but also to the international community…” The protesters who till Thursday 30th of June stormed the streets were assaulted by forces of order and threatened to be locked up. In an interview granted to us, one of the protesters said: “We were packed in a mini bus like prisoners and thrown outskirts of Yaounde. Some of us are currently speaking from the locality of Soa where we were abandoned. The crime committed is just to ask for a fair dialogue with the Prime Minister. We want to work; we need employments…” Despite the meeting held on the spot between the police, the Representative of the Mfoundi Senior Divisional officer and officials of the ministry of social affairs, nothing good filtered out. The group of frustrated persons living with visual impairment said the problem is no more at the level of the minister of social affairs who did her best so far, but it is an issue which can only be solved by the Prime Minister who is the head of government. The group underscored the fact that, thousands of young visually impaired persons who are certificate holders remain unemployed despite several laws, international conventions and other legal instruments protecting them. The legal provisions that protect them include Law No 2010/002 of April 13, 2010 on the protection and promotion of persons with disabilities adopted in 2018. Moreover, as indicated by some of those interviewed at the central post office in Yaounde, they are not happy because due to neglect, several of them got involved in unhealthy practices to survive and others like girls have been sexually abused. “We want to see our living conditions ameliorated in spite the fact that our rights are violated. Are you happy to see in the streets of Yaounde, Douala and elsewhere, human beings like you begging as paupers, beating drums and singing in order to have a token to eat or survive, whereas the law is supposed to protect them. Our grievances are attached on the law of April 13, 2010 enacted in 2018 by our government.” Said Aymard Lindjeck, member of the movement dubbed CAMIC. He added: “Another demand we are putting at the forefront as we protest for our rights is simply to reduce taxes of self-entrepreneurial people living with disabilities. Many people living with disabilities, PLWD suffer from an increase in taxes imposed on their petty businesses where as even when grants contest are opened to small and medium enterprises in Cameroon, they are exempted. Furthermore, we call for the integration of PLWD in renown higher institutes of learning thus in 2021 we had three visually impaired persons whose entrance were blocked in the national competitive entrance into the public service.” By dispersing the group of angry visually impaired persons with brutality, forces of order in Cameroon have violated article 21 of the International Human Rights framework on the right of peace assembly, stating that: “the right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others…” Cameroon as a State party to the 1981 African Charter on Human and People’s Rights provides in Article 11 that: “Every individual shall have the right to assemble freely with others. The exercise of this right shall be subject only to necessary restrictions provided for by law in particular those enacted in the interest of national security, the safety, health, ethics and rights and freedoms of others.” Yet, as outlined in the International convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities, in its 10th Article, state parties reaffirm that: “Every human being has the inherent right to life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.” At the ministry of social affairs, the director of the department of social protection of persons with disabilities and elderly persons, Mrs. Ambe Angelica said they have organized series of meetings with various groups of persons living with disabilities. She said in the last meeting held in April 2022, the Minister and the various groups came into a compromise concerning the introduction of recruitment files in different ministerial departments. The Director of social protection of persons with disabilities and elderly persons equally pointed out that, the files as promised were deposited on the

La Ministre des affaires sociales du Cameroun, représentante du gouvernement vient de parapher à Rabat au Maroc, un nouvel accord de coopération technique dans le domaine de la protection sociale. Pauline Irène Nguene, Ministre des affaires sociales représentante le gouvernement du Cameroun et Mme Aawatif Hayar, Ministre de la solidarité, de l’insertion sociale et de la famille, représentante du gouvernement du Royaume du Maroc, ont signé le 30 juin 2022 a Rabat, un nouvel accord de coopération technique dans le domaine social, relativement a la promotion de l’enfant, des personnes âgées, des personnes handicapées et du développement social. Ce nouvel accord de collaboration entre les deux pays vient ainsi renforcer la coopération dans le cadre du partage d’expériences, aux échanges des textes législatifs, les publications, des recherches et études ainsi que les documentaires écrits ou audiovisuels dans le domaine social. Dans son discours de circonstance lors de cette cérémonie de signature, la patronne des affaires sociales au Cameroun a exprimé dans un premier temps, les appréciations du gouvernement dont elle fait partie. Pauline Irène Nguene a indiqué que : « Il s’agit ici, de l’aboutissement d’un long processus denégociation dans un domaine stratégique pour nos pays respectifs. Mettant l’humain et son bien-être au centre de sa vision, le Président de la République, Son Excellence M. Paul BIYA, m’a accordé les pleins pouvoirs pour la codification de cet instrument de coopération entre le Cameroun et le Maroc, selon les canaux consacrés. C’est dire tout l’intérêt qu’il porte à la consolidation des relations diplomatiques entre nos deux pays, qui ne cessent de s’intensifier tout en se diversifiant depuis les années 1960, date de leur établissement. Nul doute que ce développement mutuel sous-tendu par l’optimisation de la coopération sud-sud si chère à  S.E.M Paul BIYA et au cœur de la vision de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI, que Dieul’assiste, ne pourra que porter haut, l’espoir d’une Afrique prospère et autonome. » La Ministre des affaires sociales dans son propos liminaire a souligné le fait que ce nouvel accord, qui inclut une clause de partage d’expériences vient à point nommé au vu des multiples crises qui affectent le monde entier telles que : la pandémie a COVID-19, la guerre en Ukraine et autres impactes sur la crise alimentaire. « Il s’agira donc, dans ce contexte d’instabilité internationale, en marge des partenariats multiformes, d’élaborer ensemble des alternatives aux modèles traditionnels qui se sont avérés limités à l’épreuve des divers chocs exogènes sus évoqués, pour bâtir un écosystème économique et social arcbouté sur nos capacités souveraines au plan sanitaire, pharmaceutique, technologique et même cognitif, susceptibles d’offrir à nos  Etats une véritable autonomie, quant à la prise en charge de ses populations vulnérables et fragiles.Pour atteindre ces objectifs, je suis convaincue que l’échange de bonnes pratiques ainsi que la mutualisation des stratégies qui sous- tendent l’Accord que nous allons parapher dans quelques instants, constituent une démarche idoine, instruite par nos hauts dirigeantsrespectifs, en totale convergence avec les ODD, que nous nous attelons ipso facto à mettre en œuvre… » La Ministre camerounaise a saisi l’occasion de cette cérémonie pour réitérer la ferme volonté du gouvernement du Cameroun à respecter ces engagements contractuels, en vue du rayonnement de la coopération entre les deux pays dans le domaine social. Durant cette visite de travail à Rabat au Maroc, Pauline Irène Nguene a pu faire des descendre de terrain afin de palper les réalités de ce côté dans le volet social. La Ministre des affaires sociales est allée au centre Lalla Meryem de protection des enfants abandonnés ou elle aussi signe le livre d’or. Mme Nguene a également fait une descente au centre social de protection des personnes âgées de Rabat et enfin de journée elle s’est rendue au centre national Mohamed VI ou sont encadres des personnes handicapées. Rédaction de TimesNews2.info

Ce sont au total six établissements d’enseignement secondaire dans le département du Mfoundi, région du Centre du Cameroun qui ont été primés par l’ONG Plan International, à l’issu d’une compétition interscolaire de plaidoyer sur les réseaux sociaux. Pour cette toute première édition du concours interscolaire de plaidoyer et de changement de comportement pour la promotion des Droits de l’enfant et de l’égalité de la jeune fille, l’ONG Plan International Cameroon a lancé le 12 mai 2022, dans les sept arrondissements de Yaoundé, qui constituent le département du Mfoundi de la région du Centre, cette initiative qui a mis à rude épreuve des établissements d’enseignement secondaire. Ces établissements secondaires avaient chacun la latitude de choisir une thématique liée à la promotion des droits des enfants et l’égalité de la jeune afin d’impacter d’autres jeunes sur la toile et accentuer le plaidoyer que mène l’ONG Plan International dans le pays. Sur les sept établissements choisis, six ont pris part à cette compétition sur les thématiques telles que : la protection et la promotion des droits des enfants et jeunes filles, le leadership féminin, l’égalité des droits entre jeunes filles et garçons, les conséquences des drogues en milieu scolaire, les violences en milieu scolaire et l’éducation de la jeune fille.  Le lycée de Nkolmesseng dans l’arrondissement de Yaoundé 5eme a été primé 6eme de cette compétition avec un chèque de 200.000 Francs CFA en matériels didactiques : Le lycée bilingue d’Emana dans l’arrondissement de Yaoundé 1er a été primé 5eme à l’issu du concours avec également la somme de 200.000 Francs CFA en matériels didactiques. Tout comme le lycée bilingue de Mendong dans l’arrondissement de Yaoundé 6eme qui a occupé le 4eme fauteuil de ce concours et qui a reçu la somme de 200.000 Francs CFA en matériels didactiques. Le lycée de la Cité verte dans l’arrondissement de Yaoundé 2eme s’est arrogé la 3eme place et a eu un chèque de 500.000 Francs qui sera perçu sous forme de matériel didactique. La deuxième place a été glanée par le lycée bilingue d’Ekounou qui a obtenu un chèque de 1.000.000 de Francs CFA et la première par le lycée technique de Yaoundé qui encaisse 2.000.000 de Francs CFA. Des établissements scolaires situés dans les arrondissements de Yaoundé 4 et 3 respectivement. Ces chèques qui vont être perçus en forme de matériels didactiques selon les besoins de chaque établissement scolaire, ont été remis aux différents gagnants le vendredi 24 juin 2020 au cours de la cérémonie qui s’est tenue dans la salle de conférence du centre spirituel de Mvolyé à Yaoundé, capitale camerounaise. La compétition qui a été lancée il ya deux mois sur la page officielle de l’ONG Plan International Cameroon a attiré de nombreux « followers », qui se sont engagés à travers les différents messages de sensibilisation et ont été impactés par les thématiques abordées par les élèves des six établissements qui sont restés en lice dans ce concours. Le lycée technique industriel et commercial de Yaoundé qui occupe le premier rang de cette compétition et a empoché le chèque de 2.000.000 de Francs CFA, s’est illustré comme meilleur de par le contenu de son message, la créativité, sa production et l’engagement auprès des internautes selon le jury. Les élèves ont basé leur message sur la lutte contre les violences en milieu scolaire afin de démontrer les comportements de certains jeunes qui sont au cœur de ces dérives. Iroume Shalom, l’un des élèves qui a pris part au tournage de la vidéo de campagne digitale du lycée technique industriel et commercial de Yaoundé indique : « Nous avons travaillé sur le thème de la lutte contre les violences en milieu scolaire. Ce n’était pas facile parce qu’il fallait se mettre dans la peau de ceux qui pratiquent souvent ces violences. Nous avons voulu passer un message a tous les jeunes que la violence en milieu scolaire n’est pas bien. Leur faire également savoir que ce qu’ils font ont un impact sur la société de demain et même des conséquences sur leur développement personnel et psychologique. » Alain Nama Essomba, le délègue départemental en charge de l’enseignement secondaire dans le Mfoundi a salué cette initiative de Plan International Cameroun qui a permis de cibler des établissements dans la lutte contre de nombreux fléaux qui minent dans notre société. Le directeur pays adjoint et en charge des programmes à l’ONG Plan International Cameroon, Dr. Sayang Collins a souligné le but recherché au départ par ce projet qui grâce aux jeunes a pu susciter l’engouement à travers les réseaux sociaux notamment Facebook. Dr. Sayang Collins dit : « Le but pour nous au début était de mobiliser les jeunes autour d’un programme qui leur ait destiné. C’est-à-dire un projet des jeunes, fait par les jeunes et pour les jeunes. Deuxièmement nous nous sommes dit que nous sommes dans un pays ou 65% des camerounais ont 24 ans selon les dernières statistiques. Ils sont là parmi nous parce que nous les avons invités et ils sont pour la plupart connectés sur les réseaux sociaux, nous sommes dans un monde digital. Vous l’avez certainement remarqué, entre 2021 et 2022 nous avons eu beaucoup de scandales dans notre pays et ceci concernait particulièrement les jeunes filles. Elles sont des victimes mais en temps des acteurs tout comme les jeunes garçons et quand on est connecté en permanence on doit connaitre son rôle. Il est important de canaliser ces énergies tout en restant connecté. Et nous devons être des acteurs qui protègent les droits des enfants et surtout des jeunes filles d’où cette initiative. On a demandé aux jeunes d’utiliser leurs téléphones et non une technologie compliquée dans le but d’impacter sur les autres, ça veut dire que c’est quelque chose qu’ils peuvent faire eux-mêmes en tant que des acteurs dans la promotion et l’avancement de l’égalité de genre en faveur des filles. Et que les filles prennent confiance en elle pour aborder un problème qu’elles auraient identifié… » Johnson Bien- Aimé, Directeur pays de Plan International Cameroon a échangé avec les différents élèves bénéficiaires des prix et a

As part of activities marking the 2022 official celebration of the international girls in ICTs’ day and the World Telecommunication and information society day, the ministry of posts and telecommunications alongside Plan international Cameroon organized on June 23 in Yaounde, a ceremony to compensate close to 50 girls. Each year on the 17th of May, Cameroon joins the international community to mark the world telecommunication and information society day, WTISD. Yet, this year due to some constraints related to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Unitary state on May 20, the 2022 edition of WTISD was postponed. The 2022 edition of WTISD officially celebrated on Thursday 23rd June in Yaounde, Cameroon was placed under the theme: “Digital technologies for elderly persons and healthy aging.” As indicated by officials, the main objectives of this year’s celebration were to: launch an information and communication technologies training for elderly persons under 60 years old and raise awareness among the elderly on the use of ICTs; deploy the optical fiber in rural areas and non-connected urban areas of Cameroon and identify ICT projects and hindrances. The opportunity was therefore given to close to 50 young girls from secondary and vocational training schools to unveil their talents and genius in ICTs with regards to the theme of this year’s celebration. The young laureates who were detected on April 29, 2022 during the international day of girls in ICTs came up with series of projects which can change the lives of many elderly persons in the country and even worldwide. Noella Djouku Ngeutchuissi, is a 17 years old lower sixth student at the government bilingual high school of Etoug-Ebe in Yaounde, she marveled the public with her application dubbed “Abuela.” According to Noella, her software program known as “Abuela” which is a Spanish word meaning grand-mother, has been designed to help elderly persons. She says much efforts have been centered on HIV/AIDS, malaria, pregnant women etc. and few people talk about diseases affecting elderly persons. Noella said elderly persons suffer a lot in Cameroon and elsewhere but have little attention. Reason why, with the occasion granted by the 2022 WTISD, she focused on old persons. She said: “The purpose of Abuela is simply to train people on how to cater for their grand-parents with age related issues. Abuela has several options and among these options we have articles on how to take care of your grand-parent in the house, how to cook his or her food and which quantity of salt to use in the cooking process. The second option enables you to share your experience with people. After all, you can be at a given place and you share with others what you have been facing with your grandmum or grand pa. Like for instance: one day grand mum had a heart attack and you tell others what you did in order to save her life… The third option has to do with booking an appointment. If you are in a rural area for example, knowing how difficult it is to move from the rural to the urban zone with your grandparent, you book an appointment with the doctor who in return gives you a fixed time in order to meet him without stressing up. And the fourth and last option is dedicated to people who wish to propose their services like nurses, home teachers and others…” With all these beautiful ICT initiatives exposed to the public, the young laureates seized the occasion to address government officials from the ministries of post and telecommunications, secondary education and technical partners such as the international telecommunication union and Plan International Cameroon, to accompany them in developing their projects. As spokesperson of the young girls in ICTs, Noella Djouku Ngeutchuissi underscored the need for a support in training, mentorship, finances etc. “We were more than 50 girls taking part in this competition. We are all passionate of ICTs. We have good notes in school but we need people’s help. We know that our projects have values and it is necessary for us to develop ourselves. So we were equally here to ask for help, let it be training, finances or have areas with good internet connection, where we could go and sit in order to work. Most of us have a good mastery in Php, JavaScript, python and we are really into and we need support…” She narrated. Melingui Cecile Solange 15, a trainee from an inclusive training center known as “Bobine d’or” in Yaounde has expressed the need for the support from government and other development partners. She said together with her classmates, they came up with the idea of creating an online store that will help them sell products they have designed to avoid been jobless. “The idea for us as we finish our 3-year training in Bobine d’or on December 3, 2022, is to have some little financial resources that will help us for a living…” She said. According to their mentor, Mrs. Tenlep Florence Nickaise, Director of Bobine d’or center which grants inclusive training to girls and women living with disabilities and not, this is their second participation in this competition. The Director of Bobine d’or said: “It is true that in our first participation we didn’t really know what we were looking for. This year, we came up with an online sale project to help all our female students who are about to end their training to have an autonomous reinsertion later on. And as usual, we call on the government and persons of goodwill to help us upgrade our computer science room with machines and modems that will permit us have quality internet for the trainees…” Speaking on behalf of the Minister of posts and telecommunications, Mr. Nlend Raphael, the Technical Adviser said the celebration of WTSID reminds us of the great importance of ICTs in our daily life. He said with the rapid evolution of ICTs in the world, many obstacles have been addressed and distant issues have

Plan International, leading organization incharge of the promotion and protection of children’s rights held a training session with junior MPs ahead of the 23rd session of the children’s parliament. 16 years-old Stephine from the South-West region of Cameroon has always dreamt to be the voice of the voiceless. She is part of the 180 junior members of parliament who will address on Sunday 26th of June 2022, government officials in the traditional session of the children’s parliament. An occasion which she thinks will grant her the opportunity to unveil the string of problems children of her locality face daily. Stephine who is a form 4 student in a secondary school affected by the crisis in the English speaking regions, is actively taking part in a one-week training camping launched by the ministry of social affairs in Yaounde, Cameroon’s nation capital. “I’m going back to my place to educate the population on harmful practices like female genital mutilation, child abuse, sexual harassment and so on. I’m going to share knowledge with people and my mates because these issues affect children nowadays very badly. Many children have been abandoned by parents because of early pregnancies caused by rape. When a girl has been raped by an individual, she consequently abandons the child because of such sad incident. Others even abort from what we have learnt and this is a phenomenon which affects the lives of many children. It is the same with poverty which I know is a great cause of child abandonment in our society. When someone is pregnant and don’t know how she will deliver or feed the baby, she is forced to abandon the child or abort…I wish to tell my people that children are the future of tomorrow.” Stephine narrated. Being part of this year’s new cohort of junior MPs is a great opportunity for Stephine. She expressed the will to address the Minister Delegate at the presidency incharge of defence, the Minister of public health and the Minister of water resources and energy. The female junior MP wishes despite tremendous efforts of government that, a heedful ear should be granted to the grievances of children from the crippled South-West and North-West regions affected by the crisis since several years now. She said: “Because of insecurity many children can’t go to school and it is so sad.” Stephine added that, in her native South-West region, many children are affected by the sale of harmful and narcotic drugs and wishes to call on the attention of the Minister of public health, for him to bring out palliative measures. To the Minister of energy and water resources, the junior MP wishes to address him on continuous shortages of water and absence of electricity. “Where I come from in the Lebialem division, we face a lot of difficulties due to the scarcity of water. Before a child goes to school, he or she has to go and fetch for water. And to read in the night is another problem, there is no light for us to study. This really impacts on our examination results.” Stephine said. Just like Stephine, other junior MPs gathered in Yaounde from June 17 to 27, wish to exchange with government officials notably on issues affecting children in their daily lives. Ahead of this 23rd session of children’s parliament to take place at the plenary hall of the national assembly, non-governmental organization, Plan International organized a training session with the selected 180 junior MPs from all ten regions of the country. Sensitization talks focused mostly on the theme retained for the upcoming children’s parliament, being: ” the phenomenon of child abandonment: an obstacle to the life, development and survival of children.” The two-hour training session that took place on Wednesday, 22nd June 2022 at the government technical high school of Nkolbisson in Yaounde, aimed at sensitizing junior MPs on child protection and their Rights. The staff of Plan international Cameroon upgraded their skills on existing conventions and judicial instruments that lay emphasis on children’s rights. The MPs were equally schooled on harmful practices affecting young people in general and children in particular. They were highlighted on the negative impacts of drugs consumption, alcohol, child abuse, rape, early child marriages, unhealthy practices which they can be faced with. As new ambassadors of children’s rights and the girl child, the MPs were deeply sensitized on key attitudes and behaviours to adopt in public and by the way, put at the forefront their education. Pauline Irene Nguene, Minister of social affairs who paid a courtesy visit to the junior MPs exchanged with them and granted some advice.  Plan International’s roving country Director for West and Central Africa, Johnson Bien-Aimé said such initiatives are to be praised because junior MPs are the ones who will lead the future of the country tomorrow. He said: “This exceptional encounter with junior MPs enters within the framework of the development and protection of children’s rights which is at the heart of what we do in our organization. And we are once more here to reaffirm our support to the government. We are ready to continuously build and reinforce their capacities and even engage them in our numerous activities because they are the future, the ambassadors of this country.” Mr. Johnson Bien-Aimé equally mentioned the fact that, these ambassadors will have a pivotal role to play in terms of peace and harmony amongst their peers and for the development the country is looking for. He added: “I’m very positive because as ambassadors, they will be living with the attitude and determination they have for the well-being of their country.” It should be recalled that, the children’s parliament holds each year as part of activities marking tha African Child day. The 32nd edition of the African Child day celebrated on June 16, 2022 had as theme: ” Eliminating Harmful Practices affecting children: progress on policy and practice since 2015.” Elise Kenimbeni