Auteur/autrice : TimesNews2

In as much as Cameroon ratified several human rights conventions, and has made binding international commitments to adhere to the standards laid down in these universal human rights documents, there is a galloping rate of Gender-Based violence cases on people of the same sex having sexual relationships.   Josephine 34 is an intersex living in Yaounde, the nation’s capital of Cameroon. She was born with both female and male organs but today identifies herself as a man. For several years now, Josephine has been rejected by members of her family because of her genital organs which to them could only be explained as an act of pure witchcraft. The young intersex was even chased from home by her parents and sought refuge in her elder sister’s house, in a little suburb of Yaounde. Despite the fact that she lives with her elder sister, the latter equally degrades most of the time. Josephine told us she is even deprived at times of food and to play with her sister’s kids. “Do not play with my children, you will contaminate them with your witchcraft” her sister says all the time. 34 years old intersex said the worst situation experienced so far was when one of her friends who knew her situation exposed it in a social media group just because of a little misunderstanding that sparked quarrels between them. Josephine said she was thoroughly insulted and treated with all evil names. “On that day I was feeling very uncomfortable and I wanted to die! I even cursed the day I was born. I cursed my parents who rejected me. Everything seemed bitter…” Our interviewee confided herself to us and said it is thanks to “Alternatives Cameroun”, a human rights community-based organization fighting for the social inclusion of LGBTI persons, that she was recruited and integrated among the staff of Yaounde. Apart from going to her workplace, Josephine spends time lamenting in her room and calls for God’s help. The story of Josephine is almost the same as that of Claude, an intersex encountered in the economic city of Douala during a two-day workshop organized in May 2021 by Humanity First Cameroun Plus. Claude who is today a father of two children was born intersex and on his birth certificate, he was identified as female but his male organs are dominant. Claude said he was once molested to death by an angry mob just because his aunt discovered his two sex and alerted the neighbourhood in which they were living at that time. The cases of Josephine and Claude are similar to the numerous cases faced by lesbian, Gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex, LGBTI in Cameroon who just by suspicion are trapped by people and molested without any defense. Bijou, as she is called, is an intersex person who was sexually assaulted, beaten, and humiliated by a group of men in Yaounde in November 2021. Just because Bijou refused the advances of this group of people in a drinking spot, she was caught and later on filmed by her perpetrators who maltreated her for close to two hours. The video that went viral on social media was condemned by Human rights defenders and the Cameroonian Foundation for AIDS, CAMFAIDS to which she belongs as a beneficiary filed a complaint to the police. Nickel Kamen Liwandi, the Executive Director of CAMFAIDS outrageously condemned this act as criminal and called for justice. The verdict pronounced by the court of first instance in Yaounde in February, 25th 2022, condemned Mr. Foundikou Kassimou, the main author of the inhumane treatment inflicted on Bijou. He was granted six months of imprisonment and had to pay a fine of 650.000 Francs CFA about 1300 US dollars. LGBTI people are frequently subject to mass arrests, arbitrary detention, torture, and violence of all sorts. Whereas Article 5 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, it is stated that: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” And Article 9 states that: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.” According to the 2021 annual report of the unity platform, 4116 cases of Gender-based violence(GBV) were registered in the course of the research undertaken. The 31 pages’ report written in French has been dubbed: « Le cri d’une communauté. De la désinformation au drame. » It states the various types of violence which affect the LGBTI community. As indicated in this investigative piece, 2936 cases are described as psychological, that is, close to 71%, and which are mainly made up of family rejection, insults, defamation, hate speech, and discrimination just to name a few. The President of the Unity Platform made up of 34 organizations who advocate for human rights in Cameroon has indicated the need for a follow-up and monitoring of Gender-based violence cases which are increasing significantly as time passes by. Michel Engama said there is need to worry and government should take the bulls by the horns to bring the situation at heels. In Cameroon, the first Penal Code adopted in 1965 did not criminalize same-sex sexual activity, however, an amendment introduced in 1972 added the offense of ‘homosexuality’ which has been retained until today. According to the 2016 Penal Code in its Article 347-1, sexual relations with a person of the same sex are prohibited with a penalty of between six months to five years’ imprisonment, as well as a fine. By Elise Kenimbeni      

Intitulé « Jam on the Road », c’est un album de 12 titres constitués des rythmes d’ici et d’ailleurs. La sortie officielle se fait au cours d’un spectacle live ce 19 mai 2022 à l’institut français du Cameroun (IFC) de Yaoundé. C’était au cours d’une conférence de presse tenue le 18 mai à Yaoundé, capitale du Cameroun que l’artiste musicien, Armand Biyag a présenté son nouveau bébé. Pour ce 3e album, l’ancien footballeur reconverti en musicien est monté d’un cran pour davantage bercer les oreilles des mélomanes. La bourse reçue à l’Institut Français pour la Cité des Arts à Paris l’a permis de bien concocter ce chef-d’œuvre avec d’autres albums. « J’ai eu la chance de ne pas préparer ici. J’ai eu la chance de le cuisiner condiments après condiments, ingrédients après ingrédients à l’étranger, j’ai eu la chance de ne pas aller chercher très loin parce que j’ai eu Etienne Mbappe juste à une minute de moi. » explique-t-il. La route de JAM en langue Bassa veut dire Evénement en français. Alliant sa langue maternelle Bassa au français et l’anglais, cet album est le carrefour d’une fusion avec d’autres artistes du monde entier. Armand Biyag souhaite partager avec le public les plus belles émotions musicales de ses voyages nombreux à travers le monde. Avec ses partenaires de tous les jours, le live de grande qualité de Jam on the Road s’inscrit dans le cadre de la maturité. Un aperçu du show a été d’ailleurs ouvert aux journalistes présents à cet échange. Armand Biyag est un ancien footballeur, qui a suivi sa deuxième passion, celle de la musique qui aujourd’hui lui permet de procurer de la bonne humeur a ses fans et au public qui apprécie son style musical. Avec une voix qui adouci les mœurs, l’artiste aux multiples facettes joue avec la même dextérité du piano, le balafon et les percussions. C’est à travers son premier album intitulé : « Mut Binam », en français l’être humain, que le public fait la connaissance de Armand Biyag. En 2016, il revient avec un second album intitulé : « Njan », qui signifie en français les traces. Avec un recueil de plusieurs chansons, l’artiste va à la conquête des scènes internationales ou il se fait davantage connaitre et explose de spectacles en spectacles. Connu également pour ses rythmes traditionnels qui puissent leur source de la foret Bassa dont l’artiste est originaire. Armand Biyag, jeune artiste Camerounais se distingue par la qualité de son vocal et mixage. Rédaction timesnews2.info

Government and key partners such as Plan International have organized in Yaounde, a two-day national workshop aimed at monitoring cooperation activities carried out in priority education zones in Cameroon. On Tuesday 17th of May 2022, Cameroon’s nation capital, Yaounde played host to a two-day national workshop for the monitoring of cooperation activities in priority education zones, ZEP. The two day cometogether regrouped some government officials from the ministry of basic education, technical and financial partners who are a milestone in this project such as Plan International and UNICEF and alongside various mayors, civil society organizations working in the domain of education in humanitarian settings. Presiding over the workshop on behalf of Minister Laurent Serges Etoundi Ngoa, Secretary General in the ministry of basic education, Adams Daniel Oyono outlined government’s major concerns on this cooperation which is attached to its education policy. And the pursuit of sustainable development goal number 4 based on: “ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.” UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Cameroon, Arsène Azandossessi on his part, reaffirmed the will of his organization to follow-up concrete and impactful actions in priority education zones, where thousands of young boys and girls are deprived from equal opportunities. On his part, interim country Representative of Plan International Cameroon made an inventory of major ills affecting children and pupils in regions crippled by crises. Dr Sayang Collins nailed down issues which have for the past years led to an inflation of children out of school and who by the way are in dire need of support. “Facing school shut downs, physical and sexual violence, threats, kidnappings, killings. Nine out of ten regions of the country continue to be impacted by one of three humanitarian crises: the crisis in the North-West and South-West, conflict in the Far North, and a refugee crisis, with people fleeing the Central African Republic. Because of these combined crises, over one million children need urgent education support.” He said. The workshop which gathered skilled actors, equally helped to set in motion new approaches that will render fruitful results in the priority education zones nationwide. The occasion was therefore well seized by Plan International’s spokesperson, Dr Sayang, to underscore main challenges on the field and contributive efforts of his organization alongside the government. Dr Sayang Collins said: “Concerned about the discrimination of children particularly girls which remains a major obstacle to human development in Cameroon due to impediments such as exclusion, denial of resources and access to opportunities because of harmful norms; Convinced of the need to reduce all forms of discrimination against children in all their diversities, to strengthen measures aimed at ensuring inclusive and quality education for all irrespective of their location. While working to ensure we are making the greatest contribution to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls…” In his key note address, Plan International’s interim country Director pointed-out some important issues which are necessary in advancing the ZEP project on the field. Amongst the points indicated, there is the need to: review and monitor a well-defined policy of the ZEP initiative; evaluate a reliable and pertinent approach for the treatment of existing disparities that hinder access to education; setting-up an approach that will pave the way to a collaborative system with civil servants and various authorities in order to take into account indigenous children, children living with disabilities and others affected by all forms of discrimination. As discussions unfold, much emphasis was laid on the benefits of this initiative being an all-inclusive approach for children affected in crises zones of Cameroon. Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. The non-governmental organization was founded over 80 years ago (1937) and set-up in 1966 in Cameroon. Plan International strives for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Elise Kenimbeni

« Place de la femme dans la transformation du bois » c’est le thème retenu pour la 5e édition du salon du mobilier « made in Cameroon ». Le Salon du Mobilier et Produits Forestiers Non ligneux (PFNL) aura lieu du 26 Juin au 4 Juillet 2022 au Palais des Congrès de Yaoundé. L’annonce a été faite ce 11 Mai 2022 au cours d’une conférence de presse donnée par la Présidente de l’Association Artisan au Féminin, Hélène Mapoko Engohe au Centre de l’Artisanat de Yaoundé. Elle précise : « (…) aujourd’hui, quand on prend un objet travaillé par une femme et qu’on passe la main dessus on a l’impression de passer la main sur la joue d’un bébé, on se rend compte que la place de la femme c’est dans la transformation du bois. Il y a le chômage pourquoi aller s’engouffrer dans les métiers qui sont déjà saturés alors que le bois ne manque pas de métier. » Hélène Mapoko Engohe, valorise ainsi la vision d’un entreprenariat féminin diversifié et efficace. Concrètement, l’un des objectifs spécifiques est la valorisation des réalisations des entreprises camerounaises de la transformation du bois et des PFNL, la démonstration du savoir-faire se fera par 10 ou 20 femmes durant ce salon national parmi la cinquantaine de femmes formées dans les métiers du bois par l’Association des Artisans Féminin. En dehors des produits forestiers non ligneux que l’on retrouve dans le foret et qui ne sont pas du bois, d’autres essences de bois non connues par la population seront mis au-devant de la scène de ce salon qui va offrir un ensemble d’opportunités ajoutent les membres du comité d’organisation. Les principaux partenaires du 5e Salon du Mobilier National sont les Ministères des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises, de l’économie sociale et de l’Artisanat, des Forets et de la Faune, de la Promotion de la Femme et de la Famille et l’Agence Française de Développement. De centaines de visiteurs sont attendus par les organisateurs qui entendent promouvoir l’expertise féminine. Par Ayouba Nsangou