Peace Negotiations : Pivotal Role of Women

The contribution of women in the peace building process of conflict hit regions in the country cannot be overemphasized. As the more welcoming gender, they have a pivotal role in peace negotiations. It is thus against this backdrop that the first-ever national women’s negotiation for peace in Cameroon conference has been organised in Yaounde from September 19 to 21, 2022. Organised with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and launched in the presence of the Minister for Women Empowerment and the Family, Marie Thérèse Abena Ondoa, representative of the Prime Minister, discussions centre of how women can make their voices more heard in the negotiations for a return to normalcy in crisis hit regions such as the Far North, East Regions, North West and South West Regions. The women who are mainly members of civil society organisations, community representatives, the Cameroonian diaspora as well as United Nations officials and other diplomats, exchange ideas on how to better contribute in ending conflicts in Cameroon; the fight against Boko Haram, the crisis in the North-West and South-West, inter-ethnic conflicts and the management of refugees in the East Region. Providing humanitarian and technical assistance to internally displaced persons also occupied central stage at deliberations which conclude today at the Yaounde Conference Centre.
Day two activities were centred on technics of negotiations with the East Region, Far North, North West and South West Regions running simultaneously.
The Yaounde meeting equally aims to reiterate that only a sincere and inclusive dialogue silenc...