Indigenous Persons : Rights Must Be Preserved!

Reports from the Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS) indicate that the indigenous peoples in the country face many challenges, including discrimination, stigmatisation and marginalisation, as their level of participation in decision-making processes at both community and national levels remains low. Other difficulties include pressure on their land from logging, mining, conservation and agri-business activities, resulting in restricted access to natural resources (basic products, gathering, grazing), on which they depend for their survival. Within these backdrops, the Minster of Social Affairs, Pauline Irène Nguene on Friday April 19, 2024 signed a partnership agreement with the Centre for Education, Training and Support for Development Initiatives in Cameroon dubbed CEFAID. The convention, renewable within a period of three years, is a working tool which makes it possible to define the framework of collaboration linking the two parties in the protection of the rights of indigenous persons. 
The MINAS-CEFAID convention intervenes within the framework of the implementation of the sub-regional programme in matters of human rights in the Congo basin, through strengthening the rights of indigenous and local communities (IPLC) in and around protected areas (BENGO Project), implemented at the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central Africa Republic and Cameroon by CEFAID. Through the convention, MINAS-CEFAID will implement joint initiatives which will primarily focus on advocacy, capacity building, training, strengthening the legal and institutional framework of target groups through studies and communication. Minister Pauline Irène Nguene said the partnership agreement is a continuation of her Ministry's initiatives to increase and diversify its partners to ensure a better life for the indigenous popu...