Combating Femicide: Taking Action Through Education

C ameroon is fast becoming a global reference point not for football or makossa music this time, but for an issue our forefathers never imagined: the intentional killing of girls and women. This phenomenon, known as femicide, is gaining ground in every segment of our society. Femicide, the gender-based killing of women, is a scourge that transcends borders, cultures, and socioeconomic status. It is a silent pandemic that demands urgent attention. In Cameroon, the si­ tuation is so alarming that more than 60 cases have been officially recorded by organisations and observers since the start of 2026. According to the Ministry for Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF), 50 of these cases were recorded between January and April 2026. Com­ pared with the year 2025, when an estimated 77 cases were reported for the whole year, this continuing upward trend highlights a deep-rooted crisis linked to violence against women. Many at­ tribute the causes to financial dependence, poverty, social stigma, and so-called “amicable settlements” wi­ thin families that prevent people from speaking out. While the data provides a chilling snapshot, it is important to acknowledge that these figures likely represent an undercount. Many cases go unreported or are misclassified, making it difficult to grasp the true scale of the problem. We all know that the impact of femicide extends far beyond the immediate loss of life. It has de­ vastating consequences for families, communities, and society as a whole. Survivors of attempted femicide often suffer physical and psychological trauma, while families are left to grapple with grief and loss. Femicide also undermines social cohesion and economic development, as it robs communities of valuable members. In response to this tragic wave, Cameroon is implementing a multisectoral strategy through government mi­ nistries, security forces, and civil society organi­ sations to combat the sharp rise in femicide. Seven key ministries, including MINPROFF and the Ministry of Justice, are coordinating a national response and treating the surge in femicide as a national emergency. Finalising a landmark bill to establish gender-based violence as a standalone criminal offense would be a major step forward. It would close legal loopholes, strengthen penalties for perpetrators, and reinforce the recently launched three-month national campaign against femicide that has brought on board ministers, clergy, and chiefs to fight the escalating femicide crisis. With major stakeholders already involved, attention should now turn to the education sector. Instead of relying only on public figures, civil society or­ ganisations, and the government to call for silence to be broken, stricter laws to be demanded, and support for victims to be strengthened, it is urgent for those in power to step up the fight against femicide through education. This means taking the fight beyond offices and into primary and se­ condary school classrooms and university amphi­ theaters. It requires transforming curricula, chal­ lenging deep-seated s...