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NW Women Peace builders Fortify Skills in Peace building, Mediation

Mme Adah Mbah

Women Peace builders within the North West Region have  strengthened their capacity in Meditation and Peace Building in amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic and crisis rocking the region. This was the outcome of a two day workshop on advancing women’s rights in response to community mediation and peace building processes with the hope of shifting the advocacy of women mediators in communities.

The Workshop was organized by Mother of Hope Cameroon MOHCAM with support from Women Mediators across the Commonwealth for members of the Women Peace builders’ Network WOPEN NW.

In November 2020 MOHCAM executed a project on strengthening the capacities of members of the Women Peace builders Network-WOPEN to Effectively Engage in Mediation and peace building in response to crises in the North West Regions. Through this activity, over twenty-six (26) women leaders from the grassroots and community organizations were trained with support funding from the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth.

During this workshop an action plan for the network was developed for one year and it’s against this backdrop that this project seeks bridge the skill gaps of network members in the domain of human rights, lobbying and advocacy, the use of the social media handles and online tools for effective communication to enhance their effective participation in community mediators and peace builders.

Reacting, Adah Mbah Executive Director of MOHCAM highlighting aspects of the activity enhance the capacity of women to serve as mediators for peace, increasing women participation in lobbying and advocacy in peace building while encouraging the women peace leaders to increase their visibility and results in the field with the effective use of the social media to enhance their peace building actions.


Barrister Agbor Nkeng

During the two day session, the participants we educated on the Role of the National Commission in defending the rights of women rights defenders and CSOs. Barrister Agbor Nkeng noted that women are great peace builders and help to consolidate peace as such are helping the government to realize her objective



In order to amplify women’s voices in human rights and community meditation, Barrister Blessing Chia also member of the network, urged the women peace builders to uphold the qualities and skills of a good mediator, so that they can be able to, help both parties maintain a healthy relationship even after the conflict, ensure peace and calm between the parties as well as instill trust in both parties for sustainable peace. “We can amplify women’s voices by, empowering women, building relevant networks that bring women together and carrying out advocacy campaigns. 

Rosaline Obah

In order to intensify their actions and create greater impact on a wider scale, the women gained skills in advocacy and lobbying in peace building and also how to use the Social Media for effective communication. “A lot can be done to shift the mindset of the online community if social media users who are peace builders, can use it positively. However, the dangers abound if you use it poorly. I will suggest that we do not share just for sharing sake or join the band wagon of those who propagate hate speech, misinformation and disinformation. Our social media handles should be used to build peace and encourage nonviolent actions,” Rosaline Obah

With the crisis that has gone on for over 5 years no especially as women continue to bear the brunt, there was the need to engage them in a self care session particularly through a trauma healing session to help them develop coping mechanisms with loss, grief and bereavement. Mme Mah Fundo advised them to quickly talk to a specialist, find a support system, and try to maintain your hobbies, draw your comfort from your faith and take care of self so as to get out of any of such situation.

To further intensify the healing process and wounds of the women peace builders, practical sessions, outdoor activities and spiritual sessions were upheld as many participants at the end of the two days expressed satisfaction and testified of going back well equipped and light hearted to give back to the community.

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