Skip to main content

WOMEN CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH.


Women in Cameroon have been called upon to claim their rights and break stereotypes so as to contribute in the economy growth of Cameroon.

This was amongst many recommendations made at the end of a panel discussion organised by the Denis and Loretia Foundation this November 30, 2021 in Yaounde under its project to promote Women's Economic Rights, WERC.

With theme of focus, "Advancing Women's Liberty for a Sustainable Economic Growth", three panelists identified barriers to women's economic liberty and prosperity in Cameroon and then proposed solutions to tackle these problems.

Barriers Identified

The obstacles to women's economic liberty highlighted include: limited access to education in some localities, limited access to health services, limited access to loans, constraints in justice systems and vulnerable jobs.

Recommendations

One of the Panelists, Dr Wilfred Pathe, a Lecturer on Human Rights, insisted that women grab their rights and break stereotypes. He explained that women should stop saying only a man can do this or that.

His idea was corroborated by one of the participants in the audience who explained how in most homes, when a boy goes to assist his mother in the kitchen, she tells him to leave saying the kitchen is for women.

In this regard, they both insist that women should change their mindset, adding that this usually has to start from within the family nucleus.

On her part, Barrister Nsen Abeng another panelist and National Director of CIVITAS Cameroon, proposed that male influencers be involved in women's empowerment.

She also indicated that women must challenge themselves to be better. "They should not only take complimentary cards but tap into the intelligence of those people whose cards they collected," she emphasises.

Another aspect the Barrister highlighted is mentorship. To her, women should be realistic about their mentors. They should have mentors who are reachable and not fantasize about faraway foreign mentors they may never meet.

Legal and financial literacy were also highlighted by Barrister Nsen Aben who noted that women should get informed on legal and financial issues relating to them.

In addition to these, Alemnji Hieldi Eballe, Programmes Assistant at WAA Cameroon explained that women have to be educated on their rights.

She also added that women should be interested in continuous capacity-building so as to learn new skills and be empowered.

Networking was another proposal put forth by Alemnji Hieldi. "Women should learn to work in blocks," she insists.

She also added that women should get engaged in policy-making spheres like the National Assembly where laws concerning them are discussed.

Morever she said women should be involved in activities around international days that concern women like the International Women's Day, Day to Eliminate Gender-based Violence and others.




If these and more are taken into account, then women are sure to boost the Cameroonian economy with their huge input.

This is confirmed by a World Bank statement in 2012 which indicated that productivity at work could increase if discrimination towards female staff is eradicated.
#womenempowerment
#economicliberty

By Eleanor Ayuketah Ngochi

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Breaking the Cycle: Confronting Gender-Based Violence and Drug Abuse in Bamenda

In a bid to tackle the pressing issues of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and drug abuse, the "Adjust for Me" project, implemented by Common Action for Gender Development (COMAGEND), has been making strides in the Ntarikon 2 community, Bamenda. The project, which aims to raise awareness and educate the community on the causes, consequences, and prevention of GBV and drug abuse, has been well-received by community members. According to Nde Christopher, a community spokesperson trained within the context of the project, the initiative has been instrumental in sensitizing the community on the ills of GBV and drug abuse. "We have organized door-to-door sensitization efforts, reaching many community members and educating them on the importance of addressing GBV and drug abuse," Christopher explained. The project has also provided a platform for community members to share their experiences and concerns regarding GBV and drug abuse. Swirri Adeline, a community member who parti...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Reign of Terror in Menchum: A Horrific Encounter on the Wum-Bamenda Route

                                            The reign of terror in Menchum once again manifested itself in horrific fashion on the Wum-Bamenda road on Wednesday 5 June 2024, turning an ordinary morning journey into a nightmare. As passengers like Pa Cheghe Bang Mathias left Wum and the surrounding area s  for Bamenda, they found themselves trapped in an ambush by a band of armed men claiming to be Amba fighters. The peaceful atmosphere of dawn was transformed into a scene of panic and desperation as the assailants, armed with violence and brutality, demanded the ‘support’ of the travelers . Witnesses revealed that  the attackers targeted one bike rider  in particular . Using the opportunity ,   the attackers  rob bed  passengers of their valuables, including phones and personal belongings.   (C) Credit Photo anonymous              The desperate attempt by the bike-man  to flee from the assailants ended tragically, with the passenger, Pa Cheghe Bang Mathias, being shot, while the rider ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Traditional Leaders Urge Government to Address Drug Abuse in Ntarikon 2 Community

On November 20, 2024, community spokespeople from the Adjust for Me project engaged religious and traditional leaders in an open discussion during a door-to-door sensitization campaign in Ntarikon 2. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about the growing concerns of drug abuse and gender-based violence (GBV) within the community. Through this dialogue, the project sought to educate both youths and religious leaders on the dangers of substance abuse and to address how gender-based violence can be reduced in both the church and local communities. Many religious leaders expressed that while some progress has been made, the increasing prevalence of drug abuse among young people remains a pressing concern. "Our youths are falling victim to drugs, and it's taking a toll on their health, well-being, and futures," one community leader remarked. The discussion linked the rise in drug abuse to the economic challenges and ongoing socio-political unrest that have left many youths ...
Post a Comment
Read more