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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

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