Hope for the Needy Association HOFNA Cameroon has commemorated the 2020 edition of the International Human Rights Day with emphasis on respecting the rights of women which are also human rights. The commemoration marked by a walk in Mvolye Yaoundé on Thursday December 10, 2020 involved about 100 women from across Cameroon.
According to the Executive Director of HOFNA, the walk had as main objective to raise awareness on girls and women’s rights as human rights.
“Raising awareness on the importance of a human rights perspective in peacebuilding in Cameroon, an approach that institutionalizes and sustains the EFFECTIVE participation of women in decision making and especially peacebuilding in Cameroon. The international human rights day is important to us because women's rights and the rights of girls are human rights. Our initiatives focus on ensuring that women and girls live in a world that is equal, just and peaceful. This is grounded on the understanding that human beings should not be limited in any way because of their gender. And in issues of peacebuilding, we believe that equal and effective participation of women in peacebuilding is a vital human rights aspect that must be respected if the world must know true peace. We also focus on the reality that gender-based violence has continued to relegate women, killing their potentials and making blur, the future of peace.” Christelle Bay C. said
A good number of men took part in the walk reaffirming their engagement to accompany to accompany HOFNA and the women from around Cameroon
The women and girls centered not-for-profit organisation commemorated the rights day within the context of a National conference on Gender based violence GBV and the localisation of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 UNSCR1325 which turns 20 this year.
Since creation, HOFNA Cameroon has been working to build the capacities of women and girls with the ultimate goal of preserving the rights of women and girds.
“Our works build the capacities of women and girls to effectively represent their needs, priorities and concerns when it comes to what peace and peacebuilding means to them, connecting grassroots voices and strategies to national and international trends in addressing gender-based violence and supporting the implementation of UNSCR1325. We also focus on building capacities of women and girls, disadvantaged, vulnerable or internally displaced, enabling them raise income for themselves as well as start and run businesses of their own. This approach addresses what i call "the dependency syndrome" that continues to make women and girls vulnerable to abuse or gender-based violence.” Christelle Bay C. added.