By Bakah Derick
Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch (CAMGEW) has launched an online petition aimed at influencing policy on the involvement of women in forest conservation. The organisation presented the petition to the public on Wednesday 9 March 2022 as part of activities to mark the 37th edition of the International Women's Day.
According to Ernestine Sevidzem, CAMGEW Women Empowerment and Environment Officer, there has been much talk on women's empowerment and it was time action be taken.
The petition titled "Change Existing Patriachal Mentality to include more women in forest conservation Policy" is hoping to assemble not fewer than 1000 signatures which will be used to contact decision makers at the local, regional and national levels.
"We want to promote the integration of women socially, economically and in environmental action. By influencing a change in patriarchal mentality existing in our Society. We seek for a fair consideration in policy making, social behaviour and environmental sustainability towards women." The policy explanatory notes indicate.
This is the petition
Change Exist... -
Prior to presenting the petition, Ernestine Sevidzem moderated a debate on "promotion of social economic and environment rights of women: how important?" with the "pros" carrying the day.
Panelists at the end of the debate
Government institutions like the ministry of women's empowerment and the family, social affairs, students of the university of Bamenda attended the event.
With over 600 women farmers trained in agroforestry techniques to conserve the soil and improve crop yields, CAMGEW believes that women have a strong motivation to conserve biodiversity and the environment. Over 2000 others have been trained by the organisation to benefit from non-timber forest products especially in honey value chain and medicinal plant value chain.... Women take part in seed collection, tree nursery development, tree planting, forest monitoring, bushfire prevention and incubating local enterprise from non-timber fotest products."
"Women can be key actors in ensuring a return to more sustainable forest use and conserve the environment. There is need to promote the socio economic and environmental rights of women locally and nationally." CAMGEW notes