The first ever National Women’s convention for peace in Cameroon is expected to take place ending July. This was made known during a press conference that held in Yaounde at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation on July 1st.

task force, National Women’s convention for peace in Cameroon

The task force working towards the success of the Convention say, July 29,30 & 31 have been selected as the dates for this conference. They added that the Convention will bring together one thousand women drawn from different walks of life and from thirty-eight different women led organisations.

Journalists at the press briefing

According to the women leaders, the Convention is an opportunity for women to identify their gaps and find common grounds to build peace and security.

“…to give women the chance to identify the gaps that exist, and forge common grounds to promote peace and security and build opportunities for women as a United force for change in Cameroon.” Yvonne Muma of the Cameroon Women’s Peace Movement, CAWOPEM said while reading an address to the press.

Sally Mboumien, Executive Director of the South West/North West Women’s task force, explains the reason why the Convention is coming up almost 5 years into the crisis in the North West and South West regions of the country.

“It has been a process pushing actions to another level. We are coming together on a common journey aside the efforts different women groups have been making”. She told the press.

“Behind this initiative are thousands of women including internally displaced persons, young girls and women traumatized as victims of the conflict and former hostages of boko haram”. Nina Netzer, of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation told the press.

The Convention is expected to hold in Yaounde, Centre region of Cameroon.

By Sandrine M.