The Diary game season 3// Sunday 20th February, 2021 //By (How I spent my Sunday) 100% powered up on SASA Methodology Advocacy Workshop

Engaging communities in a worskop from 6 AM- 6PM on UN sercurity Council Resolution 1325 women Peace and Security Agenda.

Our methoodology is SASA Meaning , Start, Awareness, Support, Action against Violations againts women and the girls.
Stand up for Human Rights with.

CHRDA,RuCED ,Social Welfare services , WILPF and other Human Rights groups. 2020-2030
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After the breakfast at 6 AM to 6:30 AM there was a photo session followed by some interviews by Equinox and other media houses to Madam Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo, the President of WILPF-Cameroon talked abougt** START , AWARENESS,SUPPORT, ACTION**.

During her presentation Madam Sylvie took her time to thank the participants that took all their time all the way from several different regions to attend the meeting . She reminded the members of the network and participants to know there is need for a larger synergy. According to her there is need for more NGOs to join the platform as it is an opportunity for the Cameroonian civil society to build a larger network to advocate for the UNSC Resolution 1325 and it National Action Plan to be implemented effective and the need to first of all review the work done so far. Stating that, states adopted the resolution because conflicts were continuously having a negative impact on women and children.

In the adoption of the UNSC Resolution 1325, there was a recommendation for the implementation of the resolution through the national plan and Cameroon adopted it in 2017.
In the call for more CSOs to join the platform she said today the Resolution is in the Cameroon Agenda since 2017 and it is a Political framework which calls for everyone beyond gender dimensions to be part of the Peace building processes fighting Violations Against Women and the Girls.
She said the key objective of SASA Methodology is to mainstream gender and inclusion into all UN processes and these frameworks are 9 in number and the UNSC Resolution 1325 is a major framework with other auxiliaries.
She stated UNSC Resolution 1325 as the major focus has Resolution 1820(2008), Resolution 1888 (2009), Resolution 1960(2010), Resolution 2106 (2013), Resolution 2122(2013), Resolution 2242 (2015) and 2277.
In this regards she stated that CHRDA & WILPF-Cameroon has been a key actor on the UNSC Resolution 1325 behind UN Women, MINPROFF on Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
WILPF has started creating a poll of NGOs to build awareness on the said agenda that has four major pillars Participation, Relief, Protection and prevention.
It is worth of notice that the participation of women in national commissions and decision making is not ensured and in that case there is a lot of work to be done. The point was exemplified on the fact that MINPROFF is in charge of the implementation of the NAP(National Action Plan) of the UNSC Resolution 1325 in Cameroon and the Disarmament Commission completely excludes MINPROFF from that commission making the commission non-inclusive in nature. Also recent happenings have demonstrated the violation of the UNSC Resolution 1325 like the Kumba incident in which over 6 children suffered heavy damages and death as the Resolution states in the resolution that women and children shall be protected.
She reiterated on this incident as a violation of the UNSC Resolution 1325 which was a violation of women IDPS and children. She said there is need for women to come in for during crisis suffering women easily open up to women than men and calling on and sharing experiences from Columbia. Columbia used the peaceful strategy that was very effective and this has been a good example of how women can contribute to women peace and security by ensuring peace building in the country since from the understanding of the dynamics of violence women can easily open up to women than men.
In the presentation the brief update given on the circumstances leading to the development of the NAP (National Action Plan) for the UNSC Resolution 1235 which started from a workshop in 2012 which brought together civil society organizations to see if NAP Cameroon exist. In that same occasion it was an opportunity for the creation of partnership which was effectively done and in 2016 there was the beginning of advocacy.
At this point Challenges came up because even from UN Agencies the peace agenda was not even a priority in Cameroon at that time. This same year a survey was conducted on the impact of armed conflict on women and children to prove to the authorities that the peace agenda was necessary. They also engage in an International Workshop where women participants came from Mali,DRC etc . During the workshop she explained how a lady from Maroua was ignorantly underestimating the need for immediate action. She was talking of “if there is war we shall do this.if there is conflict we shall do that..” and an international participant started shading tears in the hall and saying that Cameroon was still living on the past and standing in the middle of fire as there are were already vital signs of conflict and today her prophecy has manifested when looking at the Anglophone Crisis and the Boko Haram crisis.
In this light they had started engaging since 2013 through workshops communities and after the study which was supported by MINPROFF and UN Women in November 2017 there was the adoption of the NAP Cameroon.
Challenges of the NAP were shared:
-there is no specific mechanism or unit to assess the NAP.
-In the national commissions created in Cameroon there is no inclusion and operational mechanism and lastly no decree exists to that effect and therefore the procedure is paralyzed.
In a bid to promote the realization of this, WILPF-Cameroon had proposed that MINPROFF should be given the mandate to preside over but to no avail the request was granted.
-the present disarmament commission also excludes the resolution from it processes.
As an experienced organization WILPF has always been willing to be considered on consultancy on the peace and security agenda but the UN Women seems to disregard the issue. To her all those who have the means to do the greatest advocacy are not taken.
-NAP does not have a budget and to her this has also paralyzed it processes.
However the issue has been confirmed by UN Women West and Central Africa said when on a visit in Cameroon said the adoption of NAP is not the problem but rather the implementation of NAP is the problem.
WILPF Cameroon has worked tirelessly in leadership and participation of Women in Peace Agenda, Protection of Women and girls in the processes and in this regard WILPF has formed a network to handle the 4 pillars of the UNSC Resolution 1325.
Amongst these initiatives were the Women Situation Room, the Women in Electoral Processes with a toll free number the initiative supported by the UK High Commission. The call center WILP Cameroon created was a living testimony.
However, some lessons:-
-The coloration with other actors, legal and administrative authorities is really important.
-research component is really important. It showed clearly that women and girls in Cameroon are suffering from armed conflict.
-During the processes, research, advocacy, there is a change in perception women believe they can lead authorities keep improving.
Perspectives:
-There is optimism in building a stronger platform, need to support local initiatives, supporting the peace building, no matter how small.
-Reiterated on the importance of the early warning mechanisms.
-She said also that it is necessary working hand in gloves creating more activities to attain the objectives though the UNSC Resolution 1325 has many impediments.
She call on all CSOs to take the 2oth Anniversary of the resolution as an opportunity to restrategize and move towards a better achievement, focus and engage more men and women in the program because there is lack of a synergy where men and women are working to realize the Women Peace and Security Agenda and to that effect there is need for a reflection or review on how more other strategies that can be put in place because women at various levels are victims of armed conflicts including children.
The agenda is facing challenges because majority of men have sideline the agenda because they think that the movement is for women and also that women want to take over.
After a thirty minutes break in which everyone retired to their hotels we started with
Floor reactions: 11 am to 1PM
Representing CHRDA (Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa ) congratulated WILPF-Cameroon for bringing civil society Organizations behind such a meaningful and hailed the program as a priority to the community and the Nation. He suggested that the women Peace and security agenda actors can navigate through some sort of a complain mechanism to fight the impediments that are obstructing the realization of the agenda. In that way Cameroon NAP might have a better approach and support from the government. The UN through their complaints written might add pressure to the government since the program is necessary and not binding to signatories. He recommended to be considered as a next step during the review.
Tebi Honurine from Sustainable Women Organization also recommended the idea of bringing the economic empowerment component. The moderator Emili Miki then responded by briefing on the components of WILPF-Cameroon including the Economic component.
Before Brigitte Kake from WILPF and Madam Sylvie also applauded the idea and explained how WILPF has been tackling those issues and also said all suggestions shall be taken into consideration during the review process. Mme Ateufack Lucienne the OSC of CIBAEEVA also commented and asked if it is possible ton have a support document for advocacy to help women in the implementation. Mme Sylvie, WILPF-Cameroon’s president said there is going to be the need to work on document to that effect.
Emilia Epeti Miki, the moderator said there is need for more feedback before the review process and that with feedback it will be possible to engage more women and advocate and get the ball rolling.
The workshop ended at 1 PM and I took my way home.