Award for the Defence of Women’s Rights

Women in Action against Gender-Based Violence, Cameroon

“Men and boys play a vital role in promoting the rights of women,
and therefore need to be involved and educated towards an understanding of gender equality.”

Life in Cameroon in general, and its North West region in particular, is strongly patriarchal. Physical, sexual and psychological violence against women form the bedrock of traditional values and customs.

Women in Action against Gender-Based Violence are working relentlessly to build a culture that respects women’s rights. From local communities to national policies, Women in Action are a strong voice for gender equality.

Working with men and boys is central to their work as they educate communities about gender-based violence and women’s rights. By working with traditionally male professions such as taxi-driving, and reaching young men and boys via social groups such as youth football teams, Women in Action are successfully transforming opinions and attitudes. They also put the local media to effective use in order to get their messages across in an accessible and relevant way.

Women in Action lobby the government to change their policies, and act in a way that protects and promotes the rights of women. Working with local authority figures such as politicians, religious leaders, and traditional clan leaders, has been crucial in campaigning for policy reforms. Some religious leaders now include issues about women’s rights in their weekly sermons.  

Women in Action ensure that violent crimes against women are reported properly.  They play an international role in documenting the abuse of women’s rights, and present reports to UN bodies such as the Campaign on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

By producing and distributing simplified handbooks and information materials, they have succeeded in translating the complex, legal language of human rights into accessible, everyday language. This has enabled victims of abuse to understand their rights and fight for justice. And it has helped local communities to easily understand women’s fundamental rights, so that they can play their part in building a more equal and just society.