To start the workshop, a poem on peace was presented in which the presenter demonstrated the plight of the women and her ability to overcome it via peace building processes.
The opening ceremony was honoured by the presence of the following authorities: Central Provincial Delegate of Women’s Empowerment and family; representing the Minister; The Resident Coordinator of the UN system in Cameroon; The National Programme Officer of the United Nations Development Fund For Women(UNIFEM) and some UN Agencies, representatives of MINAS, MINEDUB, MINREX and MINJUSTICE, as well as UNESCO and the Gender and development Fund of the Canadian cooperation.
In his welcome speech, the Executive Director of Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy(CHRAPA), Chongsi Ayeah Joseph, thanked the representative of the concerned ministries present in the occasion through whom the commitment of the Cameroon Government to implement her international engagements especially those related to human rights are seen.
He also thanked UNIFEM for financing the organization of the seminar. He said that the adoption of Resolution 1325 by the UN Security Council in October 2000 was a big step towards gender equality but regretted that five years after its adoption, it is still not well known and used in Cameroon. The wish therefore is that through this workshop, resolution 1325 will be know and used in Cameroon.
He also acknowledged the fact that the Cameroon woman has greatly contributed to the peace which Cameroon enjoys in a sub-region ravaged by war and armed conflicts. It is for this reason that he called on the government and public authorities to try by all means to enable women to take part in decision making processes. He concluded by calling on the participants to make useful conclusions and recommendation for the best strategies through which women can sensitize the public authorities on the importance of Resolution 1325 on peace building processes.
