Women groups give Cameroon government, separatist fighters 30 days to announce ceasefire in NW, SW
Five groups of women have called on stakeholders in the Anglophone crisis to put their weapons down and pave a way forward. They include the South West North West Women Taskforce, SNWOT, Southern Cameroons European Women, SCEW, Christian Women Fellowship, CWF, Cameroon Baptist Convention Women’s Department, CBCWD and the United Methodist Women Association in Cameroon, […]
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Five groups of women have called on stakeholders in the Anglophone crisis to put their weapons down and pave a way forward. They include the South West North West Women Taskforce, SNWOT, Southern Cameroons European Women, SCEW, Christian Women Fellowship, CWF, Cameroon Baptist Convention Women’s Department, CBCWD and the United Methodist Women Association in Cameroon, UMWAC. Taking the position of mothers, aunties, sisters and daughters, the groups say they are alarmed by significant human rights abuses committed by government forces and separatist fighters.
This, they note, is in addition to the loss of thousands of lives and the damage caused which have culminated in four years of no schooling, increased child and maternal mortality, absence of primary health care and acute food shortage. Citing UN Security Council Resolution, UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and 2535 on cessation of hostilities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the groups say it is necessary for parties to the conflict to “respect human life and dignity and protect the population, to stop the alarming death toll; cease all hostilities by all armed actors immediately…” Revealing that they “… expect all parties to announce a cessation of hostilities within the next 30 days,” the groups say this should be a written agreement with each party clearly stating its commitment.
The groups proceed to call on government and separatist fighters to ensure dialogue follows. “Agree to a 6-month ceasefire to allow for political space to discuss these points…” they urge both parties, adding that the dialogue should be done with representatives of the Anglophone civil society present. The call is one of several others made by groups, states and humanitarian bodies for peace to return to the North West and South-West regions. UN estimates hold that close to a million kids are already out of school due to the crisis, a situation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
