Progress on Cameroon's UNSCR 1325 NAP
By Joanna Lockspeiser
WILPF members filled with inspiration after the 2015 regional conference on conflict prevention (Photo: Tove Ivergard/WILPF Sweden)
There have been great steps made towards the adoption of a National Action Plan (NAP) on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 for Cameroon. On 21 July, 2016, the government of Cameroon sent out a call for submissions for two individual consultants to support the NAP development. The consultants will support the Ministry in developing a plan to achieve full and equal participation of women, gender mainstreaming in peace and security initiatives and the full implementation of UNSCR 1325.
The move follows several successful awareness-raising workshops, lobbying and advocacy activities held by civil society under the leadership of WILPF Cameroon. This included a December 2014 study by WILPF Cameroon, with the support of WILPF/PeaceWomen, to assess the level of knowledge about UNSCR 1325. In November 2015, WILPF Cameroon also hosted WILPF Africa’s Regional Conference on the participation of women in conflict prevention and crisis management, followed immediately by a series of advocacy visits including a meeting with the Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family.
We look forward to WILPF Cameroon’s continued involvement and urge the government of Cameroon to continue to include civil society in all phases of the NAP; development, implementation and monitor and evaluation.
For more information on the NAP workshop, read here.