2016 Africa Day:Rights of women in the spotlight

The rights of the African woman yesterday May 25, 2016, in Yaounde came under focus as Cameroon joined the rest of the continent to commemorate the Africa Day. Activities at the Ministry of External Relations were chaired by the Minister Delegate in the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Relations with the Commonwealth, Joseph Dion Ngute, in the presence of the Minister of Women Empowerment and the Family, Marie Therese Abena Ondoa and other cabinet ministers, as well as members of the diplomatic corps.

Speaking during the event which had as theme "2016, Africa Year of Human Rights with particular focus on the Rights of Women", Dion Ngute, said the celebrations of the anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which today is African Union (AU), offers the opportunity to assess progress made and the priority challenges identified in view of achieving the full integration of the continent.

He saluted ongoing efforts made by AU to implement Agenda 2063 aimed at transforming Africa especially in human development though constraints such as human rights particularly on women still persist. He also outlined strides made by the government of Cameroon in fostering gender equality and protecting the rights of women.

Other speakers at the ceremony which was punctuated by a poem, musical interlude which all valorised the African woman, included the Representative of the African Union in Cameroon and the President of the African Diplomatic Group, Martial Beti Marace, Ambassador of the Central African Republic to Cameroon. Ambassador Beti Marace used the opportunity to express the support and solidarity of the entire continent to Cameroon and its leader for his clairvoyance in fighting terrorism and promoting human rights in Africa.