Curbing Gender-based Violence: Douala Call Centre’s Remarkable Efforts

A net work of journalists and communicators learnt 70% of cases are successfully handled.

Gender-based violence is gaining grounds in Cameroon in general and Douala in particular. Statistics from UN Women indicates that the rate of violence meted on women in Cameroon increases on a daily basis with Douala occupying the second position with 55 per cent. Due to the preoccupying situation, a Network of Journalist and Communicators on Gender-based Violence (NETCOM-gender), was born the same day the Douala Call Centre went operational to sensitise the general public on violence and the consequences.

During the commemoration of the World Day to Fight Gender-based Violence and the beginning of the 9th edition of 16 Days to fight violence against women, members of NETCOM-gender, visited the Douala Call Centre to know its performance in order to intensify sensitisation on their various medium.

At the Call Centre that went operational on December 2, 2015, the Chief of Centre, Sylvie Tchakounte revealed that 303 cases of violence have been received since creation. Among the figure, 122 serious physical violence victims (women), 70 per cent of treated cases had positive results while 26 per cent of culprits signed a protocol agreement never to beat their spouses again. With all the statistics and images of some victims received, the President of NETCOM-gender, Gaëlle Moudio enjoined journalists to project the Call Centre and make Cameroonians understand what violence is all about, and eventually stop the attitude. For the 16 Days to fight violence against women, the network will hold radio talks and debates on Television channels in a bid to raise awareness on the bad practice.