GIZ promotes gender equality

The German Cooperation in Cameroon, GIZ, has commemorated the 8th edition of their programme dubbed, “Femme et Fille Fortes,” FFF.

This year’s programme focused on promoting equality among sexes in land ownership, anti-poaching, extractive industries and other domains neglected by either men or women.

FFF promotes gender equality and sustainable development, specifically on gender mainstreaming which is a strategy to reinforce gender equality in the society.

Since 2008, the event has been organised each year by GIZ as a way of contributing to gender sensitisation.

According to the Coordinator of the FFF Focal Point, Janine Fischer, the celebration was in line with activities towards the celebration of the International Women’s Day.

She said the day is not just for feasting, but also to sensitise and recall the need for equality between sexes in all domains of society.

To her, parity between men and women is a key factor to sustainable development, because, economic, political and social enrichment cannot be totally assured if equal developmental possibilities are not given to both men and women.

She stated that the exclusion of women from decision-making has a negative impact on socio-economic as well as political and cultural aspects of the society.

Meanwhile, the Representative of the German Ambassador to Cameroon, May Mahnken, said this year’s edition had two themes, notably; “aspects of gender in the international year of the soil of United Nations 2015 and aspects of men and women in conflict and peace processes.”

“We settled on the theme on soil because 2015 was declared the year of the soil by the United Nations. FFF is applying this in ecology and in the fight against discrimination of women on access to land ownership in Sub-Saharan Africa with focus on the equal distribution of landed property.

“The second theme is, “men and women in conflict and peace processes” because of the ongoing events in the northern part of Cameroon. Here, the effects of insecurity on displaced men and women in the Far North Region of the country and its different effects on men and women is our main area of concern.

The management of protected areas and the fight against poaching is also an issue that concern women,” she stated.

Meanwhile, at the opening ceremony, presentations were made on gender and national development strategy in public finance, environment, decentralisation and health; political and regional developmental strategies in the extractive industries sector, among others.

Other activities to mark the celebration included a workshop on the transformation of banana into flour as well as other products which targeted GIZ personnel who have the duty of applying the knowledge daily. A sport walk to promote equality between men and women, their welfare and good health was one of the activities.