United Nations Earth Summit+5 Success Stories - Women's Advocacy: The League for Woman and Child Education

EARTH SUMMIT+5
Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise
the Implementation of Agenda 21
New York, 23-27 June 1997
SUCCESS STORIES FROM CAMEROON

Women's Advocacy: The League for Woman and Child Education

Location Cameroon

Responsible organization(s) The League for Woman and Child Education

Description In Cameroon women account for 51% of the population, but the figures of women involved in the decision and policy-making process are insignificant. The League for Woman and Child Education was created to raise awareness of Cameroonian women about their key position in the national political life the League initiated a collaborative project, with CIDA (Canadian Agency for International Development) and the Netherlands Embassy, for civic education of the population about the importance of the elections and increase the number of women municipal councilors.

Issues addressed Youths and women advocacy, education.

Objectives Education campaign to mobilize Cameroonian youths and women and raise their awareness about the state of natural, social, and economic environment they live in.
Use of television, popular theater, private press, media, seminars and training to implement the above.
Registration of populations on electoral lists, their nomination by political parties, obtaining voter cards, method of candidacy, the integration of women in decision making for the future of the country, electoral campaigns, assessment of the quality of the candidates and stressing the importance of a political programme.
More deputy women for 1997 Elections.

Results achieved At the end of 21 January 1996 municipal council elections, the number of women nominated by the political parties increased by 6 times, from 636 women in 1987 to more than 3,630 in 1996. Women heading tickets (first name on the list) also increased two-fold, from 432 in 1997 to more than 800 in 1996. Two women were elected mayors and more than 50 women as deputy mayors.

Lessons learned During the implementation of the project, the League found that Government acted as partner, doing its best to help reaching the objectives.
The action of grassroots organizations, which are closely linked to the population, if correctly monitored and morally and financially supported, bring positive change to social patterns.

Financing CIDA: 2,500,000 francs CFA.
Embassy of the Netherlands in Cameroon: 15,096,100 francs CFA.
Dutch Embassy: 7,543,6000 francs CFA.
League: 7,552,000 francs CFA.

Contact The League for woman and Child Education
Immeuble C Pair, Cite Verte, BP 14702, Yaounde', Cameroon
Tel./Fax: 237-22-40-01

Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
1 November 1997

	Women's Advocacy: The League for Woman and Child Education
	Location	Cameroon
	Responsible organization(s)	The League for Woman and Child Education
	Description	In Cameroon women account for 51% of the population, but the figures of women involved in the decision and policy-making process are insignificant. The League for Woman and Child Education was created to raise awareness of Cameroonian women about their key position in the national political life the League initiated a collaborative project, with CIDA (Canadian Agency for International Development) and the Netherlands Embassy, for civic education of the population about the importance of the elections and increase the number of women municipal councilors.
	Issues addressed	Youths and women advocacy, education.
	Objectives	Education campaign to mobilize Cameroonian youths and women and raise their awareness about the state of natural, social, and economic environment they live in. Use of television, popular theater, private press, media, seminars and training to implement the above. Registration of populations on electoral lists, their nomination by political parties, obtaining voter cards, method of candidacy, the integration of women in decision making for the future of the country, electoral campaigns, assessment of the quality of the candidates and stressing the importance of a political programme. More deputy women for 1997 Elections.
	Results achieved	At the end of 21 January 1996 municipal council elections, the number of women nominated by the political parties increased by 6 times, from 636 women in 1987 to more than 3,630 in 1996. Women heading tickets (first name on the list) also increased two-fold, from 432 in 1997 to more than 800 in 1996. Two women were elected mayors and more than 50 women as deputy mayors.
	Lessons learned	During the implementation of the project, the League found that Government acted as partner, doing its best to help reaching the objectives. The action of grassroots organizations, which are closely linked to the population, if correctly monitored and morally and financially supported, bring positive change to social patterns.
	Financing	CIDA: 2,500,000 francs CFA. Embassy of the Netherlands in Cameroon: 15,096,100 francs CFA. Dutch Embassy: 7,543,6000 francs CFA. League: 7,552,000 francs CFA.
	Contact	The League for woman and Child Education Immeuble C Pair, Cite Verte, BP 14702, Yaounde', Cameroon Tel./Fax: 237-22-40-01