STATEMENT

BY

H. E : Pr. JULIENNE NGO SOM

MINISTER OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS

HEAD OF THE CAMEROONIAN DELEGATION

TO THE 23rd SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNITED NATION

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON

"WOMEN 2000: GENDER EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT

AND PEACE FOR THE TWENTY‑FIRST CENTURY"

NEW YORK JUNE 9, 2000

MISSION PERMANENTE DU CAMEROUN PERMANENT MISSION OF CAMEROON

AUPRES DES NATIONS UNIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS

THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT FOR GIVING MY DELEGATION THE

OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON "WOMEN 2000:GENDER EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE FOR THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY".

TAKING THE FLOOR FOR THE FIRST TIME, MR. PRESIDENT, THE CAMEROONIAN DELEGATION, UNDER MY LEADERSHIP CONGRATULATES YOU AND WISHES YOU MORE SUCCESS AND GOD'S GUIDANCE FOR THE REST OF YOUR MANDATE. MAY I EQUALLY TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND TO YOU WARM GREETINGS FROM THE CAMEROONIAN WOMEN.

MR. PRESIDENT,

THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED UNDER A MACRO‑ECONOMIC CONTEXT CHARACTERIZED BY A SEVERE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS WHICH HAS AFFECTED OUR COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN A HALF DECADE. AS A RESULT, THE CAMEROON GOVERNMENT WAS OBLIGED TO REDUCE PUBLIC EXPENDITURES IN SOCIAL SECTORS. THIS HAS LED TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF MOST CAMEROONIANS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE CAMEROON GOVERNMENT HAS THE REQUISITE POLITICAL WILL AND IS COMMITTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN. THIS POLITICAL WILL WAS REAFFIRMED BY THE ADOPTION IN JULY 1999, OF A NATIONAL POLICY DECLARATION FOR THE INTEGRATION OF WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT. THE GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF THIS POLICY IS TO CREATE A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIORITY AREAS AS DEFINED IN THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION.

CAMEROON'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN RELATION TO THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION

MR. PRESIDENT,

PERMIT ME TO REVIEW 8 CRITICAL AREAS OF THIS PLATFORM AND LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CAMEROON SO FAR.

I. WOMEN AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION

FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE THIS CRITICAL AREA, INCOME GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING SECTORS:

• AGRICULTURE
• LIVESTOCK
• FISHERIES, AQUACULTURE
• ENVIRONMENT,
• MEDICINAL PLANTS
• HORTICULTURE
• TRADING
• INFORMAL SECTOR
• HANDICRAFT
• TOURISM
• TEXTILE.

POLICIES AND PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION AMONG WOMEN. IN 1998, A NATIONAL STRATEGY DECLARATION AGAINST POVERTY WAS PUBLISHED, WITH A SPECIFIC PLAN OF ACTION TO FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AMONG WOMEN. A NATIONAL SURVEY USING A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH HAS JUST BEEN CARRIED OUT. ITS OBJECTIVE WAS TO DETERMINE THE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF POVERTY IN CAMEROON, WITH A SPECIAL ATTENTION TO WOMEN. ACCORDING TO CAMEROON WOMEN, THE TEN LEADING CAUSES OF POVERTY AMONG WOMEN INCLUDE:

• LACK OF INFORMATION AND TRAINING;
• LACK OF ROADS AND MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION;
• LACK OF FUNDS TO FINANCE THEIR INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES;
• LARGE FAMILIES;
• DIFFICULT ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, FERTILIZERS AND SEEDS;
• LOW ACCESS TO BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES (EDUCATION, HEALTH, WATER);
• LACK OF FOOD PROCESSING UNITS;
• LOW EDUCATIONAL LEVEL;

· LACK OF MARKET OUTLETS AND ABSENCE OF ORGANISATION IN; THE COMMERCIALISATION OF GOODS;

• LACK OF RURAL MARKETS AND FOOD STORAGE FACILITIES.

IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WOMEN BLAMED THEIR POVERTY ON THEIR HUSBANDS WHO DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO A CARRY OUT ACTIVITIES AWAY FROM HOME. OTHER CAUSES OF POVERTY MENTIONED BY THE WOMEN INCLUDE: HARD WORKING CONDITIONS, WITCHCRAFT AND TRADITIONAL BELIEFS.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS INCREASED AND REINFORCED THE NUMBER OF

TECHNICAL ORGANS FOR THE PROMOTION OF WOMEN SOCIO ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES. THESE ARE THE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT CENTRES (WEC) AND THE APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY CENTRES (ATC). AS A RESULT, MORE AND MORE WOMEN ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES RANGING FROM HOME ECONOMICS, FOOD PRODUCTION, CASSAVA PROCESSING, INFORMAL SECTOR, TRADING, TOURISM, AND SO ON. CREDIT SCHEMES ARE BEING DEVELOPED AT THE GRASS ROOT LEVEL TO HELP WOMEN FINANCE THEIR INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES.

II. EDUCATION AND TRAINING

SPECIAL ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID TO ADVOCACY AND SOCIAL MARKETING TOWARDS PARENTS, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS. THE AIM IS TO CREATE PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE NEED TO TREAT BOYS AND GIRLS EQUITABLY, WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOLING. AS A RESULT GIRLS ENROLMENT IN PRIMARY SCHOOL HAS GONE UP. WITH RESPECT TO NON‑FORMAL EDUCATION, THE LITERACY RATE OF ADULT WOMEN HAS ALSO IMPROVED.

III. WOMEN AND HEALTH

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND STRATEGIES FOLLOWING THE BEIJING CONFERENCE HAVE CREATED A STRONG PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE NEED TO TACKLE THE WOMEN'S HEALTH PROBLEMS. SEVERAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION SURVEYS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT TO SHOW THE SCOPE OF THESE PROBLEMS WHICH INCLUDE: HIGH MATERNAL AND CHILD MORTALITY RATE, HIGH PREVALENCE OF UNDER‑NUTRITION, ANEMIA, VITAMIN A, IRON AND IODINE DEFICIENCY DISEASES. IT IS NOW KNOWN THAT CAMEROONIAN WOMEN ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUP WITH RESPECT TO MALARIA, HIV/AIDS AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES. GENDER ISSUES ARE NOW BEING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN NATIONAL HEALTH POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL HIV/AID PREVENTION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS.

IV. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THE GIRL CHILD

SENSITISATION CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND INFORMATION HAS BEEN CIRCULATING TO THE PUBLIC WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (INJURIES, BROKEN ARMS INVALIDITY). SOME NATIONAL NGOS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS HAVE CREATED HEALTH CENTRES TO CARE FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. LEGAL CLINICS HAVE ALSO BEEN OPENED.

V. WOMEN IN POWER AND DECISION MAKING POSITIONS

THE DEMOCRATISATION OF PUBLIC LIFE HAS ATTRACTED A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN INTO POLITICS. TODAY, MANY WOMEN ARE MEMBERS OF SEVERAL POLITICAL PARTIES. IN THE RULING PARTY, 23% OF THE POSTS OF RESPONSIBILITY ARE HELD BY WOMEN. IN THE PARLIAMENT AND THE LOCAL COUNCILS, WOMEN REPRESENT 5.5% AND 10.% RESPECTIVELY. THERE ARE 4 WOMEN MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT AND TWO SECRETARY GENERALS OF MINISTRIES. THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS ALSO IMPROVING THE SITUATION WITH RESPECT TO WOMEN INDECISION MAKING POSITIONS.

VI. INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF CAMEROON HAS SHOWN ITS COMMITMENT TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH THE CREATION OF STRONG ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS AT THE CENTRAL, INTERMEDIARY AND COMMUNITY LEVELS. AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL, THERE IS THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS, WITH BRANCHES AT THE PROVINCIAL, DIVISIONAL AND SUB DIVISIONAL LEVELS. TECHNICAL ORGANS INCLUDING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT CENTERS (WEC) AND APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY CENTRES(ATC) HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING OF WOMEN AT THE GRASS ROOT LEVELS. IN ADDITION TO THIS GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK, THERE ARE NETWORKS OF ORGANIZATIONS, FEMALE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND NGOS WORKING ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS, EDUCATION, AGAINST VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION, AND FOR THE SOCIO ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN.

CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO INCLUDE GENDER ISSUES AND GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SECTORS SUCH AS AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, HIGHER EDUCATION AND SO ON. STRONG COLLABORATION EXISTS BETWEEN THE CORRESPONDING GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS. JOINT PROJECTS ARE DEVELOPED AND CARRIED OUT TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF WOMEN. FOCAL POINTS AND RESOURCE PERSONS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THESE MINISTRIES TO LIAISE WITH THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS.

VII. WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS

CAMEROON HAS RATIFIED THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN.

RELEVANT POLICIES HAVE BEEN FORMULATED TO PROMOTE THE CAMEROONIAN WOMAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS. A NATIONAL COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SET UP AND A PLAN OF ACTION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO REVIEW ALL LAWS WHICH DISCRIMINATE AGAINST WOMEN.

TODAY, THE CAMEROON PUBLIC IS WELL AWARE OF THE RIGHT OF WOMEN, AND WORK IS GOING ON TO AMEND DISCRIMINATORY LAWS AND CODES. SOME POSITIVE CHANGE HAS BEEN NOTICED AS REGARDS TO DISCRIMINATORY CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONAL PRACTICES.

WITH RESPECT TO THE GIRL CHILD, THE NATIONAL POLICY EMPHASISES ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AND DETRIMENTAL CULTURAL PRACTICES AGAINST THE GIRL CHILD, INCLUDING SEXUAL MUTILATION AND EXPLOITATION.

VIII. WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT

EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CREATE AWARENESS ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN SUSTAINABLE EXPLOITATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND THE NEED TO PREVENT POLLUTION AND KEEP THE ENVIRONMENT CLEAN. A NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED WITH SPECIFIC PRIORITY AREAS ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. THE OBJECTIVES ARE:

· TO INVOLVE WOMEN IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION;

· TO PROMOTE THE USE BY WOMEN OF ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE COUNTRY'S VERY RICH ANIMAL AND PLANT BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

MR. PRESIDENT,

AS YOU CAN SEE, MY COUNTRY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CAMEROONIAN WOMEN DESPITE A MACRO ECONOMIC CONTEXT CHARACTERIZED BY ECONOMIC CRISIS AND AN UNSUSTAINABLE DEBT BURDEN. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CREATED AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PROMOTION OF WOMEN AS A RESULT OF WHICH OUR SOCIETY IS, GRADUALLY, BECOMING MORE AND MORE GENDER CONSCIOUS AND GENDER SENSITIVE. MAINSTREAMING OF GENDER ISSUES IN MAJOR SECTORS OF NATIONAL LIFE HAS BECOME A PRIORITY AND GENDER MAINSTREAMING IS GAINING GROUNDS IN MANY NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.

OBSTACLES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEIJING

PLATFORM FOR ACTION AND PERSPECTIVES

MR. PRESIDENT,

FROM 1995 TO DATE, SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, THOUGH NOT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES, AND A LOT IS YET TO BE DONE. THE MAJOR OBSTACLE ENCOUNTERED BY MY GOVERNMENT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION HAS BEEN THE LACK OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES. A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO WOMEN'S PROMOTION PROJECTS HAS BEEN USED TO SERVICE THE HEAVY DEBT CAMEROON OWES TO INTERNATIONALL CREDITORS.

OTHER OBSTACLES HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED WITH RESPECT TO POVERTY ALLEVIATION, EDUCATION, HEALTH, POWER AND DECISION MAKING POSITIONS, WOMEN'S RIGHTS, GENDER, MAINSTREAMING WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT. THESE OBSTACLES INCLUDE:

• LOW LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND IGNORANCE AMONG WOMEN;
• POOR HEALTH;
• PREVAILING GENDER STEREOTYPING AND DISCRIMINATORY;

ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES AGAINST WOMEN;

• LOW SOCIO‑CULTURAL IMAGE OF WOMEN;
• LACK OF SELF CONFIDENCE AND OVER RELIANCE ON MEN WHEN;

ITS COMES TO POLITICAL PARTICIPATION;

• WOMEN'S MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES AND UNPAID WORK;
• LACK OF TIME;
• CONFLICTS BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL AND FAMILY LIFE;
• LACK OF ORGANISATION WITHIN THE CIVIL SOCIETY;
• INADEQUATE ACCESS TO AND USE OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION;
• LACK OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SKILLS;
• LIMITED ACCESS TO NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES;
• LACK OF FUNDS FOR POLITICAL AND INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES;
• LACK OF MARKET OUTLETS;
• THE ABSENCE OF ORGANISATION IN THE COMMERCIALISATION OF GOODS;

· INSUFFICIENT RURAL MARKETS AND FOOD STORAGE FACILITIES.

NEW ISSUES TRENDS AND CONCERNS

MR. PRESIDENT,

MY DELEGATION HAS NOTED THAT BESIDES THESE OBSTACLES NEW TRENDS, ISSUES AND CONCERNS HAVE EMERGED, WHICH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IF THE GOALS OF EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE ARE TO BE ATTAINED FOR ALL IN THIS NEW MILLENNIUM. LET ME CITE BUT A FEW.

• GLOBALISATION AND NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES;
• THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE PROMOTION OF PEACE;
• THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS, ESPECIALLY AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS;
• THE TRAFFIC OF CHILDREN AND THE EXPLOITATION OF THE GIRL CHILD;
• PERSISTENT POVERTY AMONG WOMEN;
• THE DETERIORATION OF WOMEN'S HEALTH, ESPECIALLY; REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AT CHILDBEARING AGE, ADOLESCENT GIRLS, THE ELDERLY WOMAN AND WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES;.
• THE NEEDS FOR WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROMOTION OF THEIR NATIONAL CULTURE AND MORAL VALUES FOR A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

THESE OBSTACLES TOGETHER WITH THE EMERGING ISSUES, CONCERNS AND NEW TRENDS IDENTIFIED ABOVE ARE TO US A TIMELY SIGNAL THAT ALTHOUGH APPRECIABLE GROUND HAVE BEEN COVERED IN OUR EFFORTS TO ADVANCE WOMEN, A LOT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE

PERSPECTIVES

MR. PRESIDENT,

THE HEAD OF STATE, H. E. PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA HAS MADE THE SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION OF POVERTY AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE VULNERABLE GROUPS ESPECIALLY WOMEN, THE CORNER STONE OF HIS PRESIDENTIAL MANDATE.

IN THAT PERSPECTIVE, MY DELEGATION HOPES THAT CAMEROON WILL BENEFIT FROM THE HEAVILY INDEBTED POOR COUNTRIES (HIPC) INITIATIVE SO AS TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT FULFIL ITS COMMITMENTS IN COLLABORATION AND SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP WITH FRIENDLY GOVERNMENTS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND THE UN SYSTEM, TRADITIONAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS, NGOS, AND ABOVE ALL WITH MEN AND WOMEN THEMSELVES. IN THIS WAY, WE COULD HOPE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO GENDER EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!