The hall was calm with anticipation as the representative of the Governor of the North West Region rose from his seat and strode towards a conspicuous whiteboard mounted at the side of the room. Clutched in his hand was a marker, but what he was about to do carried more weight than mere ink on a surface. With quiet deliberation, he scrawled his office beneath a bold declaration: “To amplify women’s voices in peacebuilding processes.” Behind him, a steady stream of men followed government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and heads of village development associations all stepping forward to place their signatures on what would become a symbolic commitment to gender inclusion in peace and security efforts.
Participants signing commitment board
This moment capped off an advocacy workshop on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, held in Bamenda on Thursday, 26 June 2025. Organised by the Community Women Peace Builders Network (COWOPNET), under the leadership of the Centre for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development (CAGEAD), the workshop is part of a broader project titled community driven actions for the promotion of grassroots women’s participation in peacebuilding through awareness raising on UNSCR1325. The project promotes women’s leadership in peace efforts, particularly in the conflict affected North West Region of Cameroon, now in its ninth year of armed crisis.
Dr Eileen Tabuwe Akwo, who served as lead facilitator, guided participants through an incisive series of discussions, from evaluating participants’ perceptions of women’s roles in leadership and peace processes to a focused session on power, policy and exclusion which became a candid unpacking of structural and cultural barriers that inhibit women’s participation.
“One of the most significant outcomes today was that it was men themselves who identified the barriers be they cultural, political, and social that keep women out of peace processes. That level of awareness is the first step toward transformation.” Dr Eileen Tabuwe noted.
The WPS Agenda, anchored by UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR1325), highlights the critical role women play in preventing conflict and building peace. Yet in the North West Region, where insecurity has displaced thousands and strained community cohesion, women remain largely excluded from decision-making spaces. This exclusion often perpetuates cycles of marginalisation, even though women are disproportionately affected by the fallout of conflict.
This is the reality that motivated Memong Meno Esp Mooung Elise Pierrette, of the Association de Lutte contre les Violences faites aux Femmes (ALVF), to support the workshop financially.
“We chose to fund this workshop because women consistently suffer the most during conflict. Getting men involved at the grassroots level is a powerful way to shift that reality.” She said expressing hope that the workshop would inspire participants to act and take the message back to their communities.
Among those who pledged to do just that was Oliver Mokere, representing the regional delegation for Women Empowerment and the Family. He noted the ministry’s practical work through its 11 Women Empowerment and Family Centres in the region.
“We train women and girls in various skills from hotel management to entrepreneurship and it has changed lives. Many now run their own businesses. Now, with this commitment, we are moving from theory to practice. We will take the message to every centre. This ties in directly with Resolution 1325 and even the goals of the Beijing Conference.” he stated
Etoh Anzah Herbert Atsa, President of the Cameroon National Youth Council for Bamenda II Subdivision, described his signature as a promise to bring women into the heart of peace and leadership structures.
“From Chomba to Mankon to Mbatu, we will ensure that young girls and women are actively involved in decision-making. In the past, women were not fairly represented in our activities definitely not 50-50. That will change. We may face challenges, but we are youthful, and where there is will, there is always a way.” Etoh Anzah committed
Faith-based communities, which often serve as both sanctuary and social compass during crises, also pledged their support. Rev. Pastor Aseh Aaron, of the First Baptist Church Wombong in Nijinikom, said the workshop reaffirmed his commitment to advocacy from the pulpit.
“Women should not be left behind in promoting peace and community development. They make up the majority of our churches and have brilliant ideas. After today, I believe their presence in these processes can grow from 40 to 70 percent. They should no longer be suppressed.” he said
According to Ekoume Ndema Irene, representing the organisers COWOPNET, the commitment board was was a deliberate act of accountability.
“A signature is a person’s identity. When you sign, you are saying: I will act... This was not just about raising awareness; participants left with specific actions to implement in their communities. That’s why we consider this a powerful success.” she explained.
Reflecting on the impact of the day, Dr Eileen Tabuwe Akwo returned to a core principle that underpinned the workshop’s innovation of centering men as allies, not bystanders.
“In peacebuilding, we have often focused on training women alone. But the truth is, men are the ones who still control many of the decision-making spaces. If they recognise this power, and choose to share it, we will see real change. Today, many of them made that choice and that gives me hope.”
In a region still scarred by conflict, where the sounds of guns have too often drowned out the voices of women, the act of signing a board may seem small. But in Bamenda, it maybe a turning point coming as a public promise from the men who hold power to amplify the voices that must now be heard.
By Bakah Derick
Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com
Tel: 6 94 71 85 77