After launching an initiative to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in the North-West Region, the Association for the Promotion of Women’s Rights and Peace Building (AP-WORP) convened a high-level stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Bamenda and secured strong commitments from across the spectrum.
Stakeholders engagement meeting
Stakeholders engagement meeting
The meeting brought together representatives from women-led organisations, journalists, human rights bodies, health professionals, legal practitioners, and development partners. All signed a commitment board, pledging to actively contribute to the success of ‘Restoring dignity: advancing sexual and reproductive health rights and justice for GBV survivors in crisis-affected communities of the North-West Region.’
For Munteh Florence Chea, project lead and AP-WORP Executive Director, the message was the fight for survivors’ rights cannot be won in isolation.
“Restoring dignity and advancing sexual and reproductive health rights and justice can never be an affair of one person or one organisation. I personally believe in partnerships to create more impact that is sustainable in communities,” she told Hilltopvoices.
She explained that because the project is locally owned, it is designed to be sustainable. However, given its multifaceted nature, success depends on the active participation of every stakeholder from women’s groups to media, from health workers to legal officers.
“Everybody who came out today for this awareness raising campaign is an important person. We must work together to address the issues survivors are facing, advocating for access, affordability, and environments that enable especially young people to express themselves and seek the information they need.” Munteh Florence said
In outlining the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, Maku Vivian stressed that their involvement will be crucial to achieving the project’s expected community impact. She noted that strengthening systems through robust referral networks and improved access to legal aid will help survivors navigate the often complex path from reporting abuse to securing justice. Policy advocacy, survivor-led campaigns, and stakeholder-driven dialogue will further push for stronger frameworks and better resource allocation for SRHR and GBV services.
These combined efforts, she said, are expected to yield improved social and political support for women’s access to SRHR services, increased uptake of high-quality care by survivors, and multi-sectoral collaborations that guarantee smooth service delivery. More women and girls will be reached with vital SRHR information, health facilities will be supported to provide quality care, and healthcare workers will be trained to respond effectively to the needs of survivors.
The meeting also gave stakeholders a chance to share how they see their roles in driving the project forward.
Ndema Irene, representing the Cameroon National Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW), highlighted the significance of the survivor-centred approach:
“They will actually be touching the persons affected, which is going to be a wonderful thing because most of these persons, when they suffer gender-based violence, don’t have access to information or services. They shy away. The survivor-centred approach will go a long way to meet their needs.”
Ndong Raphaela Kianda, Coordinator of the Justice and Peace Service of the Archdiocese of Bamenda, called the project “very timely”:
“As a service, we cannot do it alone. Having AP-WORP come up with this project will have a very large impact in the community.”
Representatives from the Regional Delegation of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, the Cameroon Human Rights Commission, and UN Women echoed this optimism, promising to contribute both in words and action.
Also in attendance was Dr Sally Mboumien, CEO and Founder of Common Action for Gender Development (COMMANGEND), who has served as a mentor to Florence. She pledged her continued guidance, underscoring the importance of solidarity in initiatives that aim to transform the lives of GBV survivors.
With stakeholder backing now formalised through the Commitment Board, AP-WORP will proceed with coordinated activities aimed at improving access to sexual and reproductive health services, expanding legal protection, and ensuring survivors can live with dignity.
By mobilising this coalition, the ‘Restoring Dignity’ project moves beyond being an organisational effort and now it becomes a shared responsibility. In a region where crisis has deepened the scars of GBV, this united front offers a rare and vital chance to rebuild trust, restore hope, and give survivors the voice and justice they deserve.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Newsroom
Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com
Tel: 6 94 71 85 77
