DevelopmentNews

Cameroonian Minister Reveals 67 Women Lost to Recurring Femicide Since January 2024

The Cameroon government has set up a hotline through which women who feel in danger can call for assistance. The National Commission for Human Rights also has an emergency line for the same purpose.

Marie-Theresa Ondoa, the Cameroonian Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Family, said 67 femicide cases had been recorded in Cameroon since the beginning of this year.

Ondoa said this during the International Day for the Fight Against Violence Against Women and Girls celebration. She revealed that 39 per cent of women in the country were subjected to physical, psychological, social, and cultural violence based on their gender, suggesting that often, this violence is inflicted by men and results in deaths.

Corroborating the minister, Kah Walla, the leader of the Cameroon Peoples Party (CPP), accused the administration of President Paul Biya of handling cases involving violence against women with lethargy. In a statement, the womenā€™s rights activist condemned the ā€œcondescending and contemptuous attitude of senior government officials, including the President of the Republic, who organise festivities while citizens are assassinated, without sending a word of condolence to victims and their families nor Cameroonians traumatised by the rising insecurity.ā€

Walla noted that the total absence of psychosocial support to victims has traumatised neighbourhoods, directly affecting rape survivors or victims of attempted murder. She called on the government to put in place a direct emergency telephone line for women in danger to obtain immediate assistance. 

The politician called for the establishment of a centre fighting violence against women in the 360 municipalities in the country. She also advocated for the training of all police operatives and the creation of special police units charged with fighting femicide.

The Cameroon government has now set up a hotline through which women who feel in danger can call for assistance. The National Commission for Human Rights also has an emergency line for the same purpose.

Around 140 women and girls globally die daily at the hands of their partner or close relative ā€” tentatively implying that one woman or girl is likely killed every 10 minutes ā€” according to a United Nations report

The report estimated that, in 2023 alone, 85,000 women and girls fell victim to femicide around the world. It noted that 60 per cent (51,000) of them were killed by intimate family members, including fathers, husbands, brothers, and uncles. 

Africa seems to have shared the larger portion of the disturbing figures, with 21,700 women and girls losing their lives across the continent.

Marie-Theresa Ondoa, Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Family in Cameroon, reported 67 cases of femicide in 2023.

She highlighted during the International Day for the Fight Against Violence Against Women and Girls that 39% of Cameroonian women suffer gender-based violence, often resulting in death. Kah Walla, leader of the CPP, criticized the government for its indifferent response and urged the establishment of support systems and specialized police units.

A hotline for endangered women has been introduced by the government. Globally, a UN report estimates that 85,000 women and girls faced femicide in 2023, with 60% killed by intimate family members. Africa, notably, accounts for 21,700 of these deaths, underscoring the continent's severe share of this problem.


Support Our Journalism

There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.

To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.

Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.

Donate Here

Of course, we want our exclusive stories to reach as many people as possible and would appreciate it if you republish them. We only ask that you properly attribute to HumAngle, generally including the author's name, a link to the publication and a line of acknowledgement. Contact us for enquiries or requests.

Contact Us

Chief Bisong Etahoben

Chief Bisong Etahoben is a Cameroonian investigative journalist and traditional ruler. He writes for international media and has participated in several transnational investigations. Etahoben won the first-ever Cameroon Investigative Journalist Award in 1992. He serves as a member of a number of international investigative journalism professional bodies including the Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR). He is HumAngle's Francophone and Central Africa editor.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Translate Ā»