Skip to main content


LUKMEF TELLS COMMUNITY LEADERS TO SPEAK UP GBV AND UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS

BY MILDRED NDUM WUNG KUM

Gender Based Violence GBV, is becoming a popular word, however the wave of violence against gender is still a concern especially in communities in Cameroon. Females are mostly the victims of such violence. 

The situation is even higher because the Cameroon Anglophone crisis has exposed a proportion of women and girls fleeing conflicts to experience the hell of GBV. LUKMEF in a ceremony on December 10th 2019 said community leaders must speak up against GBV and human rights should be observed for a harmonious living together. These were part of activities to round off the sixteen days of activism against GBV and to observe the International Day of Human Rights in Bamenda, Cameroon.
The Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Foundation (LUKMEF) is an NGO with a branch in Bamenda, committed to helping victims of the Anglophone crisis by helping the displaced the abandoned, the abused and the violated. 

 “I encourage the community to report any case of violence to LUKMEF, no negotiaton with the perpetrator, see something say something. GBV is a very critical aspect that must be addressed in our communities and most especially, the youths are the most targeted people. The young adolescents are involved in illegal activities that lead to certain activities which expose them to violence so we are hoping that through this GBV sensitization campaign, everything should be arrested” Project Coordinator of LUKMEF Northwest region, Unussa Haruna said while addressing community leaders at the wrap up ceremony.


Project Coordinator Unussa Harunu

                                         
               Youth and Community leaders being sensitized

The painful stories were told at length, a ten year old girl was raped by her father at the Up Station neighbourhood Bamenda..., a man raped an eight year old, seven girls recently reported to LUKMEF that they have been raped, eighteen other women reported that they were battered, many other pregnant girls reported that they have been abandoned, etc
They are victims of physical, psychological, economic and sexual violence. Most cases of violation against females happen because girls and women are not given the chance to be empowered in the social sector.

Participants at the session were told that, to combat the situation, there is need for sensitization and communication about GBV. There is also the need to put males and females on a common ground; give them equal opportunities to education, expression and profession. This would empower the female thereby going a long way to combat violence.
According to officials of LUKMEF, they have been engaged in the fight against violence as well as sensitization about human rights.

The beneficiaries of LUKMEF include 3000 people in Azire, 1000 people in mile five Nkwen, 2500 in Konene and 2800 in Bua Bua. The communities are in and around Bamenda where many young girls and women are displaced within the context of the Anglophone crisis.

They also disclosed that they have a rehabilitation center to empower survivors of violence.
LUKMEF is located at Fon’s street Bamenda, Second Floor of the  Awing Credit Union Building.


Comments

Editor's Picks

KUMBO BISHOP SETS FEB 21 TO  PRAY FOR NGARBUH VICTIMS BY MILDRED NDUM WUNG KUM The Bishop of Kumbo Diocese His Lordship George Nkuo has set February 21 as a day of prayer for some twenty four Cameroonians attacked in the locality of Ngarbuh Ntumbaw in the wee hours of February 14th 2020. The prelate’s appeal comes 96 hours (four days) after a massacre on Ngarbuh inhabitants.  In the call for prayers to be said for victims of the incident, the communiqué carries words of compassion from Bishop Nkuo “I hereby declare Friday 21st February 2020 as a day of prayer and mourning in the entire Diocese of Kumbo for the Victims of the Ngarguh disaster. In this way, we shall vehemently say yes to life and No to dead in solidarity with the recent message of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon... A requiem Mass should be celebrated in all our churches and where possible an ecumenical service be organised to implore God for an end to this socio political crisis that has plu...
RECONSTRUCTION OF CRISIS CAMEROON ANGLO REGIONS SET OFF BY MILDRED NDUM WUNG KUM A project considered as one that would leapfrog the socio economic status of the affected in the Anglophone crisis. Paul Tasong, the national coordinator tasked with reconstruction and development of the Northwest and Southwest regions held a meeting with stakeholders in Bamenda. He outlined the beneficiaries and the extent of the entire plan for the reconstruction and development of the regions. In the presence of religious leaders, administrative heads, traditional rulers, politicians and civil soceity activists, Mr Tasong noted three essential elements of the plan: promotion of social cohesion, rebuild basic social infrastructure and revitalisation of the economy. He stated that the aim and purpose of the plan is for improved and sustainable standard of living, reversing the situation of hardship and putting an end to crisis vulnerability among others. This he stressed would be realised...
UBa opens doors for a Hate free Institution   By Mbuh Stella Hate Speech is a potential source of conflict, contributing to thousands of lives lost around the globe, experts have warned. In Cameroon, Hate speech is practiced both online and offline. The phenomenon is a call for concern. It is against this back drop that Defyhatenow  a Non Governmental Organization is working towards raising awareness and combating Hate speech. Recently, a team from the organization led by Laure Nganlay Nadege, Communication Associate at Defyhatenow visited the University of Bamenda, UBa to initiate a program which will in the days ahead engage students  in the fight against Hate speech and other forms of information manipulation. During the discussion, delegation member, Derick Kinnang, who is also Research and Administrative Officer at Defyhatenow said 'hate speech is a can of worms that should not be allowed to take roots in the communities" Defyhatenow Delegation presented their missio...