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

  TRADITIONALISTS FROWN  DISREGARD OF CULTURE AFTER FON GOES  MISSING By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum Conservatives have expressed dismay that the traditional medium that was supposed to be used to announce the disappearance of the King of Mankon has been obliterated.                         HRM  Angwafo III SAN Multiple news sites reported the disappearance of the King of Mankon, His Royal Majesty Solomon Anyeghamotu Ndefru Angwafo III on May 22nd, 2022. No official statement of the traditional ruler's disappearance from the appropriate quarters was heard.  "It's rather unfortunate that the roots of Mankon Culture has been adulterated .   However, we still have to wait for the official message from the Kwifor of Mankon Kingdom" relieves a die heart traditionalist. In keeping with the customs and tradition of Mankon, the normal channel to disseminate information of the Fon's disappearance would ...

THE ROLE CATHOLIC CLERGY AND LAITY PLAYED IN ANNOUNCED NATIONAL DIALOGUE

Priests and Bishops pose for pictures at 67th BAPEC session Cameroon’s president Paul Biya announced a major national dialogue to commence as from the end of this month.  The announcement came in a speech which he addressed to the nation hinged on the throes of the socio political crisis that has gripped the North West and South West region. It is barely a week since the national dialogue was announced and the topic is animating public debates. It is however time to give credit to the clerics and the laity of the Holy Mother Church the for role played in paving the path of dialogue Since the outbreak of the Anglophone crisis, the priests, the bishops, the religious and other leaders of the church have often echoed and re-echoed that only profound and meaningful dialogue can bring solution to the problems plaguing the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. In fact memories of 29-Dec-2016 are still fresh, the date when bishops of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conf...
  Day Four Campaign Against COVID-19 Vaccination protects you and others Rush to the closest vaccination center in your region. Coronavirus has killed thousands and the death toll may rise if decisive action is not taken. Taking your vaccine protects yourself and ensures community safety.  #EndCovid22 #StopCovid23  #MINSANTE