Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict in Fundong-Boyo Division
In communities affected by years of theAnlgophone armed conflict, the scars of violence often extend far beyond the battlefield. For many women, girls, boys, and vulnerable families in Cameroon’s North West Region, conflict has brought increased risks of sexual violence, exploitation, stigma, and trauma. Yet amid these challenges, hope continues to emerge through collective action and community solidarity. It was this spirit of resilience that defined the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, organized by CAGEAD in Fundong, Boyo Division, under the theme “Conflict-related Sexual Violence Against Children: Safeguarding Futures and Empowering Caregivers.”
This awareness event, implemented under the project “Strengthening Community Resilience and Organizational Capacity for Sustainable Development”, brought together 30 participants comprising adolescent girls and young women, men, local authorities, and community stakeholders. More than just a commemorative gathering, the event served as a platform to educate communities on the realities of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), strengthen referral mechanisms for survivors, and reaffirm the shared responsibility of protecting children and other vulnerable groups from conflict-related sexual violence. The event equally reminded participants that preventing sexual violence requires the active involvement of every member of society and that silence only perpetuates abuse.
The presence and contributions of local authorities further reinforced the importance of the commemoration. Addressing participants, the Mayor of Fundong commended CAGEAD for its continued efforts in transforming lives within the municipality. He acknowledged that sexual violence in conflict remains one of the most pressing yet underreported challenges facing communities and urged participants to become ambassadors of change by sharing the knowledge acquired during the event.
“I am very glad to receive CAGEAD again. We recognize the change they have brought into our community. Sexual Violence in Conflict (SVC) is an important issue and should be commemorated and used as a medium to sensitize the public. Many people are ignorant and even neglect Sexual Violent acts around them. I call on everyone here present to take this information back to the community, educate others on the dangers of GBV, and encourage reporting. The Boyo Council has social services where GBV cases are managed,” he stated.
Equally on this commitment, the Divisional Delegate of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS) assured participants that survivor confidentiality remains a cornerstone of the ministry’s work. He informed participants that the doors of MINAS remain open to all survivors seeking assistance and carefully explained how to access available services. He outlined the referral process, emphasizing that survivors should first receive immediate medical attention before cases are referred to the forces of law and order. Throughout the process, he stressed, survivor safety, dignity, and confidentiality must remain the highest priorities.
CAGEAD equally receives appreciation from the Director of the Women Empowerment Centre in Fundong who described their collaboration with CAGEAD as instrumental in improving the lives of women, girls, boys, and parents throughout the division. He encouraged the Adolescent girls and Young Women to become peer educators and advocates within their communities, emphasizing that ending GBV requires breaking the culture of silence through continuous awareness raising and community engagement.
The heart of the commemoration was an engaging awareness session on Gender-Based Violence. Through interactive discussions, participants explored the different forms of GBV, including physical violence, psychological and emotional abuse, rape, intimate partner violence, and early and forced marriage. Rather than limiting the discussion to theory, participants openly shared experiences from their own communities, making the session both practical and deeply reflective.
One male participant narrated how he once intervened in an attempted rape case only to later discover that the survivor’s mother had accepted financial compensation from the perpetrator instead of pursuing justice. Other participants discussed situations where some young girls become involved in transactional sexual relationships with expectations of financial or material support and later report rape when those promises are not fulfilled. These conversations provided an opportunity for the facilitator to address common misconceptions surrounding sexual violence, while emphasizing the importance of survivor-centered approaches, careful assessment of every case, and the need to strengthen prevention efforts within families and communities.
The session further stressed that one of the strongest forms of protection begins at home. Parents and caregivers were encouraged to build trusting relationships with children so they feel safe reporting abuse, inappropriate sexual advances, and any situation that threatens their well-being. Open communication, participants agreed, is essential for preventing abuse and ensuring timely intervention.
Participants also examined practical approaches to preventing GBV within their communities. Discussions highlighted the importance of continuous community sensitization on human rights and GBV, engaging men and boys as allies in preventing violence, promoting positive masculinity and gender equality, strengthening community protection committees and women’s groups, economically empowering women and girls to reduce vulnerability, introducing school-based education on healthy relationships and GBV prevention, and advocating for stronger implementation of laws protecting survivors. Information was equally shared on the various referral pathways available in Boyo Division, enabling participants to better understand where and how survivors can access medical, psychosocial, legal, and protection services. Survivors present also courageously shared their experiences, further enriching discussions and encouraging others to seek help whenever needed.
Beyond awareness creation, the event demonstrated solidarity with conflict-affected survivors through the distribution of food hampers to selected vulnerable beneficiaries. In humanitarian settings where many families struggle to meet their most basic needs, such assistance represents far more than material support. It restores dignity, contributes to physical recovery, reduces vulnerability to further exploitation, and provides survivors with the stability needed to access additional medical, psychosocial, and protection services. Each beneficiary received 04 packets of spaghetti, 01 packet of Maggi seasoning, 03 liters of groundnut oil, 01 tray of eggs, 04 sachets of tomato paste, and 1 umbrella.
As the event came to a close, one message resonated throughout the gathering: eliminating sexual violence in conflict cannot be achieved by institutions alone. It requires informed communities, responsive public services, empowered caregivers, committed leaders, and survivors who know they are not alone. By creating a platform where government authorities, community leaders, women, men, young people, and survivors could openly discuss challenges and solutions, CAGEAD transformed an international commemoration into a powerful call for collective action.
Stand Against Silence: Together Lets Fight to End Sexual Violence in Conflicts
By Muh Yvonne Nchim