Womens day is still worldwide celebrated simply, because the original aim of achieving full?gender equality for women has still not?been realized. A gender gap persists?across the globe and women are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics. [1]

International Women’s Day is also an opportunity to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, and number 4, ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.[2] Not only is Cameroon aiming to achieve 2030 SDG, but also her internal emergency plan come 2035.

Cameroon has always celebrated this day with a lot of interest and passion which has always been headed by the first lady, Chantal BIYA. However, the gap of discrimination, violence against women is still on the rise despite the fight and every year celebration. All Women Together as a women lead NGO? and that has been fighting for the rights, equality, inclusion and the socio-political insertion of women in Cameroon, is taking this opportunity to once more call on all Cameroonian women to standup for their rights. Calling on the various stake holders, government, CSOs and human rights activists to step up this fight of violence against women if Cameroon must attain goal 5 of 2030 SDGs.

It is therefore in this light that all Women Together (AWT) Cameroon, faithful to its missions of protection, promotion and empowerment of Cameroon women has engaged in the framework of the celebration of this international Womens day, challenging all the women to take up the lead and #BalanceforBetter.

All Women Together is also taking this opportunity of womens day to call for peace in Cameroon, especially in the northwest and southwest regions where there has been no peace, high rate of violence, torture and all forms of ills against citizens and particularly against women/girls since 2016. There has been no balance in these regions and women/girls who are the vulnerable suffer the most.

All Women together is thus, engaging all the actors concerned in maintaining peace to facilitate the process of dialogue for peace and harmony to be observed in Cameroon.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To educate and create awareness among women on the importance of international womens day.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

– addressing the violence against women in Cameroon particularly in the Anglophone regions.

– Strengthen the popularization of the rights of women/girls, especially the right of protection

– Encourage women to engage themselves in economic activities and be dependent

RESULTS OBTAINED

– Around 2000 people are sensitized and informed via AWT website Cameroon and its Facebook page;

– The main challenges and issues related to the protection and of women rights are understood.

– The reasons for womens day celebrations in Cameroon is directly known by 20 women and indirectly by 2000 women.

ACTION

– Inviting at most 20 women for a talk about womens day and reasons for its celebration.

– Going pink

– Briefing about the Anglophone crisis and the plight of women.

[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/international-womens-day-2019-day-began-fight-womens-rights/

[2] http://www.un.org/en/events/womensday/