CAMEROON
Cameroon’s National Action Plan was adopted in 2017 and covers the period 2018-2020. It is not known if another one is in progress.
Objectives of the 2018-2020 NAP
Cameroon committed to the implementation of the following objectives by 2020:
- Realization of the leadership and participation of women in the process of prevention and management of conflict and post-conflict situations to construct peace and social cohesion;
- Scrupulous observation of international humanitarian law and legal instruments for the protection of the rights of women against sexual and gender-based violence during armed conflict;
- Better integration of a gender focus in emergency aid during reconstruction during and after armed conflicts;
- Strengthening of institutional mechanisms and collection of data on gender in peace, security, and conflict prevention and resolution.
These objectives are supported by detailed activities and outputs. The matrix at the end of the NAP sets out a timeframe, budget and partner/s responsible for implementation.
Commentary
Cameroon’s NAP ranks highly on all three axes measured by the LSE Centre for Women, Peace, and Security’s index: civil society participation in drafting, effective monitoring and evaluation, and level of budget specification.
The specific outputs in this NAP recognize the need to include more women in security forces and especially to look at the internal promotion of women into decision-making roles within the security forces. It also tries to support Cameroonian women in leadership positions in regional and international organizations. This plan has clear numerical targets for all of its goals, and calls for the effective collection of data regarding gender in the security sector, making it an effective document with clear monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It also clarifies budget allocation, another important step in effective implementation.
Civil society involvement in developing the NAP
The degree of involvement of civil society in drawing up the NAP was ranked two on a scale of three by LSE Centre for Women, Peace, and Security. Civil society was deeply engaged in the consultation and drafting process of this NAP. There are clear references to the role that civil society plays in the realization of each goal of the plan, and women’s organizations are treated as equal partners in the implementation of this NAP.
UN Peacekeeping Statistics
As of August 2024, the number of women uniformed personnel deployed by Cameroon to UN missions was as follows:
Women’s Role in Peacekeeping
As can be seen from the table above, Cameroon contributed more female police officers than male police officers, though significantly less troops.
This NAP aims to promote the leadership and participation of women in the process of prevention and management of conflicts and post-conflict situations. It also puts an emphasis on the empowerment of women and girls to prevent SGBVs.
References and sources
National Action Plan of Cameroon 2018-2020, English translation available at: http://pwnap1.tetra.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Cameroon-2018-English.pdf
Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country, Mission, and Personnel Type. (as of August 2024) is available at: https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/03_country_and_mission_77_august_2024.pdf
