Cameroon National Women’s Convention honoured with German Prize for Africa

By Tata Mbunwe

Women who have been championing peace and humanitarian work in Cameroon have been honoured with the German Prize for Africa 2023.

The recognition was handed to three representatives of the National Women’s Convention for Peace in Cameroon – Esther Omam, Sally Mboumien and Marthe Wandou – in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 30.

The ceremony was presided over by Katrin Göring-Eckardt, Vice-President of the German Parliament.

The award acknowledges the enormous efforts of these Cameroonian women in helping people facing conflict, gender inequality and economic hardship.

“This is a great recognition for the work of women peace builders,” said Esther Omam, Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon.

“The members of the platform are happy to accept this act of recognition on behalf of all the women of Cameroon, those living in conflict zones and those committed to building peace at all levels and in all senses,” she added.

The National Women’s Convention, the platform that earned the award, is the largest grouping for women in Cameroon. Created in January 2021, the body consists of 77 organizations that are advocating for peace in the country.

They held their first national convention in July 2021 in Yaounde, with nearly 1,800 women from across Cameroon in attendance.

After the convention, Esther Omam, Sally Mboumien, Marthe Wandou and other women have continued championing peace and humanitarian works in the country.

Omam, who is from the South West, through her organization Reach Out, continues to provide healthcare, education, economic empowerment and psychosocial support to women affected by the Anglophone Crisis.

On her part, Marthe Wandou, a lawyer and human rights activist from Cameroon’s Far North Region, has been helping women affected by the Boko Haram conflict to regain their livelihoods through education and economic empowerment.

In the North West, Sally Mboumien has also helped thousands of women in the Region, affected by armed conflict, to access education.

“Together, we have built an alliance that is stronger, louder and more numerous than those who profit from war,” Sally Mboumien told DW.

“We are ready to dialogue, ready to mediate, ready to support initiatives.”

The German Africa Foundation’s award comes as a recognition of the efforts of women in Cameroon in general.

The award has been honoring African personalities since 1993.

The prize goes to outstanding individuals who are committed to peace, democracy, reconciliation, arts and culture and social progress.

Mimi Mefo Info