By Frank Jamal Oj
The Regional Director for UN Women of West and Central Africa, Diana L. Ofwona has commended the Cameroon Government for strides covered so far in the promotion of gender equality, but has equally urged her to do a little more in this regard.
Ofwona was speaking to government ministers, members of parliament, UN Women partners, heads of other UN agencies in Cameroon and guests who shared a dinner offered in her honor by Cameroon’s minister of women empowerment and promotion of the family, Catherine Bakang Mbock. She was in Cameroon on a working visit from September 12 to 17.
Stating that she does not regret to have chosen Cameroon as the first country to visit after her recent appointment, She pointed out that her meetings with government officials made understand that the country has the will to promote gender equality. She equally acknowledged the assistance development partners have been making provisions to women associations. In her own very words, she said, “ I must admit that Cameroon has recorded enormous progress, particularly in the areas of women’s participation in decision making, promotion of human rights including women’s rights and including gender consideration in the institutional sphere. But I must say a lot still needs to be done.”
The Regional Director also noted that she was marveled by the country’s prospects including women in the domains of agriculture and public contracts.
Talking about the sustainable development goals, she stressed that over 800 million people in the world lack food to eat and hoped that by 2030, the situation must have been turned around.
She noted that, were it not for time constraints, she would have visited the norther and eastern regions of Cameroon currently faced by humanitarian crisis.
In her last words to Cameroon, she said, “ I return to Senegal, satisfied with the visit and also satisfied with the quality of collaboration that exists between UN Women Cameroon office and the ministry of women empowerment and promotion of the family.”
Prior to her September 16 dinner, Ofwona had a similar meeting with leaders of women non-governmental organizations and associations in Cameroon. Her visit to Cameroon was marked by meetings with government officials including the prime minister; head of government, Philemon Yang and an exhibition exercise where women showcased some activities the achieved with aid from the UN agency for the promotion of women.
