A technical workshop held from June 13 to June 21, 2026 in Buea is equipping local civil society groups with the skills, tools and standards needed to improve support services for survivors of gender-based violence in Cameroon’s crisis-affected North-West and South-West regions.
More than 40 civil society organizations gathered in Buea on June 13, 2026 for the launch of an intensive technical workshop aimed at strengthening the response to gender-based violence (GBV) in Cameroon’s conflict-affected regions. Organized under the “Woman Eh! Wuna Place Dey” project, the initiative reflects a growing commitment by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and its partners to place local organizations at the center of survivor support and protection efforts.
Held at the Regional Delegation of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF), the workshop brings together women-led organizations and specialized community groups working directly with survivors of violence in the North-West and South-West regions. Running until June 21, the training focuses on case management, standard operating procedures, psychosocial support and protection standards.
For UNFPA, empowering local actors is essential to ensuring that survivors receive timely, safe and quality services.
“There’s no way to fight Gender-Based Violence without empowering women-led organizations working in GBV prevention, response and mitigation,” said Liliane Munezero, UNFPA National GBV Coordinator, during the opening ceremony.
Participants are being trained on survivor-centered approaches that prioritize confidentiality, dignity and informed consent. The objective is to ensure that frontline workers have the practical skills required to support women and girls affected by violence while minimizing the risk of further harm.
The workshop also places a strong emphasis on institutional accountability. Participating organizations are expected to strengthen their Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) mechanisms and develop action plans that reinforce a culture of zero tolerance across all services provided to vulnerable populations.
Speaking at the event, South-West Regional Delegate for MINPROFF, Ediage Lucia, commended the commitment of participating organizations and called for stronger evidence-based action. She urged stakeholders to build a reliable and realistic database on gender-based violence cases to support national protection efforts and improve decision-making, particularly in areas affected by humanitarian crises.
Beyond training, the forum seeks to improve coordination among organizations responding to GBV. Participants are being supported to register on the global Gender-Based Violence Area of Responsibility (GBV AoR) platform, a tool designed to harmonize data collection, facilitate referrals and strengthen collaboration among service providers.
The workshop forms part of the broader “Woman Eh! Wuna Place Dey” project, funded by the European Union, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and GIZ, and implemented by UNFPA Cameroon in partnership with WACameroon and TeenAlive.
As humanitarian needs continue to expose women and girls to increased risks of violence, the initiative underscores a strategic shift toward locally led solutions. By investing in the capacities of community-based organizations, UNFPA and its partners hope to build a stronger, more sustainable support system for survivors and advance the fight against gender-based violence where it matters most: at the community level.
