A strategic initiative to make defense forces the first line of defense against gender-based violence and femicide in conflict zones.
In the heart of theaters of operation and crisis zones, the duty to set an example does not end with tactical combat; it is first and foremost about the absolute respect for human dignity. It is with this profound conviction and a resolutely forward-thinking vision that the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family (MINPROFF) has established itself today as a true vanguard of peace, making the relentless fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide a top national strategic imperative.
In a proactive approach that is redefining the contours of human security in Cameroon, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF) has anticipated the structural vulnerabilities inherent in armed conflict contexts. It is with this in mind that the pioneering large-scale training session for the Cameroonian military contingent was held in Motcheboum, in the heart of the picturesque East Region. This major initiative, the third of its kind and now considered a model of institutional excellence, is specifically aimed at the valiant soldiers awaiting deployment to the Central African Republic. In these distant and exposed theaters of operation, civilian populations, and tragically women and children, remain the most vulnerable targets of geopolitical upheavals. Far from being limited to theoretical considerations or simple declarations of intent, the cardinal objective of this training is to arm our defense forces with conceptual and practical tools of absolute rigor, enabling them to perfectly master early prevention mechanisms, sharpen vigilance for the recognition of offenses, and provide prompt and rigorous handling of critical situations in the field.
This synergy of institutional action, masterfully orchestrated by UNFPA Cameroon at the strategic invitation of the Cameroonian Ministry of Defense, benefited from
the remarkable and commendable contribution of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF) through the expert guidance of Ms. Martine Ongola, a distinguished representative of the Directorate for the Social Promotion of Women. Through this high-level involvement, the Ministry brilliantly demonstrates that a nation’s security is not measured solely by the firepower of its arsenals or the tactical control of its territory, but also, and above all, by the moral and ethical capacity of its troops to embody impeccable humanist values. The Cameroonian soldier is no longer simply a guarantor of territorial sovereignty, but, thanks to this innovative training, becomes the first line of defense against femicide and the abhorrent atrocities committed in the shadows of conflict.
By investing itself with such determination alongside the defense and security forces, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF) is broadening and completing a spectrum of intervention previously confined to community, health, and education spheres. This holistic, inclusive, and forward-thinking vision positions the ministry not only as a leading social actor but also as the indispensable spearhead of humanitarian diplomacy and inclusive security in Cameroon. By anticipating abuses, breaking the complicit silence surrounding femicide, and equipping those who bear arms, Cameroon, under the visionary leadership of MINPROFF, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to fundamental human rights. It is thus paving the way for a modern army, deeply respectful of the physical and moral integrity of women, and resolutely focused on building a more just, safer world, free from the scourge of gender-based violence.
