Report of the Republic of Cameroon Under the 25

REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON PAIX – TRAVAIL - PATRIE PEACE – WORK - FATHERLAND ------

MINPROFF

REPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON UNDER THE TH 25 ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEIJING DECLARATION AND PLATFORM FOR ACTION

May, 2019

His Excellency Paul BIYA President of the Republic of Cameroon, Head of state

His Excellency DION NGUTE Joseph Prime Minister, Head of Government

Madam ABENA ONDOA née OBAMA Marie Thérese Minister of Women’s Empowerment3 and the Family

PREFACE

Twenty-five years ago, the International Community adopted, at the end of the 4th United Nations Conference on Women, held in Beijing from September 4th to 15th, 1995, the Beijing Program and Platform for Action, the goal is to boost a new global dynamic for gender equality and sustainable development. The 12 critical areas chosen for this purpose decline the major strategic orientations in which States intend to pursue innovative and targeted policies in order to guarantee the substantial improvement of the economic, political, social and cultural situation of women and girls.

In coherence with this agenda and party to the relevant commitments related to it, Cameroon, under the very high impulse of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, makes every effort to give full effect to the conventional forecasts from this historic meeting of which the conclusions appear, still today, as an indispensable vade mecum in terms of the promotion and protection of women's rights.

While gender equality remains a partially achieved goal, the political will in this area is growing stronger and more vocal in Cameroon every day. The process of empowerment of women in a Cameroonian society based on the principle of State of law irreversibly follows its merry way.

Of course, the reinforcement of ongoing policies, the identification and implementation of new strategies, the strategic repositioning of gender financing in the Global Agenda, the rationalization of interventions and the coordination of these interventions, articulated with Peacebuilding policies are emerging more than ever today as one of the keys to success in promoting gender equality and sustainable development.

Madam ABENA ONDOA née OBAMA Marie Thérèse Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family

CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 6

I - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 13

II – OBSERVED IMPROVEMENTS SINCE THE BEIJING REVIEW + 24 : 13 MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS AND ISSUES

III – VARIANCES AND CHALLENGES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 236 BEIJING PROGRAM AND PLATFORM FOR ACTION

IV – RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION 239

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ABM Achievements-Based Management ACET African Center of Excellence in Technologies AINP Agricultural Investment National Programme AIDP African Institute for Data Processing ACIP Agricultural Competitiveness Improvement Project ACMS: Cameroonian Association of Social Marketing ADB African Development Bank AFFDCP Agropastoral Family Farms Development and Competitiveness Program AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrom AIMS-NEI African Institute for Mathematical Sciences-Next Enstein Initiative ARH Adolescent Reproductive Health ARV Antiretoviral ATC Agreed Treatment Center ATC Appropriate Technologies Center AV Antenatal Visit AWDA Adamaoua Women and Daughters Association AWP Annual Work Plan AYRHS Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health Strategy CAMSUCO Cameroon Sugar Company CAMTEL Cameroon Telecommunications CARMMA Campaign for the Acceleration of the reducing of the Maternal Mortality in Africa CCPN Community Child Protection Networks CDC Communication for Conduct Change CE Cameroonian Elections CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women CENADI National Center for Data Processing Development CIMO Cameroon’s Inter-Managerial Organizations CPAFG Children suspected to be Part of Armed Forces and Groups CPDW Country Program on Decent Work CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child CREFIAF Regional Council for the Formation of Supreme Audit Institutions of the Member States Public Finances of Francophone and Sub-Saharan Africa

CRTV Cameroon Radio and Television CRWC African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child CSO Civil Society Organization CUCA Catholic University of Central Africa CVAWA Combating Violence Against Women Association DDRC Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Committee DDRP Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Program DH District Hospital DHS/MI IV 4th Demographic and Health Survey with Multiple Indicators DMC District Medical Center DPAI Data Processing African Institute DPP Development Plan for Pygmies Populations DTC Decentralized Territorial Community ECAM Survey on Cameroonian Households (Enquête sur les ménages camerounais) ECCAS Economic Community of Central African States EIDP Elderly, Invalidity and Death Pensions ENIET ‘Ecole Normale’ for School Teachers – General Education ENS Ecole Normale Supérieure ENSPT Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Postes et Télécommunications ENST ‘Ecole Normale’ for School Teachers – Technical Education ENSTE Ecole Normale Supérieure for Technical Education ENSTP Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Travaux Publics ERP Education to Responsible Parenting ESSEC Higher School For Sales and Economical Sciences FAAS Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FDA French Development Agency FGM Female Genital Mutilations FHD Family Health Department FIC First Instance Court FMBS Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences FP Family Planning FPS Funds for high-Priority Solidarity FSE Full Sexuality Education GBV Gender Based Violence GEP Graduate Youth Employment Program GERME Gérer Mon Entreprise Programme (Manage my Business) GESD Growth and Employment Strategy Document

GICAM Interpatronal Group of Cameroon GHC Global Health Coverage GM General Manager GNP Gender National Policy GSB Gender Sensitive Budgeting GSPB Gender Sensitive Planning and Budgeting GSV Gender Sensitive Violence GTC German Technical Cooperation GDSD Growth and Development Strategy Document HC Hospitality and Catering HCP Harmful socio-cultutal Practices HENAPI Higher Education Non Academic Public Institutions HEPI Higher Education Private Institutions HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus HPD Health Promotion Department HRD Human Resources Department HSS Health Sector Strategy ICCREP International Center for Creation Promotion ICPD International Conference on Population and Development ICT Information and Communication Technologies IDAMP Investment and Development of Agricultural Markets Project IDB Islamic Development Bank IDP Internally Displaced People IEC Information-Education-Communication IFNS Inclusive Finance National Strategy IGA Income-Generating Activities ICT Information and Communication Technologies ILLAMN Impregnated with Long Lasting Action Insecticides Mosquito Net IPSISA Integrated Programme of Support for Informal Sector Actors ILO International Labour Organization IFNS Inclusive Finance National Strategy INJS Institut National de la Jeunesse et des Sports INS Investments National Society IRAD Agricultural Research Institute for Development ISPISA Integrated Support Programme for Informal Sector Actors ITN Inter-university Telecommunications Network JIG Joint Initiative Groups LAPSMD Local Action for a Participative and Self-Managed

Development LB Live Birth LDI Local Development Initiatives LLAT Life-Long Antiretroviral Treatment MAOD Methodology for the analysis of multiple overlapping deprivations MCA Mothers and Children Association MCYP Multipurpose Center for Youth Promotion MEAE Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs MEWGC Making Every Woman and Girl Count MHM Menstrual Hygiene Management MINADER Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MINAS Ministry of Social Affairs MINAT Ministry of Territorial Administration MINCOM Ministry of Communications MINCOMMERCE Ministry of Trade MINDDEVEL Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development MINEDUB Ministry of Basic Education MINEFOP Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training MINEPAT Ministry of Economy, Planning and Land-use Planning MINEPDED Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development MINEPIA Ministry of Livestock, Fishing and Animal Industries MINESEC Ministry of Secondary Education MINESUP Ministry of Higher Education MINFI Ministry of Finance MINFOF Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife MINHDU Ministry of Housing and Urban Development MINJEC Ministry of Youth and Civic Education MINJUSTICE Ministry of Justice MINMAP Ministry of Public Markets MINPMEESA Ministry of Small and Medium Size Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts MINPROFF Ministry of Woman and Family Promotion MINSANTE Ministry of Health MINTP Ministry of Public Works MODA Multiple Overlap Poverty Analysis MRSLCP Mission for the Regulation of Supply of Large Consumer Products MSC Medico-Social Centres

MTPURA Mobile Teams of Popular Urban and Rural Animations NACC National Anti-Corruption Commission NAIP National Agricultural Investment Plan for cameroon NASC Non-accompanied and Separated Children NCC National Communication Council NCHRF National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms NFSS National Federation for School Sports NFYI National Foundation for Youth Insertion NGO Non-Governmental Organization NHSP National Higher School ‘Polytechnique’ NHSPT National Higher School ‘Postes and Telecommunications’ NHSTP National Higher School ‘Travaux Publics’ NIFS National Inclusive Finance Strategy NIYS National Institute for Youth and Sports NPDP National Participatory Development Program NRTDP National Root and Tuber Development Program NSDS National Statistical Development System NSIF National Social Insurance Fund NSIS National Statistical Information System NSP/RMNCH National Strategic Plan for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health NYO National Youth Observatory OF Obstetrical Fistulas OHADA Organization for the Harmonization of Corporate Law in Africa OIF International Organization of ‘La Francophonie’ PBPF Planning Budgeting Program and Follow-up evaluation PCC Processing Certified Center PEZ Priority Education Zone PIAC Project to Improve Agricultural Competitiveness PIHE Private Institutions of Higher Education PM Prime Minister PMLD Pharmacy, Medicines and Laboratories Department PMTCT Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission PPEWYC Programme to Promote Entrepreneurship among Women and Youth in Cameroon PPVNP Projects and Programs for Vulnerable Native Populations PRECC Population Resilience related to the Effects of Climate Change PRSD Poverty Reducing Strategic Document

PSMA Support Programme for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Agriculture and Agri-foods PSS/WPC Project to set up a Support System for Poor Women in Centres Women’s Promotion Centres PTA Parents and Teachers Association PTMC Prevention of HIV transmission Mother-to-Child PUE Periodical and Universal Examination RGA Revenue Generating Activities RH Reproductive Health RMB Run My Business SBA Skill-Based Approach SCF Survey about Cameroonian Families SDO Sustainable Development Objective SHC Social and Healthcare Center SIDA Swedish International Development Agency SIPCMEMS Socio-economic Integration Project for the Creation of Micro-Enterprises Manufacturing of Sports Equipment SITAN Situation of Children and Women, based on Human Rights and Equity SMCA Social Marketing Cameroonian Association SME Small and Medium Enterprise SOE Social Economy Organization SOPECAM Cameroonian Press and Publishing Society SPCD/SMES Support Programme for the Creation and Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises SPCD/SMSE Support Program for the Creation and Development of Small and Medium Size Enterprises SPDRM Support Project for the Development of Rural Microfinance SPFE Sectoral Programme Forest Environment SPIRVIP Support Project to the Integration and Socio-professional Reintegration of Vulnerable Indigenous Populations SPPIRVP Support Programme for the Professional Integration and Reintegration of Vulnerable Persons SPRMD Support Project for Rural Micro-Finance Development SPRTVE Support Programme for the Reform of Technical and Vocational Education SPRUY Support Program to Rural and Urban Youth

ST Sanitary Training STEM Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STI Sexually Transmitted Infections SIS Surveys on the Informal Sector TCI Textiles and Clothing Industry TFP Technical and Financial Partners TRG Technical Regional Group TSP-Y Three-year Special plan for Young people TTT-MCH Technical Task Force for Mother-Child Health UN WOMEN United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women UNDAF United Nations Development Assistance Framework, UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities UNICEF United Nations Fund for Children VCDP Value Chain Development Program VGMS Support to gender violence in school environment VTABFRDSP Vocational Training in Agriculture, Breeding, and Fishing Renovation and Development Support Programme WAHA Women and Health Association WASH Water Sanitation and hygiene WB World Bank WFP World Food Program WFPC Women and Family Promotion Centre WHO World Health Organization

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Cameroon is part of Central Africa with an estimated population of 21,657,488 people as of 2014 (BUCREP 2010) (about 25 million by 2019) of whom 51% are women. Politically, Cameroon is a unitary, decentralized State, with a relative stability. It is a bi-lingual country (French and English), subdivided into 10 regions. Due to instability on the different borders, Cameroon hosts about total 308,800 refugees and 81,700 Internally Displaced People (IDP) of whom a majority of women and girls coming from several neighbor countries in latent or open crisis, principally Nigeria and the Central African Republic. Cameroon owns substantial natural resources, and shows a growth rate estimated to 3.8% in 2018, versus 2.7 in 2017. However, the human development index is one of the world’s lowest (0.556) in 2017. Poverty rate dropped from 40.1% in 2001 to 37.5% in 2014, including 90.4% rural people (ECAM 4). Regions that concentrate the majority of poor people are the Far North (35.8%), North (20.1%) and the Northwest (13.2%). Most of them live in more than 8 people households (48%) and in villages whose leader is unschooled (46.9%). Furthermore, poor people come from households whose leaders are farmers, fishermen, and breeders or work into the informal agricultural area. Women are the most concerned by poverty: 52% poor household members are women, whose half is aged les than 15 years. From UNDP’s ranking about Gender Inequality Rating (GIR), Cameroon is classified 138th out of 187 countries.

 Women status overview

As part of fight against poverty and of efforts aiming at a sustainable development, Cameroon has developed in 2009 the Growth and Employment Strategy Document (GESD), which is the reference frame for governmental interventions for the 2010 to 2020 period and relies on Sustainable Development Objectives (SDOs). Through this instrument, the Government emphasizes his will to focus his actions on wealth creation, in order to ensure a good distribution of growth results. He also asserts the will to pursue the whole SDOs achievement, in order to become an emerging country by 2035.

Among the priorities defined in the Growth and Employment Strategy Document, the thematic of gender equality and women empowerment plays an important role, as it is an under-development factor, and a major problem to be solved to reach emergence.

In order to answer the occurring challenges in the gender area and notably the linked SDO achievements, the Government of Cameroon implemented a National Gender Policy to be the policy frame of actions in the area of equality and equity between genders promotion. The general objective of National Gender Policy is to contribute to the systematic eradication of inequalities between men and women at any level of societal life. Although numerous efforts are agreed to the Government and other development partners, women’s status in Cameroon still remains a major issue:

Regarding Education, girls have less chances to complete their education than boys. Girls’ brut schooling rate at Primary level is 110% vs. 125% for boys11. At Secondary level, this rate falls to 53%, against 65% for their male counterparts; and justifies a quite high educational loss rate for girls.

1 1 2018 Education Statistical Year Book 2 CAMPHIA Survey Report 2018 3 MICS 2014

Regarding Health, prevalence of HIV is still very high for women: 5% for women aged 15-64 vs. 2.3% for men of the same age2; 34% women experience difficulties to get to healthcare especially in rural environment where this proportion reaches sometimes more than 50% in the Eastern and Far North regions3. Maternal mortality increased from 2004 to 2011 moving from 634 deceases for 100,000 live births to 738 in 20114.

Regarding Violence against Women and Girls, statistics show that 54% women were victims of any kind of violence from the age of 15, vs. 9.8% men. 52.6% women are affected by conjugal violence; 1.4% has suffered genital mutilations that may reach 20% in the Far North and Southwestern regions. At least, the early marriage issue has to be raised which affects 11.4% young girls.

Socioeconomically, Cameroonian women constitute 51% of people living under the poverty level, on a national average of 39%. However, these women spend on average 8.2 weekly hours to unpaid homework, and are on 79.2% unemployed. The unemployment rate is of 4.5% vs. 3.1% for men5. Furthermore, 50.6% women contribute to family expenses and 63.2% to their own expenses. But they are only 3% to own a house without any land title, and 1.6% owns a land title in their names. Ministry for land affairs’ statistics show that only 13.6% of the land titles that were delivered in Cameroon since 1972 belong to women6. It can easily be understood that only 16.8% of women obtain the benefit of a credit for any use.

In the field of e-economy and in spite of the efforts made, it may be observed that only 32.8% of 15-24 aged young girls can access a computer vs. 47.5% for boys, and 18.9% of 15-24 aged young girls can use Internet vs. 39% for boys. 2

2 4 EDS-MICS 2011 5 ECAM 4 6 2015 MINDCAF Statistical Year Book

In leadership and political participation, 99% women have no political or leader functions: current data present the hereunder status:

Chart 1: summary of political and administrative positions distribution Responsibility Area Women Men Municipal Executives 8.3% (31) 91.7% (343) Political Party 13 278 Parliament 31% (56 MP) 61% (124 MP) 26% (26 Senators) 74% (74 Senators) Constitutional Council 1 10 (Judges) Ministers and equivalent 11 59 Local Administration Governor 0 Governors 10 Prefects 2 Prefects 56 Deputy-Prefects 15 Deputy-Prefects 345 Source: UN Women Compilation

At the institutional level, Cameroon, as most African countries ratified the majority of conventions and international resolutions about Women Rights promotion. Thus, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was signed on June 6th, 1983. Likewise, the Beijing Platform for Action, the Maputo Protocol, the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Objectives (SDOs) and the Addis Ababa Declaration on Equality between Men and Women in Africa were all ratified by the Government of Cameroon. More, an independent Ministry in charge of Gender issues has been created. Although the normative context which is part of Women Rights promotion and protection contains many international, national and regional relevant juridical tools, it does not, however, guarantee the exercise and enjoyment by women of the rights thus granted to them. The legislation drafts that have been developed for several years – of which one related to violence against women and the other about a Code of Persons and Family - have not yet been adopted.

Among the factors that limit the effects of these texts, may be mentioned, their lack of dissemination, the insufficient harmonization of the internal legislation with the international juridical tools which are specific to women rights protection, the limited application of legal and regulatory current measures, written right and tradition coexistence, the disinclination of some legal operators to apply texts.

Gender equality improvement and women empowerment are part of the major challenges that Cameroon has to solve in order to reach the goals fixed in its Vision for 2035, its Growth and Employment Strategy Document, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Objectives.

Aware of the importance of these issues for the development of the country, the Government of Cameroon, with Partners to civil development’s support, has conducted along the last five years a set of strong actions aiming at improving women’s and girls’ status and condition in several areas.

Are to be noted, in terms of progress along the five past years:

-Reinforcement of the internal legal context on gender equality and women empowerment and its progressive liability to CEDAW; -Improvement of women’s admittance to political decision making (Senate, Government) and to non elective positions (State Companies, Public Administrations, Diplomacy, Territorial Leadership, Justice...) -Mother’s and Child’s health improvement, including reproductive health area and HIV; -Improvement of girls’ school enrolment through the whole national territory; -Reinforcement of combating against gender-based violence towards women and girls; -Strengthening of women economic power, notably in rural environment, and admittance to basic facilities, to hearth and to finance; -Women entrepreneurship promotion;

-Women’s and girls’ admittance to key technologies of which data processing and communications.

Beyond the progress, many challenges are remaining, and among the main ones:

-The insufficient dissemination of existing laws, the insufficient harmonization of the existing internal legislation with international legal tools which are specific to women rights protection, the limited application of legal and regulatory current measures, written right and custom coexistence, the disinclination of some legal operators to apply texts: -The lack of support resources to business executive women; -The consecutive humanitarian crisis in the Northwest, Southwest, Far North and Eastern regions, that reduce the numerous efforts made for some years; -Gender weak integration into Sectorals’ policies/projects and Programmes; -The very weak budget allocated to gender issues (MINPROFF 2%); -Weak interventions coordination about gender issues; -Cultural opposition notably in rural zones that justify the continuation of some harmful cultural practices such as young girls’ marriage.

II-OBSERVED IMPROVEMENTS SINCE BEIJING +24 REVIEW: MAIN RESULTS AND SUCCESS

Section 1: Priorities, achievements, problems and failures

1. Over the past five years what were the most important achievements, issues and failures regarding gender equality and women empowerment?

While answering this question, would you please explain why does your country Considers those issues as major, how they were treated, the encountered difficulties and the factors that allowed improvements or caused failures in each case (3 to 5 pages)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

Gender equality and Women empowerment are part of Cameroon’s major challenges in order to reach the objectives fixed in its Vision for 2035, its Growth and Employment Strategy Document, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. Thus Cameroon implemented a socioeconomic development policy, based on gender equality. A specific ministerial department was created to approach those issues at a national level. Furthermore, the country developed and has been implementing a National Policy about Gender since 2010.

Along the mentioned period, many improvements were observed in various areas, even if some challenges are still to be met.

20 a) Achievements - Decree Nr 2018/6233/PM of July, 26th, 2018, on the procedures for the implementation of Law Nr 2010/0002 of April, 13th, 2010 on the promotion and protection of Persons with Disabilities;

- Decree Nr 2018/6234/PM of July, 26th, 2018 on the reorganization of the National Committee for the socioeconomic rehabilitation and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities;

- Joint decision Nr 0001/MINSANTE/MINAS of August 13th, 2018, on the procedures for the issuance and delivery of the special medical certificate;

- Decision Nr 0001/MINAS of August, 14th, 2018, on the procedures for the issuance and delivery of the Disability Card;

- A political will to speed the gender parity men-women institutionalization, identified by women appointments to strategic decision positions (Ministers, Chairwomen of Boards, General Managers in State Companies (SRC, SCPD, CAMTEL, SNI, SOPECAM, CENADI).

- Gender inclusion in the electoral law, plans of strategic approach in the field of development, and education curricula;

- Development and adoption of a National Gender Policy document that replaces the women integration into development policy of the’90.

- Current development and implementation of a Multi-sectoral Action Plan regarding the implementation of this policy whose Programmes include 7 items of Cameroon’s Growth and

Employment Strategy Document, and the 12 critical items of the Beijing Platform for Action;

- Improvement of women representation in political life and elective positions: 7.7 % in Cameroonian executives, 56% in the National Assembly, 26% in Senate, 11 women in the Government, 15% General Managers, 2 Ambassadors, 2 Rectors, 15 Deputy-Prefects, 2 Prefects,...

- Cameroon’s ranking 48th out of 180 countries regarding the GII.

- Reinforcement of bi and multi-lateral partnership on gender, women rights promotion and protection funding, notably with UN- WOMEN and UNFPA.

- HeForShe Campaign launching, which induced Cameroon’s ranking in the 5th place, with currently 133,604 enrolled people;

- Presentation of the gender ranking list as a parity men-women catchment and visualization tool about leadership positions occupancy in the administrations, and also of plea for the public women leadership.

- Adaptation of a new Penal Code that strengthens the legal context of Women rights production. This Penal Code is based on the CEDAW and fills the legal gaps regarding women fundamental rights promotion;

- Promotion of gender sensitive budgeting through the requirement - per circular letter from the President of the Republic – for an inclusion of gender in the development of State Budget and the development of a national strategy on Gender Sensitive Planning

and Budgeting (GSPB), in order to ensure the institutionalization of this perspective in the sectors’ ministerial departments;

- Intensification of combating gender-based violence through the implementation of reception centres – the gender desks, listening centres, and policemen’s, journalists’ and magistrates’ education for their optimal involvement in the fight against this scourge;

- Development of an economic, educative and social inclusion Programme in favour of vulnerable populations, of which women;

- Strengthening of women/girls’ abilities to use key technologies, notably data processing and communication, in order to penetrate the e-economy, encouraging so women empowerment;

- Boys and girls education to women and girls’ rights respect, as from Primary school

- Implementation of education and advocacy campaigns on women rights and the importance of gender equality, among leading women and in human rights clubs, in Primary and Secondary education establishments, in the context of the rights protection and promotion programme;

- Organization of raids in prisons, in order to evaluate incarcerated women and men’s detention conditions.

- Strengthening of women/girls’ abilities to use key technologies, notably data processing and communication, in order to penetrate e-economy, encouraging so women empowerment (convention signed with the Fondation Orange, in order to equip the WFPCs with computer devices);

- Conduct of a survey on the current status of women entrepreneurship;

- Formulation of the Women and Youth Entrepreneurship National Strategy document;

- Conduct of a survey on women access to land property;

- Development and implementation of the Inclusive Finance National Strategy b) Issues and failures On the review period, it is important to note that the gender equality and women empowerment issue remains a major challenge for the Country. As a result, a number of constraints were observed, of which:

- The insufficient financial means for SDOs and gender specific programmes implementation;

- The weak socio-cultural appropriation of the National Gender Policy, of its Multi-sectorals Action Plan and gender integration tools, notably by the PBPF chain actors.

- Vocational mobility of the gender local points who play the role of watch and operational relay for gender integration in public policies;

- Lack of support resources to executive women;

- Weak follow-up of the implementation of texts related to gender;

- The consecutive humanitarian crisis in the Northwest, Southwest, Far North and Eastern regions - as a result of the political instability in Central African Republic, of the Boko Aram terrorist sect intrusion, and of secessionist claims - induced the forced displacement of families, and numerous problems significantly affecting women, notably GBV, poverty, abductions, operation as human bombs;

- Gender weak integration into Sectors’ policies/projects and programmes;

- The very weak budget allocated to the Ministry in charge of gender issues (MINPROFF 2%);

- A weak coordination/liquidation of comparative framings in terms of women rights promotion and protection;

- Cultural opposition notably in rural zones that justify the continuation of some HCP such as young girls’ marriage to aged men.

2. Among the following priorities, what are the five most important priorities that allowed over the five past years to speed up progress in favor of women and girls in your country, through laws, policies and/or Programmes? (Please, tick the corresponding categories)

Legal equality and non-discrimination and access to Justice Quality education, training and permanent apprenticeship for women and girls  Poverty eradication, agricultural productivity and food security Elimination of violence against women and girls Access to health care, including sexual and procreative health, and the opportunity for everybody to exercise his rights in terms of procreation

Political participation and representation  Entrepreneurial spirit for women and companies run by women  Right to work and rights on work place (e.g.: wages differentials between genders, job segregation, career progress)  Entrepreneurial spirit for women and companies run by women  Non-remunerated healthcare services and homework, or balance between professional and family life (e.g.: maternity leave, or parental remunerated leave, healthcare services)  Gender sensitive social protection (e.g.: universal health insurance, money transfers, retirement allowances)  Basic services and infrastructures (water, sanitary equipments, energy, transport, etc.)  Improvement of women involvement into sustainable development  Favorable to gender equality Budgeting  Women digital and financial inclusion  Prevention and reduction of disaster risks in favor of gender equality and reinforcement of coping skills  Changing negative social norms and gender stereotypes  Others

Would you, please, provide us with brief comments on how your country has addressed these priorities (3 to 5 pages)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Equality and non-discrimination before the Law and access to Justice In its fundamental Law Nr 96/06 of January, 18th, 1996, Cameroon reaffirms his people attachment to the principles inscribed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of the United Nations, and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. In this respect, it is stated in the Preamble of the Constitution that ‘the Human Being without distinction of race, religion, sex, belief owns inalienable and holy rights’ and that all ‘Human beings are equal in rights and duties’. This reminder of the universality of Human Rights

26 did not hide the categorical protection of rights. Thus, ‘the Nation protects Women, Youth, Elder People and People with Disabilities’.

This positioning in favor of gender equality, non-discrimination and women protection is one of the foundational principles of public policies. So, legislative and regulatory norms have been issued to apply the constitutional trends aiming at women condition improvement.

With regards to the Law, can be mentioned:

 Women’s rights valorization included in Cameroon’s two internal juridical orders, particularly the Civil Code (1804), the Matrimonial Causes Act (MCA 1973), the Probate non Contentious Rules, the Wills Act (1837) and the Administration of Estate Act (1925) which include many dispositions coming from civil right and from the Common Law, which protect Women’s rights, like the consecration of inheritance rights for women, of patrimonial and extra patrimonial rights;  Order Nr 81/02 of June, 29th, 1981 on the organization of civil status in Cameroon which recognizes to women the right to exercise a separate profession, and OHADA Uniform Act on general trade right which allows married women to practice a trade activity different from their husbands’ one;  Law Nr 2016/007 of July, 12th, 2016, Penal Code, numerous dispositions of which may be invoked to condemn infringements to physical or moral women’s integrity;  Law Nr 2005/007 of July, 27th, 2205, Penal Procedure Code which states the principle of equality in the context of penal procedures and sets a treatment in favor of pregnant or breastfeeding women;  Law Nr 2011/024 of December, 14th, 2011 related to combating against human beings trafficking allows women’s and children’s protection against such acts as sexual and economic exploitation;  Law Nr 92/007 of April, 14th, 1992, Labor Code, which encloses the dispositions aiming at preserving women’s employment during child

delivery and maternity leave and protect women against some jobs thought dangerous for them;  Law Nr 2009/04 of April, 14th, 2009 on juridical support, which grants legal aid to women without employment, resources and abandoned by their spouse, in order to obtain an alimony for themselves and their dependent minor children from the juridical instances;  Law Nr 2012/01 of April 19th, 2012, Electoral Code, which promotes women’s involvement in Politics, by requiring consideration of Gender in electoral lists elaboration on municipal, legislative and senatorial elections;

With regards to regulation, can also be notably mentioned:

 Decree Nr 94/199 of October 7th, 1994 on public Function General Status, which opens access to Cameroonian Public Function to every citizen without gender discrimination;  Decree Nr 95/048 of March 8th, 1995 on Magistracy Status with its subsequent modifications;  Decree Nr 2012/539 of November, 19th, 2012 on body of National Safety functionaries’ special status;  Decree Nr 2011/020 of February 4th, 2011 on the Registries of Courts’ special status;

Women’s access to Justice has been linked to the principle of equal treatment for litigants, which is a main principle of justice distribution and of cases examination. Article 1-1 of the Penal Code says that “penal law applies to everyone”. Equality in front of Courts implies a free access to justice and an equal treatment in front of Judges. On this subject, the Constitution in its Preamble, foresees that laws allows to anyone the right to be given justice.

In order to promote a fair access to Justice, Law Nr 2009/004 of April, 14th 2009 on juridical support organization was passed. Thanks to these Law dispositions, a partial or total exemption of fees is agreed to indigent people,

28 including divorcing women with dependent minor children who have no own revenues, in order to encourage their access to justice. Furthermore, this law offers to women abandoned by their spouses and without means, the benefit of full right legal aid, in order to get through justice alimony for themselves and their children. In spite of financial constraints that jeopardize the optimal operating of some of its commissions, litigants have made use of the legal aid mechanism. Statistics about legal aid for the period 2012-2017 are indicators of this inclusive justice, promoted by Cameroon. Chart: Legal Aid Progression

Number of registered aid requests

Number of decisions granting legal aid

Number of beneficiary women Source: MINJUSTICE

Furthermore, Courts’ action along the past five years also brought changes to women’s condition, through the application of the national and international juridical tools related to women’s rights. One example is Judgment Nr 36/ADD/CRIM of November, 19th, 2015, made by Mora’s Tribunal de Grande Instance, opposing Public Prosecutor and Credit du Sahel SA Mora’s Agency to Dame Apsatou SALKI BOUBA BEBE. Regarding this case, in order to protect women’s rights to health, notably their sexual and reproductive health, the Judge took the Maputo Protocol dispositions into account, to free a detained pregnant woman. To do so, the Judge alternatively invoked the articles 24 and 25 of the Protocol, reminding the State’s obligation to protect “pregnant or breastfeeding incarcerated women providing them with a framework adapted to their condition and the right to be treated with dignity” and to guarantee "respect for the promotion of women's rights to health, including sexual and reproductive health, by providing them with pre- and post-natal and nutritional services during pregnancy and breastfeeding and improving existing services".

Widows’ rights protection has not been neglected. Some local rights jurisdictions exercising custom applied modern right’s dispositions to order the liquidation of matrimonial regime, and the share of the community that existed between spouses before the liquidation of the legacy. This was, for instance, the case of Bonanjo’s Tribunal du Premier Degré in 2017, when the liquidation of the matrimonial regime was ordered without considering parties’ tradition.

 Permanent quality education, training and apprenticeship for women and girls

o At Higher Education level

The parity index between genders in Higher Education is 1.29. According to CELSTAT/DEPS/MINESUP data for 2014 and 2015, Cameroon State universities have a total headcount of 229,056 students, representing 56.40% for boys vs. 43.60% for girls. However, a reverse trend is noted at Bamenda University with 51.87% of girls vs. 48.13% of boys. The Higher Education Private Institutions (HEPI) enumerate 96,940 students among which 51.10% are boys and 48.90% are girls. Higher Education Non Academic Public Institutions (HENAPI), post-baccalaureate academic ones such as the National Intitute for Youth ans Sports (NIYS), the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Travaux Publics (ENSTP), the Ecole Nationale des Postes et Télécommunications (ENSPT) enumerated 23,760 students in 2014 , showing an almost parity equality between girls and boys.

These data compared to 2015 ones show a clear improvement where the number of students in public Universities is around 253,355 vs. 229,056 in 2014 with an increase of girls’ attending rate, significantly in some areas such as Healthcare; there is here such a trend inversion that girls’ percentage is higher than boys’ one. The same trend is observed in the Diplomacy branch.

Among the measures that were taken during the period to improve girls’ condition in the area, can be mentioned:

- Granting of scholarships and financial supports to women students; - Yearly payment of the excellence bonus to 72,000 students (girls/boys parity according to the defined criteria) of the State Universities and IPIHES - Academic support through the attribution of scholarships to deserving students; - Granting of supports to the women students enrolled in scientific and technological branches; - Holidays internships and work study Programme organization: 2,800 students of whom 1,956 women students selected for the work study Programme and 800 women students for the summer holidays internships from 2014 to 2017 at the Ministry of Higher Education;

- Grant of nearly 20,000 scholarships to women students from 2015 to 2019 for an amount of CFA 10,000,000,000;

- Grant of Excellence bonus to women who set themselves apart by their dynamism, their professionalism and their dedication to work in the central services and universities, that is to say around 200 women since 2013;

- Excellence diplomas awarding to women who get to University Lecturer and Class Teacher positions;

- Women appointment to strategic positions in State universities, Chancellors and Vice Chancellors, Deans and Department Managers;

- Improvement of women staff issued from Higher Education: 38 specialist physicians per year, of which 38% women; 15 bio-medical higher technicians among whom:

- 45% women; 140 health higher technicians; 1,000 engineers and higher technicians of whom 28% women; 4,500 secondary education teachers per year of which 47% women; 842 technical secondary education teachers, of whom 30% women. With regards to technologic and professional branches, the amount of trained student will jump from 2% in 2006 to nearly 25% in 2020, that is to say 1 student out of 4. The absorption capacity considerably increased: more than 45,000 available places. In the medical branch the jump was from 225 trained healthcare staff in 2012 to 745 in 2015; in the technological branch, 4,372 engineers and technicians have been trained in 2015 vs. 1200 in 2012. In 2016, MINESUP intends to reach 24% more students, that is to say 15,000 new ones vs.2015;

- Inclusion of modules related to company development into MINESUP’s strategy (3 techno poles have been forecast, of which 1 already functional at ENSPY together with MINPMEESA’s help. As of today, this one allowed the reinforcement of 100 young students; - Effective payment of research bonus to nearly 4,227 instructors for research modernization, of whom 863 women in 2017 and this for more than one decade; - The yearly organization of the “Without AIDS Campus“ operation: organization of awareness and diagnostic campaigns; free care of sexually transmitted infections, those campaigns are equally aimed at boys and girls; - The exponential increase of higher education private institutes (more than 200 in 2017, 136 in 2012, 64 in 2008, 12 in 2004); - Universities’ (Yaoundé I, Yaoundé II, Douala, Buea, CUCA) connection to CAMTEL’s optical fibre network, through the inter university communication network (ITN).

o At Secondary Education level

The attendance of secondary education establishments in its whole is of 58.27% of whom 63.11% boys vs. 53% girls. These data show differences at regions’ level (MINESEC’s 2014-2015 analysis report of statistical data).

As a matter of fact, the school enrolment rate is > to 50% in six regions and is as follows: Centre (65.11% girls vs. 69.27% boys), Coastline (70.65% girls vs. 77.87% boys), Northwest (64.44% girls vs. 61.38% boys), West (90.66% girls vs. 94.56% boys); South (83.85% girls vs. 94.80% boys) and Southwest (65.62% girls vs. 67.94% boys).

Furthermore, this rate is < to 50% in the three following regions who are also Priority Education Zones: Adamaoua (24.8% girls vs. 42.12% boys), Far North (19.29% girls vs. 40.13% boys), North (21.24% girls vs. 42.48% boys). This school enrolment rate is low in the PEZ for three major reasons: socio- cultural heaviness, isolation of some zones and populations’ poverty.

Also, it may be noted that the Western region is the most enrolled one and the Far North one the less enrolled. The gender parity index at secondary level is of 0.92%.

o At Vocational Training level

8,363 learners were trained in public vocational training structures (SAR/SM) of whom 2,974 girls/women.

 Elimination of violence against women and girls

Besides the fundamental law, the legal context of women’s protection against infringements to their dignity and physical integrity has been reinforced with the passing in 2016 of the Law Nr 2016/007 of July, 12th 2016, Penal Code. This Code presents the advantage to have introduced new incriminations

33 allowing sanctioning infringements against women. Hence the infringements against women’s physical or moral integrity are meant to mean qualifications which previously existed such as murder (article 275), assassination (article 276), major injuries (article 227), torture (article 277-3), lethal blows (article 278), blows with major injuries (article 279), simple injuries (article 280), and light injuries (article 281). Regarding sexual violence against women and girls, articles 295 and 296 sanction insults and rape, meanwhile articles 346 and 347 sanction insults on minors followed by sexual relations or rapes.

News infractions such as genital (female) mutilations, infringement to an organ growing7, sexual assault3 sanctioned by the respective dispositions of articles 277-1, 277-2 et 302-1came and completed the existing dispositions, whereas persons trafficking8 were incorporated to article 342-1. Spouse’s expulsion out of the matrimonial house is now sanctioned in article 358-1, thus allowing protecting the surviving spouse9 from in-law’s pressures about goods acquired by the couple.

Denial of resources to women may constitute infractions such as payment of alimony, reversionary pension and family abandonment allow women to take legal actions on basis of articles180, 180-1 and 358 of the Penal Code. Besides, discriminatory dispositions were cancelled from this Code. So, article 361 of the Penal Code punishes indistinctly and with the same sanctions men and women who commit adultery. More, the subsequent marriage between a rape author and his victim is no longer considered as an exemption from prosecution cause, by article 297. The Penal Code by sanctioning the early marriage through its article 356 (2) suppresses disparities and harmonizes the age under which a girl or a boy cannot be given in marriage, that is to say at least 18.

7 This includes breast ironing 8 This infraction was sanctioned by the dispositions of the Law Nr 2011/024 of December, 14th, 2011 related to combating persons trafficking 9 Practically, widows are the most exposed

Furthermore, the national strategy of combating violence against women elaborated in 2011 was reviewed in 2016, and also was a national plan of combating female genital mutilation, integrating the new dispositions of the Penal Code related to women, family and children rights in accordance with CEDAW.

A joint Government-UNO Programme on combating violence based on gender named "Accelerating the prevention of gender-based violence and holistic care for surviving women in the most affected regions of Cameroon", has been developed by 8 United Nations agencies and co-signed with the Ministry of Woman and Family Promotion in 2014. The aim of this Programme was to contribute to the flourishing of Cameroonian populations, women, men, girls and boys through: a developed social care base, notably regarding women/girls’ rights promotion and protection; a framing where socio-cultural heaviness is reduced and in which women and young girls are free from any gender-based discrimination, whereas men are positively implied in combating these scourges; a growing and fair access of the most vulnerable categories to sanitary, legal, judicial, educative, psycho-social and economical services; production of knowledge on violence typology along life cycle, deep causes of this violence, and solutions finding.

Thus, in the field of violence prevention, about 5,600,000 persons were impacted by mass awareness campaigns and by local actions, notably in the humanitarian zones. Due to the fact that violence is more and more present in secondary education establishments and that girls are the most touched by his scourge, educative talks are organized with them and boys. Furthermore means are deployed to eliminate drugs use by students.

New reception structures were opened for women surviving from gender based violence, notably 10 centres for women in distress with call centres in WFPCs, 10 gender desks in police stations, 4 cohesion spaces in refugee and displaced families camps.

Other actions were achieved for the reception of women and girls victims of violence: in Maroua, Kousseri (humanitarian zone) and Yaoundé life centres, through the completion of the national survey “Early and forced marriages in Cameroon: issue status and perspectives” achieved in 2014 and published in 2015 (figures and charts), through the shooting of the documentary “Silence prisoners” treating violence against women in Cameroon with MINPROFF’s institutional recognition, and the implementation of the project of combating gender based violence in schools.

Along this period, the number of cases handled in a holistic way could be estimated to 5,604.

Capacity building for social workers (decentralized State services, private community structures, CSOs, etc.) and for other actors in the chain of protection against violence (health personnel, magistrates, police) and meetings with all actors have promoted the exchange of good practices and the harmonization of intervention processes. More than 501 player social workers were trained on listening techniques, awareness, community approaches, psycho-social care and case management tools.

Coordination of interventions in terms of combating violence against women and girls has significantly improved, thanks to the implementation of 3 subgroups: 1 at central level, and two in Far North and in Est.

A national Action Plan for the implementation of the resolutions 1325 and Related of UN Security Council on Women-Peace and Security was also adopted. This plan relies on four pillars which are prevention, protection and involvement, rescue and resiliency. Its implementation is presently being run, notably in the humanitarian zones, through the care and support of women survivors from gender-based violence, the implementation of call centres and cohesion spaces, police officers’, magistrates’, media and health staffs’ and social workers’ training, for the inclusion of gender in conflicts management,

36 the combat against gender-based violence, and humanitarian support distribution.

To end, a survey about the social norms involving socio-cultural/traditional practices which are harmful to Cameroonian girls, commissioned by the MINPROFF, has been realized in 2018 by a team of consultants from San Diego and Yaoundé Universities, which main focus was the issue of children’s marriage. The results of this survey – mainly led in the East and Far North Regions, demonstrated important variations of children’s marriage prevalence rates from a region to the other, and strong variations upon association with socio-cultural/economic determiners. Variations linked to regions, ethnicities and religions suggest the existence of normative factors (socio-cultural norms, weak education level), particularly in the Far North and in Adamaoua. While the number of children’s marriages decreased in most of Cameroon’s regions, the survey shows an increase in the East region, involving the necessity to implement innovative intervention strategies. The evidences generated by this survey allow getting some elements of information that may encourage the development of a communication strategy towards specific targets, to contribute to the expected changes about children’s marriage and other harmful cultural practices – such as female genital mutilations – surrender.

 Access to health care, including sexual and procreative health, and the opportunity for everybody to exercise his rights in terms of procreation

During the five past years many efforts were made in the fields of general health and of mother’s and child’s health with the creation and implementation of the CHRACER, of Douala’s gynecological-obstetrical Hospital, the creation of the reference hospital of Sangmélima, the substantial decrease of treatment fees and with the care of some chronic diseases such as tuberculosis.

Systematic medical examinations are organized in the secondary education establishments at the beginning of every school year. Besides, disinfestations and vaccinations campaigns are permanent.

Other measures are related to: - Creation and implementation of Medico-Social Centers (MSC) in State Universities and of infirmaries in Cameroonian Higher Education Private Institutions (HEPI); - State Universities Managers’ awareness on the approach One Health in 2018; - Detection campaign and free vaccination against Hepatitis B and C; yellow fever, meningitis and typhoid for central services’ and universities’ women and girls; - Breast and cervical cancers free detection campaigns for central services’ and universities’ women and girls; - Campaigns identification in order to allow young people massive access to basic social and health services through the effective implementation of the biometric Carte Jeune all over the NYO.

In terms of women’s and girls’ specific health services development, included sexual and procreative health services, mental health services, maternal health and HIV prevention, the following measures have been implemented in the FAR NORTH (Maroua Regional Hospital, Mokolo, Kaélé, Roua, Moutourwa, Gudiguis Districts Hospitals), NORTH (Garoua Regional Hospital, Figuil, Guider, Lagdo, Pitoa, Golombe Districts’ Hospitals) ADAMAOUA (Ngaoundéré Regional Hospital), EAST (Bertoua Regional Hospital, Abong-Mbang and Batouri Districts Hospital) regions.

Other actions were achieved in the youth multifunctional centres of Bertoua, Pitoaré and Domayo.

Among the achieved actions, can be noted:

- Capacities reinforcement of 150 actors in ARH, notably 50 trainers of trainers (10 Regions), 80 contractors and 20 supervisors, 105 pair counselors teens/young people in 2015/2016; - Implementation of ARH Units in 15 STs, that is to say 4 regional hospitals and 11 District Hospitals in 2014;

- Support through medical equipment and supply to 4 Medico-social centres at Yaoudé 1 and 2, Ngaoundéré and Maroua in 2015;

- 3 points of prestations equipment in the MCYPs of Bertoua, Domayo and Pitoaré (Maroua) in 2015;

- Reinforcement of the AJVVIHs’ referral mechanism between the Technical Regional Group (TRG), the Agreed Treatment Centre (ATC) Bertoua’s Regional Hospital ARH Unit in 2015;

- Implementation of supervision, specific teens/young people data collection tools in STs in 2016.

- Services providing to 12,632 teen-agers in 2016;

- Medical and psycho-social care of 30 AJVVIHs (pre-therapeutic check- up including CD4 counting in 2016;

- Services providing to 1,038 young people and mass awareness of 1,500 young people in ARH.

In terms of healthcare contractors’ training to gender awareness, are to be noted: - The development of a guide for GBV women survivors’ medical and psycho-social care; - The training of 300 health contractors to GBVs’ medical care; - The implementation of a care network for GBV female survivors.

 Political participation and representation

In terms of political participation, Cameroon conduced, during the last years, a set of actions aiming at the improvement of women’s representativeness in decision-making bodies.

According to Mr. President of the Republic’s instructions, the Cameroonian Government implemented several political coaching centres for women in order to allow them to easily and freely present their candidacy to decision- making bodies such as President, Senators, Members of Parliament, Lord- Mayors, and Regional Counselors.

Furthermore, the Cameroonian Government implemented, with partners’ support, a project about women’s massification of their political participation to electoral deadlines from 2018 to 2019. This project was implemented in 10 regions of Cameroon by including the representation of indigenous peoples (Bororo and Baka peoples of the eastern region of Cameroon) in the electoral process, in order to strengthen the abilities of women and girls about the electoral process and bring them to take an interest and participate freely in the political life of their country.

Among others, the following actions may be mentioned:

- Women’s political training manual updating and the development of a national action plan to support women in their participation to decision-making. These two documents are implemented through awareness, vulgarization and training meetings aimed at the future candidates to the different electoral deadlines. - Organization of political abilities reinforcement workshops for the leader women who are candidates in Cameroon’s 10 regions; - Adoption of a gender-based electoral law;

- Organization of plea sessions – intended to parliamentarians - at the National Assembly and the Senate, in order to get women representation massification; - Organization of women’s awareness sessions, for their enrolment on electoral lists massification; - Organization of sessions on political actors’ abilities reinforcement about electoral processes; - Organization of gender café sessions in the 10 regions, in order to organize free, serene and gender-aware elections; - Implementation of platforms on violence and women’s political empowerment in the 10 regions, in order to ensure peace, stability, and the live together process before, during and after the elections; - Organization of the vulgarization sessions of the articles of the Electoral Code related to Gender (Article 151 and following ones);

Results are visible so far: 31.11% women in the National Assembly and 26% at the Senate, more and more visible presence of women in the territorial leadership (2 Prefects, 15 Deputy Prefects, 2 General Inspectors...) 3 Ambassadors...

3. Over the five past years, did you take specific measures in order to prevent any kind of discrimination and to promote the rights of women and girls victims of many and convergent kinds of discrimination ? (Please, tick the corresponding categories) Women living in isolated and rural territories Native women  Women belonging to a racial, ethnic or religious minority Women with Disabilities Women with HIV/AIDS Young Women Aged Women  Migrant Women Refugee and Displaced Women

Women in Humanitarian Crisis Position  Others

Would you, please, give details about maximum three concrete examples, regarding notably the goals and scopes of the taken measures, the target population, the budget, the impact evaluation, the learned lessons, and the links to get more information? If necessary, please give data demonstrating your answers (2 pages maximum).

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

Measures aiming at preventing any kind of discrimination and at promoting the rights of women and girls who are the victims of multiple and convergent discrimination, are part of actions to combat social exclusion, and to promote the institutional reinforcement, the socio-economical insertion of Socially Vulnerable People, of which vulnerable native, with disabilities, aged or migrant, refugees or displaced women.

 Native Women - Creation of 50 Social Action Services in Mbororo, Baka, Bagyeli, Bakola, Bedzang communities, in order to reinforce the promotion and protection mechanism of Native Populations’ rights, through a local management.

- Setting-up of an Inter-sectorals Committee for the follow-up and evaluation of the of projects and Programmes implementation in favor of Vulnerable Native Populations (PPVNP), in order to better coordinate the actions. The foreseen goal is the creation of actors’ and resources synergy in order to guarantee the effectiveness and efficiency of the interventions in favor of vulnerable native populations.

- Facilitating education through school enrolment of 5,250 Baka, Bedzang, Bakola/Bagyeli children in the Primary cycle, and 350 in the Secondary one, so 480 teachers could be trained to apprenticeship and hosting techniques

for Baka, Bedzang, Bakola/Bagyeli children. 47 primary schools attended by Baka, Bedzang, Bakola/Bagyeli children benefit from a support in school supplies and books, from CEP and contest fees payment, and from pupils’ admission in 6e;

- 20 x4B children’s vocational training to education and health vocational schools, of which: 9 assistant care-providers, 1 ATMS, 1 IDE, 9 teachers; recruitment of 5 young people in Police services: 2 peacekeepers, 3 police inspectors; training of 2 young native people at the Ecole des Eaux et Forêts;

- Right to citizenship through the creation in 2017 of 2,800 birth acts, 1,500 national identity cards, 83 marriage acts for the benefit of Baka, Bedzang, Bakola/Bagyeli people;

- Participation, through communication actions in the Adamaoua, East, North and Far North regions. These actions are aimed at promoting the inter community dialogue in order to encourage the involvement and participation of young natives generally and particularly of young girls to the exercise of their rights in the promotion of the inclusive strategies of promotion of their rights.

In the field of Health:  Supply with essential medicines of 110 health centres which are attended by the Baka, Bakola, Bagyeli, Bedzang (4 B) Native People;  Training and refreshment courses for 391 traditional midwives, in order to improve childbirth conditions in areas located far from sanitary structures.  Training of 6 Pygmies leaders to basic healthcare;  Support to the strategy that allowed, households’ awareness and more than 3,000 4Bs’ vaccination.

 Building and inauguration in 2018 at NGOVAYANG Hospital, in the Ocean Department, of a maternity clinic aimed at 4B Women’s reception and care.

Regarding the right to a decent life, and to a convenient feeding:

 Building of 3 watering places in the LB villages;  New 4B leaders Support in material and agricultural devices, which allowed the valuing of more than 40 hectares of holy food fields (banana, manioc, etc.)  Access to decent social housing improvement, by the building of 34 housings.

Rights promotion and prevention against any kind of discrimination towards women was promoted in several domains. Hence, in the context of providing birth acts to populations, including refugee, internally displaced and living in far or native regions women, the MINJUSTICE organized mobile court hearings. In the East region, special hearings were held on January, 28th, and on February, 9th, 2015 in Mindourou and Lomié with the support of MINAS and of OES “Les Aigles de l’Espoir” (“Hope Eagles”), and during which 450 supplementary judgements were rendered.

Other special hearings were also organized, according to the following calendar: - On June, 13th, in Ngoyla Camp, where 197 supplementary judgments were rendered; - On July, 4th, 2016 in Messamona with 245 rendered supplementary judgments; - On December, 16th, 2016 in Somalomo Camp with 77 rendered supplementary judgments; - On December, 19th, in Atok with 100 rendered judgements; - On December, 29th, 2016 in Doumé and Bonando with respectively 117 and 119 rendered judgments. 2016 hearings took place with

National Programme for Participative Development and MINAS’ support.

On the initiative of the municipality of Gari Gombo - in the Department of Boumba-and Ngoko – together with the Cameroonian network for human rights, 367 supplementary judgments were rendered between 2015 and 2016, on the mobile hearings which were held in the localities of Gari Gombo, Ndeng, Paya, Gribi Mbatoundou, Mbialy, Kpolikta, Ngoundi and Mampelé to the benefit of the Baka native populations. With regards to hearings in the benefit of Pygmies populations from the South region, they were aimed – like in the East region – at these populations’ birth acts creation. In 2016, the Kribi FIC renderen about 200 supplementary judgments about birth acts.

o VNPs socio-economical inclusion/reintegration is defined by the implementation of a set of programmes and projects, of which:

-The Development Plan for Pygmies Populations (DPP) issued from the Sectors Programme for Forest and Environment (SPFE) whose global objective is to improve Pygmies peoples’ life conditions, in the context of the community management of animal and forest resources. This programme allowed the building of social infra-structures and the socio-economical inclusion of the native populations for an amount of CFAF 422,000,000.

-The Development Plan for Pygmies Populations, which is part of the National Programme for Participative Development (NPDP), whose third phase was launched in 2016 and is doted of CFAF 852,000,000 dedicated to the inclusion of the said people’s the specific needs in the local development process.

-The Inclusion and Vocational Reintegration of Vulnerable Persons Support Programme (IVRVPSP) whose one component, the Inclusion and Vocational Reintegration of Vulnerable Native Populations Support Programme (IVRVNPSP) addresses preoccupations which are specific to this target. The

IVRVPSP goal is the Vocational and/or Reintegration of PSVs through on site- trainings, promotion of self-employment, and creation of micro enterprise by the support to projects implementation and through follow-up/management.

Hence, plea actions are conducted for measures to be exceptionally taken in favor of the native populations, so that they can access training schools.

 Women with disabilities

Promotion and protection actions were increased by the reinforcement of the legal context for persons with disabilities protection and promotion, promotion of school enrolment for disabled children through inclusive education, promotion of socio-vocational insertion, and the increase of a plea for the access of persons with reduced mobility to built environments.

o At Legal level In terms of protection and promotion of persons with disabilities, the legislation has been reinforced with:

- Law Nr 2010/002 of April, 13th 2010 laying protection and promotion of disabled persons, which specifies in its article 5, paragraph 1, that: “(...) the psychological, social and economic insertion of the disabled person is a national solidarity duty”,

- Decree Nr 2018/6233/PM of July, 20th 2018 laying down the procedures for Law Nr 2010/002 of April, 13th, 2010 application. This text is intended to be coercive and addresses almost all aspects related to the socio-economic integration of persons with disabilities by setting up concrete and specific measures and appropriate procedures to ensure the effective enjoyment by people with disabilities of the rights already enshrined in the legislative base. The said article foresees some facilities in terms of access of persons with disabilities to education and

vocational training, and also foresees specific measures to promote their access to Employment.

- The Decree laying reorganization of the National Committee for the Rehabilitation and the socio-economical Reinsertion of persons with disabilities also called CONRHA which is an inter-ministerial consultative organ in charge of giving its opinion about every issue related to Persons with Disabilities in Cameroon.

- The signature of two joint decisions MINSANTE/MINAS fixing the setting and delivery modalities of the special medical certificate in order to get the National Disability Card.

o At institutional level Institutional care gets materialized by the infra-structural development. So, can be noted:

- The improvement of the technical platform of the National Centre for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, Cardinal Paul Emile LEGER, through the implementation of the contract-plan worth nearly CFAF 04 billion; - The on-going building of Maroua’s Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities, with the support of the Italian cooperation, who is to address the demand as on the national than regional levels; - The Buea’s Rehabilitation Institute for the Blind restoration

In this context, multiform services are offered to persons with disabilities, such as: special education, orthopedic surgery, apprenticeship, vocational training and various supports for the reinsertion of persons with disabilities.

o At Education level Facilitation of access to Education and vocational training is characterized by:

- The on-going implementation of MINESEC-MINAS’ joint circular letters which were respectively signed on August, 2nd, 2006 and August, 14th, 2007. Their aim is to facilitate pupils with disabilities’ and ones born from parents with disabilities’ admittance in public secondary education establishments, and to exonerate them from enrolment fees to the official examinations;

- Special measures for equity on official examinations;

- The further implementation of MINESUP/MINA’s joint circular letter, signed on July, 9th, 2008 related to the reinforcement of the improvement of the enrolment and management conditions for vulnerable or with disabilities students in the State Universities of Cameroon.

- Grant of vocational training and apprenticeship scholarships, notably to young vulnerable with disabilities girls;

- Training of 126 women with disabilities to data processing, in partnership with the Institut Africain d’Informatique (AIDP-Cameroon) ;

- Creation of the computing training centre, which is adapted to visual deficiency.

- Persons with disabilities’ training to the conception and management of micro-projects that generate revenues;

- Providing of productive supports, without any discrimination. Thus, 90 socio-economical micro-projects presented by the PSV received funding in 2017 for a total amount of 100,000,000 CFAF related to the Support Project and to Socio-Professional Integration for Vulnerable Persons;

- inclusion of the disability approach as part of decentralization, through the grant by the Municipalities of the necessary equipments for the Disabled Persons, all over their territory; subventions to PSVs’ management structures, including the ones which manage persons with disabilities; help and relief to the poor and needy;

- Taxes exoneration for some activities (customs)

o Regarding the accessibility of persons with reduced mobility to built Environment, can be noted: The plea to MINTP, MINHDU, MINMAP and to key actors, about accessibility to public or open to the public infrastructures. These are linked to, among others, the Law Nr 2010/002, of April 13th, 2010, about people with disabilities’ protection and promotion, the Circular Letter from the Prime Minister, Government’s Leader, of April, 18th, 2008 about the respect of the rules conducting the procurement, implementation and control of public markets, and MINMAP/MINTP/MINHDU/MINAS’s joint Circular Letter of July, 13th, 2013, and to the practical guide on the accessibility to infrastructures and public buildings, or open to the public, set in 2009.

 Refugee or Displaced Women

After a long period of political stability observed for years, Cameroon underwent during the last free years three crisis which considerably impacted the country’s peace and safety, and then populations’ life conditions: (1) the Central African crisis which forced thousands of people to leave their country to settle in Cameroon, particularly in the East and Adamaoua regions; (2) Boko Aram terrorist group’s repeated attacks in Nigeria and Cameroon, which induced massive populations displacements inside and outside the country, specifically in the Far North region; then (3) since 2016, the socio-political crisis in the North-western and South-western regions which involved a social instability with violence and secessionist claims, and a negative impact on the

49 social-economical context and some displacements of populations over the whole national territory.

Because of these three crisis complexity, the Cameroonian Government, the UN System’s agencies and all the humanitarian actors mobilized to bring an appropriate answer to the persons that became vulnerable. To do so, the Government with partners’ help defined a strategy of answer allowing him to bring and integrated and multi dimensional assistance to women and girls refugee inside sites and camps, and to the hosting communities.

Based on successful experiences in other countries, on gender mainstreaming, and on GBV sub-group coordination, “Cohesion Spaces for Women” have been created in the refugee camps/sites, Call Centres and Gender Desks were created in the hosting communities.

Women’s social cohesion spaces – whose objective is to provide women, refugee girls, and women from the host communities who survived GBV with efficient and discreet care services – are implemented in sites and camps, particularly:  4 in the Eastern region (Gado, Iolo, Mbilé and Timangolo)  2 in the Adamaoua region (Ngam and Borgop)  2 in the Far North region (Minawao and Gawar)

In Cameroon, those spaces offer integrated services based on a psycho-social basic assistance which includes listening, individual advice, reference and/or counter-reference for medical and/or legal approach, and discussion groups.

Spaces allow women to meet discreetly in order to share their experience and talk freely. They are an important factor in GBV survivors’ resilience building, notably thanks to the reconstruction of a social support network. A team of social workers and psychologists supports these women and girls.

Call Centres are a model of “ONE Stop Centre“and are part of the of the national response implementation to gender-based violence. The main goal of this mechanism is to improve GBVs care and prevention through the implementation of 24/24 free call centres, for the victims’ and survivors’ early alert, listening, dialogue, advice, information and orientation. That is to say:  Bring a violence denunciation and quick care service to the women survivors;  Bring an appropriate answer to the women survivors who need listening, advice, information and orientation to the appropriate services;  Bring a counseling provisory service to the women survivors;

Gender Desks are gender-based violence care specialized units in a development context, more importantly in humanitarian context. They are hosted by police or gendarmerie units in order to bring an immediate and appropriate response to sexual or gender-based victims. In Cameroon, police Gender Desks are hosted by police Headquarters’ social and legal affairs units and are composed of:  A specialized staff in registration, conducting of investigations and in control of gender-based violence;  Emergency call numbers;  A victims’ temporary hosting unit;  A cases’ reference and counter-reference system.

In order to ensure the effective and efficient inclusion of gender issues in the humanitarian response, several humanitarian actors’ training on IASC gender norms have been organized.

Strategy built around Women’s cohesion spaces, call centres and gender desks are part of the innovations made in the field of care of GBVs survivors in Humanitarian context, and allowed the improvement the condition of numerous refugees, displaced and issued from the hosting communities women during the period.

As of today, we can estimate that:

 5,000 women benefited of improved stoves, rechargeable solar lamps, and other dignity kits;  76,165 persons (refugees, internally displaced and host communities members) were sensitized to GBVs of which 43,237 women and girls;  Nearly 4,000 women and girls victims of violence, benefited of an holistic assistance (psycho-social, legal support and medical orientation);  5,720 women survivors of GBVS benefited of economical kits. These interventions produced relevant results and allowed the improvement of their life conditions for the refugees, displaced and issued from the surrounding host communities women and girls;

4. Did the growing number of humanitarian crisis caused by conflicts, extreme climatic events, or other events affect the implementation of PAB in your country?

YES / NO

If YES, would you, please, give concrete examples of humanitarian crisis consequences on the achieved advances in favor of women and girls in your country, and enumerate the measures taken to prevent humanitarian crisis and answer them, taking into account the men-women concern (1 page maximum)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

YES

The different generated humanitarian crisis emphasized the existing power inequality, with the consequence of various forms of violence, particularly against women and girls. The lack of order, linked to non satisfied essential needs, exposed them to an increased risk of violence. Furthermore, harmful cultural practice such as early marriage strongly increased in humanitarian zones. However, due to socio- cultural norms and to the stigmatization which is tied to the victims, among other factors, numerous cases are not always declared, which perpetuates the cycle of vulnerability, of violence and of aggressors’ impunity. This invisible status leaves the GBVs not treated and under-funded facing the risk and the estimated incidence level.

Hence, crisis involved a differentiated impact on women’s and men’s life. Women and girls, particularly, suffered physical and psychological trauma due to the atrocities they attended or were victims. Generally, they are more exposed to different types of violence: physical, economical, moral and sexual ones. For end, they have limited and weakened women’s access to basic social services, such as education, health and economy. The gains obtained in terms of gender inequality elimination - notably maternal mortality – of little girls’ school enrolment, and of fight against violence against women and girls, are all experiencing falls. They destroy women’s economic capacities and make them more vulnerable.

Concretely, the lack of safety caused by Boko Haram’s attacks, for instance, affects women and children in a disproportionate way. Several women and young girls were raped, abducted and married by force and then used as kamikazes during the terrorist group operations. Furthermore, Boko Haram’s repeated attacks created a general unsafe feeling in the Cameroonian communities. In the Far North, for instance, according to the local authorities, women no longer wanted to send their daughters to school, public places and markets, fearing for them to ba abducted by Boko Haram’s rebels. Women and girls who are the most vulnerable and already traumatized by the security context are more exposed to the GBV, abuse and sexual exploitation risks10.

The #Bring our Girls Back movement memory, in response to the abduction of young girls by this terrorist group in Chibok, Nigeria, is still present in minds

Chart 2: Women/girls victims of the Boko Haram conflict

Profile Type of Roles Specific cases activities/Revenues -Woman/Girl -Housekeepers -Intelligence -BH’s spouses (IDP, refugee, -Industry of sex agents in the army or prisoners vulnerable host -Workers -Men recreation are used for communities) -RGA from anxiety intelligence in mainly widows -Very weak -Precariousness Tourou, Mora, or separated revenues, obliged and of Mokolo from their to have parallel vulnerability to Encouraged by spouse activities for indoctrination their spouses - BH’s old subsistence vectors or parents, spouses -Facilitators of several tens -Orphan girls, marriages women are separated/NA between young estimated to and girls and boys from prostitute for undereducated the survival borders/displaced and refugee communities

Source: Centre of Studies and Research in Peace, Safety and Integration, Maroua University (Cameroon)

Furthermore, Boko Haram adopted a new operating mode by using women and young girls as true weapons, war strategy, physical and psychological terror space. The indirect involvement is implicit and consists of the cultural representation and rebuilding of the women’s more degrading image in its intrinsic value as life-giver.

So, the women/girls who are victims from Boko Haram (IDPs, widows, NASCs…) exposed to precariousness run the risk of being caught. There are no

55 visible improvement perspectives, so they won’t hesitate to accept Boko Haram’s subtle offers to improve their life conditions.

Profile Roles Specific cases -Women (adult) and -War pretext by Boko -Several hundreds of girls (teen-agers and Haram women and girls are pre-teens) aged - Sexual slaves adepts and work for between 7 and 25 -Women deminors Boko Haram. years. -Fighters -Girls are used as -Spouses and young’s attractants. housekeepers -85% of attacks are -Kamikaze: space of made by women. terror, sword and war -Bolo Haram deploys an weapons, ideological average of 90 women positioning towards per year; it is a strong other salafist groups symbol vs. 46 women in 10 years for the Tamil Tigers (Scott Steward, 2015). -The abduction of 276 girls from Chibok in April, 2014 signs it international reputation.

Source: Centre of Studies and Research in Peace, Safety and Integration, Maroua University (Cameroon)

It is also important to underline that in Cameroon, refuge women have to face important inequalities because they seek refuge in socially disfavored zones, and where discriminatory practice against women persist.

In the English speaking regions, the conflict increase induced displacements of population, making women and girls one of the high-risk groups in terms of protection. The quick and multi-sectorals evaluation of needs lead in March, 2018 revealed an increase of early pregnancies, sexual intercourse for survival and sexual assaults signs of sexist violence prevalence. The situation needs

56 urgently a coordinate response against sexist violence, with the participation of the national and local actors of protection.

The so displaced populations mainly settled in the forest, in border villages, or in town and are facing increased risks of violence, including sexual and gender- based ones. They also face arbitrary arrest risks due to document loss and move limitation, to family separating and to psycho-social issues. Fights between armed groups and governmental forces lead to schools, and sanitary structures closures, and to the reducing of revenues generating activities, and to populations’ massive displacements. Girls who can no longer attend school are exposed to early pregnancies and to STI/AIDS. Men and boys run the risk to be enrolled in armed groups and are wounded during clashes. Birth certificates for boys and girls who are born in the forest are not delivered. Can also be noted the weakness of the response capacity of security forces to ensure populations’ protection and safety, particularly women’s and girls’ concerned by gender-based violence (GBV) one.

Chart 4: Economical activity in the Northern and Southwestern regions

CFCE GENDER 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Bamenda Men 122 161 168 315 239 183 165 Bamenda Women 53 48 36 47 56 35 82

Limbe Men - - 86 428 447 477 353 Limbe Women - - 25 103 103 108 92 Source: MINPMEESA 2018 statistical year book

An IFORD Survey “Gender and humanitarian actions facing the terrorist threat caused by the Boko Haram sect: Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad situational analysis” carried out in November 2015 with the financial support of the UN Women Regional Office for West and Central Africa for refugee, internally displaced and host communities in the Far North women showed that psychological and verbal violence is the most prevalent violence on sites and in host communities. Sexual violence, although very few reported, are present on

57 sites and hosting communities. Almost 6.2% of women declared to be concerned with sexual violence cases (rape, rape attempts, and molestation) since their arrival on the installation site.

As a response, Cameroon took important steps such as: - The implementation of humanitarian emergency plans; - The implementation of a permanent dialogue context between the different parties; - Multifunctional support to the victims of these different crisis; - Psycho-social support of GBVs in humanitarian zones; - The implementation of call centres, gender desks, listening services, cohesion spaces for women, and cases management; - Police officers’, magistrates’, gendarmes’, and media’s training to GBVs’ care in humanitarian context.

5. Among the following priorities, what are, according to your country, the five most important ones that will allow during the five next years, to speed progress in favor of women and girls in your country, through laws, policies, and Programmes (please, tick the concerned categories)

 Legal equality and non-discrimination and access to Justice  Quality education, training and permanent apprenticeship for women and girls  Poverty eradication, agricultural productivity and food security Elimination of violence against women and girls Access to health care, including sexual and procreative health, and the opportunity for everybody to exercise his rights in terms of procreation Political participation and representation  Right to work, and rights on work place (e.g. wage differentials between genders, job segregation, career progress) Women’s entrepreneurial spirit and companies run by women  Non-remunerated healthcare services and homework, or balance between professional and family life (e.g.: maternity leave, or parental remunerated leave, healthcare services)  Gender sensitive social protection (e.g.: universal health insurance, money transfers, retirement allowances)  Basic services and infrastructures (water, sanitary equipments, hygiene, energy, transports, communication, etc.)  Improvement of women’s involvement into sustainable development Favorable to gender equality budgeting  Women’s digital and financial inclusion  Prevention and reduction of disaster risks in favor of gender equality and reinforcement of coping skills  Evolution of negative social norms and gender stereotypes  Others

Please, provide us with brief comments on how you plan to address these priorities (3 to 5 pages)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Elimination of violence against women and girls

In order to eliminate violence against women and girls, Cameroon intends to: - Review its frame documents such as National Gender Policy, national strategy of fight against GBVs and the national plan of fighting against FGMs; - Conduct the plea for the passage of a specific law about violence against women and girls; - Develop a new joint Government-UN Programme on gender-based violence; - Reinforce the fight against harmful socio-cultural practices; - Strictly apply the Penal Code in its points related to women’s and children’s rights protection; - Intensify communities’ awareness; - Reinforce public agents’ abilities about social atmosphere and sexual harassment in professional environment; - Promote the social appropriation of legal tools and women’s rights protection mechanisms (CEDAW, Maputo, measures about FGM, 1933 Declaration, etc…); - Finalize curriculum reforms at secondary cycle level; - Reinforce the mechanisms of violence holistic care.

 Access to health care, including sexual and procreative health, and the opportunity for everybody to exercise his rights in terms of procreation

o With regard to girls - Reduce by 50% RH morbidity and mortality among adolescents and youth by 2020; - Reduce maternal mortality among teen-girls from 391 to around 196 out of 100,000 live births by 2020;

- Ensure the appropriate detection and care of at least 60% of obstetrical fistulas among girls by 2020; - Reduce by 50% the prevalence of early pregnancies among young girls by 2020; - Reduce by 50% the prevalence of STI/AIDS among adolescents and youth by 2020; - Increase the contraceptive prevalence rate (modern methods) among girls by 2020; - Ensure the correct care of at least 60% of the cases linked to practice, harmful to ARHJ , and of violence against girls, by 2020; - Reach an APV antigen vaccination coverage of at least 80%, in the targeted health districts, by 2020;

o With regard to obstetrical fistulas - Improve the quality of care for parturient women with dystocic labor - Improve the weak offer of obstetrical fistulas care (prevention, medico- surgical treatment and social reintegration); - Improve the weak use of delivery services and of obstetrical fistulas care; - Heighten awareness about the general knowledge of dangers during pregnancy, delivery, post-partum and about ignorance regarding obstetrical fistula; - Heighten awareness against harmful cultural practices: female genital mutilations, early marriages, gender discrimination, etc.: those practices are reinforced by the insufficiency of legal vulgarization which protects teen-girls, and by girls’ weak school enrolment/sexual education;

o With regard to women - Reduce by 29% the maternal deceases, from 782 to 557 out of 100,000 live births; - Improve the national capacities of implementing high impact interventions (SONEU, PF…) in at least 80% of the sanitary structures;

- Providers’ training/refreshment; - Ensure the supervision and response to maternal/neonatal deceases; - Improve the performance of the national sanitary information system; - Ensure the integrated supervision of high impact interventions at every level of the SRMNI; - Implement a cooperation platform gathering every actor (MINSANTE, partner administrations, civil society, private sector and TFP); - Ensure that at least 80% of women in childbearing age and pregnant women access to services and on-going quality care. - Support mother’s and newborn’s care; - Contribute to the reinforcement of funding based on the performance in favor of interventions having a high impact on mother’s and child’s health; - Ensure the promotion of essential family practices (ante-natal visits, exclusive maternal breastfeeding, vaccination, disinfestations, drinking water treatment, water and soap hand washing, environmental individual hygiene, use of mosquito nets, screening for malnutrition, promotion of modern contraceptive methods, supervision of deceases and community response, community auto-diagnosis execution…).

o With regard to family planning - Increase the contraceptive prevalence rate from 16.1% to 30.56%; - Increase the rate of long-lasting methods from 4.3% to 20% at least ; - Reduce the rate of unmet needs from 16.6% to at most 10%; - Reduce early pregnancies prevalence among adolescents aged 15-19 from 25.2% to 12.5%; - Increase quality and quantity of the FP services offer; - Make the environment enabling more the FP (conduct a plea for an environment and for MILDA, in accordance with national guidance against malaria); - Intensify awareness and education campaigns about the importance of sexual and procreative health in community environment; - Intensify the pre-nuptial, matrimonial and family education campaign:

- Conduct plea actions in favor of aid and relief for families and indigent persons.

 Political participation and representation

Due to the fact that municipal, legislative and regional elections are planned for 2019, the country wants to take advantage of this opportunity to increase women’s representativeness in the decision-making bodies. Thus the foreseen actions are related to:

- The possible revision of the electoral Code regarding notably the dispositions linked to gender, and the passing of a legal text; - The intensification of plea about the passing of a law about quotas; - The reinforcement of candidate women’s abilities, coaching and mentoring; - Women’s and girls’ sensitiveness improvement, in order to increase their interest in public matters management, notably in elective mandates; - Community awareness raising, and specially political actors’ one, for the effective integration of women and particularly of girls into politics;

 Women’s entrepreneurial spirit and companies run by women

In order to reinforce women’s and girls’ entrepreneurial spirit, the Government and its partners are going to reinforce the skills of business leading women through GICAM’s GERME Programme. An initiative which allowed reinforcing the skills of 327 business leading women in 2017;

Similarly, on every year, the MINPROF organizes sessions to reinforce business leading women’s skills in various fields, and women’s and girls’ training to the implementation and management of the generating activities. As an example, through 2018, 27,750 women were trained in RGA in Women Promotion Centres.

Digital inclusion will be aimed at bridging the gap between men and women in the access to information and ICT. The concern is to provide women and girls with the technological autonomy they need for a better integration in the information and digital economy society. The MINPROF signed a convention with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in order to connect the Centre for the Promotion of Women and Family (CPFF) and with a mobile telephone operator to implement digital houses in these structures. These conventions are aimed at improving women’s and girls’ socio-economical condition through the improvement of the use of Information and Communication Technologies, in the management of revenue generating activities. At this stage, 20 CPFFs are equipped with “Digital Houses” and 25 other will be connected in the context of the Central African Backbone project, be a total of 49 out of 94 functional CPFFs.

Regarding financial inclusion, an Inclusive Finance National Strategy Document (IFNSD) was passed in 2013. Its proposal is to provide persons who are excluded from the traditional financial services (women and youth), with basic financial and banking cheap services. This will allow these persons to improve their work conditions, through the access to the funding of their activities. These are specific actions aimed at having women coming out from poverty through financial (credit) and non financial services (training), and then coming to economic autonomy.

A Programme aiming at supporting the implementation of this strategy was settled-up at the Finance Ministry.

As an example, the Support Project for the Development of Rural Microfinance (SPDRM) includes sub-components that are specifically dedicated to the reinforcement of rural entrepreneurs’ skills. It allows to better take into account the needs of the targets in the development of products by EMFs. To this end, training sessions for trainers and financial education animators were organized for recipients’ benefit.

In the same way, in the context of the “Gender Promotion and Acceleration of women empowerment along the Batchenga –Ntui – Yoko – Lena corridor” project (gender/route project) the implementation of a credit line for the funding of women’s’ revenue generating activities is foreseen.

In the CPFF a funding line is foreseen, in the context of poor women’s support.

As most developing countries, Cameroon has to face employment crises, which is more accurate for women with no qualification, but who strongly want to empower in order to support themselves. To facilitate their integration into the world of work, the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family (MINPROFF) has committed itself to providing this social category with quality basic training in its 94 Centres for the Promotion of Women and Family (CPFF) and the Appropriate Technology Centres (ACT) open throughout the national territory.

Training to project management, information and communication technology (ICT), hospitality and catering (HC), textiles and clothing industry (TIH), agropastoral and other sectors is provided depending on the local context. Courses are either permanent (1 or 2 years) or à la carte (01 days to 03 months) with the purpose of giving a certain number of skills to girls who lost their way at school and to women from associations in order to empower.

Since 2012, the process of linking training to Per Competency Approach (PCA) has been started by updating the referential for textile and clothing industry jobs, and for of Hospitality/Catering (HC).

65 as the new Programmes through training of trainers. The Centres are also part of a process to harmonize management and their operating methods.

In order to accelerate the quality of permanent education, training and apprenticeship for women and girls, the Government intends to: - Encourage girls to enroll in alphabetization and non formal education training centres, for the ones who prematurely left the classical school system; - Pursue women’s and girls’ alphabetization; - Redefine training curricula in the above-mentioned centres, in order to better integrate gender; - Reinforce the national coverage regarding women’s management structures (WFPC, ATC) - Achieve the curricular reforms at 2nd cycle level in order to better take into account girls’ and boys’ differentiated needs and interests; - Elaborate, together with the NGOs who combat GBVs, an ethical code, meant to end school violence, drugs use, etc.

Women and girls living in rural environments will also be a priority. An audit of the gender situation in agriculture, rural development sector and in the implementation of the National Agricultural Investment Programme in Cameroon was carried out in 2017 by FAO, in order to contribute to the finalization of the gender situation assessment report in agricultural and rural development sectors, through the combination of a gender analysis in agricultural and rural development sector and a through a diagnosis of policies and institutional mechanisms on the basis of a documentary analysis of gender data.

Cameroon disposes of several documents that have the merit of integrating concerns related to improving the living conditions of rural populations, and that highlight the need to promote gender equality. These include: the Poverty Reduction Strategy Document (PRSD), adopted in 2003, Cameroon's Vision for

2035, and the Growth and Employment Strategy Document (GESD). These documents currently constitute the country's main development planning frameworks. More specifically, at the agricultural level, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has prepared the Rural Sector Development Strategy Document, which aims at "ensuring food security, sustainable performance and successful trade integration".

It was adopted in 2005, with an implementation that could be reinforced by the Agricultural Investment National Programme (AINP) through the period 2012-2020. The Rural Sector Development Strategy Document selected as guidelines for gender equality: women’s socio-juridical status improvement; women’s life conditions improvement; gender equality and equity promotion, families’ welfare improvement, the reinforcement of institutional structures and mechanisms, and governance promotion.

The situational analysis of Gender, in various fields - such as food and nutritional safety, agricultural work, land real estate, social protection, technologies and innovations, climate change, agricultural vulgarization, agricultural value chains, crops production and post-crops management, water and energy for agricultural production and transformation, fishing, breeding, rural finance, agricultural trading- show a constant: despite a leading recognition of women’s role in agriculture, and better as the main actors of rural development, they are the most vulnerable persons to rural poverty and still remain marginalized in the access to agricultural resources and services.

The existing patriarchal system, with its main consequence, socio-cultural heaviness, still keeps a right divide between Genders in the agricultural area. If it is true that different mechanisms aiming at women’s promotion in these different areas are implemented, it is important to underline the necessary implementation of intended and transformative agricultural policies in terms of Gender; that is to say which are aimed at reducing gender inequality in terms of access to and control of resources, in terms of agricultural production, while focusing on their life conditions improvement. As a

67 consequence, significant gains will be induced for the society, through agricultural productivity increase, poverty and hunger reduction, and economical growth promotion.

In this context the Agricultural Investment National Programme (AINP) implementation is a real progress. As a matter of fact, AINP while aligning with regional policies, made Gender equality one of its key governing principles. Thus Action 6 of the thematic field “Governance and institutional development” is centreed on Gender inclusion reinforcement, in order to “increase women’s, youth and vulnerable groups’ socio-economical empowerment”.

However, an analysis of sub-sectoral policies and of resulting Programmes and projects, shows lacks that need to be addressed in order to get a better inclusion of Gender in Cameroon’s Agriculture and Rural Development. In order to do so, the following recommendations may be addressed to the different actors:

- Contribute to MINPROFF’s plea for women’s status improvement by the passing of a Law about Gender consideration in any domains of development. This Law would eradicate the legal barriers that impede women’s access to production factors (lands, domestic animals, equipments owning, etc), to education, to education and vulgarization, and credit services, or harmful to the control of these resources;

- Popularize the existing legislation in the different sub-sectorals of Agriculture in rural environment, notably for women, in order to heighten men’s and women’s awareness about the existing legal dispositions in terms of access rights to, and property of the various natural resources (hearth, water, forest…), and remove the barriers against women;

- Integrate Gender in the AINP as a transversal axis which is related to every Programme that addresses the individual or part of groups beneficiaries, and reinforce the running of Gender Committees for the planning and effective follow-up of Gender promotion activities in rural sector, by allocating them adequate resources;

- Reinforce rural women empowerment Programmes, through the implementation of “Value Chain” Programmes, including in a specific way women and men all over the Cameroonian territory. Giving the same abilities to women and men in their action for value chain development is a long-term winning strategy, that will contribute to poverty eradication, and to economic and social wealth creation;

- Encourage the creation of sustainability-oriented collective enterprises for women’s economical development, and their social care, which would take into account the diseases they develop, and which would integrate their retirement and the implementation of the value chain approach;

- Support women’s empowerment strategies through the development of the infrastructures in the areas of telecommunication and new information/communication technologies, by offering mobile phones and information files to women, in the zones where access to internet does not exist, and by training them to their use. They would learn to make on-line researches about the agricultural techniques that are proper to their crops’ conditions, and would be part of the functioning of the digital sales platform for food-products that are created through a MINADER-UN Women partnership;

- Produce a yearly joint watch report about Gender consideration in the AINP, which will be validated by the Ministries in charge of the rural sector, that is to say MINFOF, MINEPIA and MINEPDED;

- Promote the economical initiatives for products manufacturing, and local markets developments in order to sell those products;

- Encourage women’s/girls’ entry into rural sector jobs. Imply them more into the agricultural dissemination Programmes by training them to ICTs in order to attach them to the different local and regional research centres;

- Build a road network that be a dense, good quality and practicable in any season one, in order to facilitate the sale of products in the district;

- Grant girls with training and study scholarships in the rural sector branches;

- Develop specific environmental training Programmes which take into account women’s knowledge level and their needs for natural resources, notably hearth, water and forest;

- Re-adjust the support brought to food and cash cultures, notably by encouraging the creation of big food cultures exploitations, where women are excellent;

- Increase the investment for the mechanization of production factors (water irrigation, tractors for ploughing, sowing and clearing brushes…) and imply rural women into the choice of the works they are intended to. This would reduce their workload, would reinforce their production and would free them time in order to invest themselves in other lucrative activities or to enter decision-making bodies;

- Take over legal texts about access to and resource management and get involved into the different Programmes related to climate change and to environmental protection;

- Get next to their locations’ rural finance Programmes/projects in order to benefit from the existing abilities, and organize into groups, notably cooperatives in order to benefit of MINADER, MINEPAT, MIPROFF and other administrations’ support Programmes. This grouping may constitute a force that may bring the necessary guaranties in order to acquire the credits fit to their activities;

- Reinforce the social care system by getting affiliated to the different health insurance companies developed in rural zones;

- Be trained in order to invade rural sector jobs, which are a promising employment niche;

- Spread the creation and opening of agricultural secondary schools in Cameroon’s ten regions, while pursuing the implementation of the corresponding policies;

 Gender equality budgeting

Gender sensitivity in plans and budgets is part of the Head of State’s directories related to the Financial Law, notably in the different circular letters regarding the State’s budget preparation. Thus, it is clearly stated: “to encourage Gender and disabilities sensitivity approach in any socio- economical sectors, in order to capitalize the potentialities that Women and Youth may present”.

In order to materialize those trends, actions will focus on: - The reinforcement of gender capacities for the PPBS chain responsible; - The implementation of the gender-sensitive planning and budgeting national strategy, in every administration; - Decentralized Territorial Collectivities’ capacities reinforcement in Gender Sensitive Budgeting; - The pursuit of dialogue round-tables for gender funding;

- State’s budget examination under the gender prism, and allowance tracking; - Different administrations leaders’ awareness heightening regarding gender sensitivity in institutional practices and policies; - Production of yearly gender reports; - Preparation of training and sensitivity to PBSG issue tools; - Improvement of the national statistical system for the collect, production, diffusion and use of gender data; Section 2: Progress made in the 12 areas of concern

This section covers the progress made in the 12 areas of concern of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. To ease the analysis, the 12 areas of concern were divided into six divisions underlining the alignment of PBA on the 2030 Programme. This approach aims to facilitate the analysis of the implementation of the two frameworks that mutually reinforce in order to accelerate progress in favor of every women and girls.

Inclusive Development, shared prosperity and decent work

Critical Areas: A. Women and poverty F. Women and economy I. Women fundamental rights L. The child girl

6. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to promote gender equality with regard to women’s role in paid work and employment?

Reinforcement and application of laws, politics and practices on work location banning discrimination on women’s recruitment retention and promotion in the public and private sectors, and implementation of a law on equality of wages  Implementation and reinforcement of active policies about gender equality on work market (e.g.: training and education, skills and allowances) Measures taken to prevent sexual harassment, including work places Reinforcement of land legislation, and property right guarantee Financial inclusion and access to credit improvement, including independent women workers Improvement of access to modern technologies (including intelligent technologies about climate), infrastructures and services (including agricultural dissemination)  Support for the transition from informal to formal work, notably through legal and policy measures that benefit women working in the informal sector  Conception of mechanisms aiming at an equal involvement of women in economical decision-making bodies (e.g.: in Trade and Finance Ministries, Central Banks, and national economical commissions)  Others

Would you, please provide details about three concrete examples of taken measures, notably their focuses and scopes, target population, budget, impact evaluations, lessons learned and links to complementary information; Please, also provide information about actions aimed at specific women and girls groups, as the ones enumerated in question 3. If possible, please, provide data to emphasize your answers (2 pages max.)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Reinforcement and application of laws, politics and practices on work location banning discrimination on women’s recruitment retention and promotion in the public and private sectors, and implementation of a law on equality of wages

In its article 61, paragraph 2, the Labor Code stipulates that under equal conditions of work, professional skills, the wages are equal for all the workers, whatever are their origins, their gender, age, status and religion, in the conditions which are foreseen in the present article.

During the period, interventions mainly consisted in texts dissemination.

Hence, the yearly publication and popularization of the gender ranking list in Public and Para-public administrations allowed women’s promotion or maintain in leading positions. The Gender ranking list is a tool provided to the Government, in order to reinforce its strategy of plea in favor of inclusive governance and combat against discriminations against women in public life. It is made to produce a mirror effect on the administrations, and induce an additional attention to issues related to women’s involvement into citizenship, and to the promotion of chances equality for men and women in the city.

 Measures taken to prevent sexual harassment, including work places

In order to combat sexual harassment, including in professional environment, the new Penal Code takes this practice into account in its article 302-1. The sentence is increased if the victim is a minor one.

Hence, Cameroon ratified: - Convention No. 3 of ILO on Maternity Protection; - Convention No. 4 of ILO on Women’s Night work;

- Convention No. 100 of ILO on Wages equality. At last, Cameroon organized several campaigns of awareness heightening and appropriation of Penal code in its dispositions related to sexual harassment in professional environment penalization for entrepreneurial leaders, and workers.

 Improvement of access to modern technologies (including intelligent technologies about climate), infrastructures and services (including agricultural dissemination)

In this area, public authorities are favoring the increase of access to modern technologies: (i) modern irrigation systems, use of improved and selected seeds; (ii) implementation of soil mapping and of digital hands.

 Support to the transition from informal to formal work, notably through legal and policy measures that benefit to women who work in the informal sector

Regarding this theme, can be enumerated: - Support to the transition from informal to formal work by the implementation of the Craftsman’s card, which is a professional card, delivered after free registration in the municipalities; - 100,000,000 CFAF funding via IPSISA for projects in favor of women and young, aimed at ensuring the transition from informal to formal sector; - The Employment Programme for Young Graduates (YGP) which aims at the employment of young people without professional experience. 704 young people benefit of a one-year pre- employment internship; - The national skill capture Programme that allowed the registration of 20,327 persons, of which 1,023 had a formal training, and 2,892 an on-site training in 2017; - Reception and guidance of 51,727 jobseekers in 2017;

- Insertion of 50,547 jobseekers; - Publication of 506 job offers for 4,355 positions; - In 2017, the registration of 417,844 visitors on the development for virtual intermediation web site; - Implementation of the campaigns for informal sector workers’ awareness heightening on subscription to voluntary insurance; - Implementation of Open Days in order to heighten informal workers’ awareness on the importance of grouping through mutual companies;

7. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to recognize, reduce and/or redistribute unpaid care and domestic work and promotion the conciliation work/family?  Inclusion of unpaid care and domestic work into national statistics and accounting (e.g. surveys on the use of time, evaluation exercises and satellite counts).  Development of day-care services or taken measures to make the existing services more accessible.

Development of support to the elderly and to persons who need any kind of intensive care.

Implementation or reinforcement of maternity /paternity/parental leave or of other kinds of family leaves.

Investment in infrastructures which allow to gain time and work, such as public transportation, electricity, water and sanitation, in order to reduce the burden of women’s unpaid care and domestic work.

 Promotion of a decent work for the paid domestic women workers, included migrant women workers.  Awareness campaigns or activities aiming at encouraging men’s and boys’ participation to unpaid family and domestic tasks.

 Modification of the legislation related to marital property distribution or rights to alimony after divorce, in order to recognize women’s unpaid contribution to family during marriage.  Others

Please provide details about three concrete examples of taken measures, notably their focuses and scopes, target population, budget, impact evaluations, lessons learned and links to complementary information; Please, also provide information about actions aimed at specific women and girls groups, as the ones enumerated in question 3. If possible, please, provide data to emphasize your answers (2 pages max.)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Investment in infrastructures which allow to gain time and work, such as public transportation, electricity, water and sanitation, in order to reduce the burden of women’s unpaid care and domestic work.

Several projects are conducted in order to improve communitarian infrastructures for women’s benefit, notably in rural zones.

MINADER - through the IDAMP Programmes and value-chains -, and MINEPAT - through the Participative Development National Programme - forecast an annual budget dedicated to the building of drillings, access roads to production zones, stocks and transformation units, in the framing of resources that are transferred to DTCs in rural zones.

8. Over the past five years, has your country implemented any austerity or fiscal consolidation measures, such as cuts in public spending or staffing in the public sector ?

YES/NO

If Yes, was their incidence on women and men evaluated?

 Yes, the impact of measures on women and has been estimated before their implementation.  Yes, the impact was evaluated after the implementation of the measure.

No, the impact on women and men was not evaluated.

Poverty eradication, social welfare and social services

Critical Areas: A. Women and poverty B. Women’s education and training C. Women and health I. Women’s fundamental rights L. The child girl

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

9. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to reduce or eliminate women’s and girls' poverty

Promotion of poor women’s access to a decent work, through active policies on labor market (e.g. vocational training, skills, allowances to employment, etc) and take of targeted measures

Widening access to lands, housing, funding, technology and/or agricultural popularization services

Support to entrepreneurship and to women’s companies development activities

Implementation or reinforcement of social care Programmes for women and girls (e.g. money transfers for women with children, public plans guaranteeing employment to women in age of working, allowances for elder women)

Implementation or reinforcement of low-cost legal services for women in poverty conditions

 Others

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Promotion of poor women’s access to a decent work, through active policies on labor market (e.g. vocational training, skills, allowances to employment, etc) and take of targeted measures

In 2014, despite the reluctance of some actors, the Government through UNICEF’s and WB’s joint action implemented the first project of cash MONEY transfers to Cameroon. These transfers allowed 2,000 families (1,500 in rural zones, and 500 in sub-urban zones) to receive cash money and a support for poverty reduction, poverty having been identified as a cause of violence and privation for children, notably in terms of education and health.

These processes were conducted in a participative way, with a leading role played by communities at roots level. Since then, the interventions of the pilot project for social transfers enabled school-enrolment and retention of children issued from vulnerable families. Communitarian basis approaches contribute

79 to the improvement of care in case of health issues for children and women at community level.

At strategy level, the elaboration process for implementation of social services’ development strategy began. Until the settlement of a true social care system, the implementation of this strategy should guarantee to the most vulnerable ones a minimum social care, with a priority to basic social services (education – health – birth registrations to civil status). The social sectors strategies which underlie the Growth and Employment Strategy Document (GESD) were actualized. The three strategic documents (Health, education and social services) emphasize the most vulnerable populations’ conditions, particularly children, women and families who live in the far areas.

In terms of Education sector strategy, it emphasizes the importance of communitarian actions to increase little childhood’s access to development, and tries to identify means of disparity reduction in primary and secondary schools. Strategies aiming at addressing gender disparities and regional disparities are included.

In terms of Health sector strategy, it is concentrated on the prevention of transmissible diseases which affect the most vulnerable persons. It recommends the development of a risk sharing mechanism in order to facilitate most vulnerable and poor persons’ access to health care.

At last, the social services Strategy analyses the condition of each vulnerable group, particularly women and children, and identifies the main actions aiming at reducing social exclusion and promoting social cohesion, included on humanitarian situations.

In terms of research, two main analytic surveys were led in 2016. The first one, related to the analysis of the situation focused on equity among children and women, brought to light the main disparities in the country, and made recommendations to reduce them. The concern was to create a system of non contributive social care, to increase allowances to social sector, redirect

80 resources to the most deprived regions and zones and reduce obstacles regarding health and education for the poor families.

The second one was related to the analysis of poverty for the children, using the method for analyzing deprivations by multiple overlaps (MODA) to estimated children’s levels of multidimensional poverty. Results proved that about 96% of children were suffering of at least one privation. This survey allowed the identification of children who were facing simultaneously several privations and to define the economical, geographic, institutional and cultural determinants which lead children’s exposure to multidimensional poverty. It appears that rural zones children were for most of them facing deprivation condition simultaneously in five dimensions, vs. two dimensions for urban zones’ ones. It also underlined disparities between the Southern and the Northern disadvantaged regions.

In 2017, the analysis of women’s and children’s situation (SITAN), based on a life cycle approach, allowed to identify specific inequalities between men and women, and bottlenecks in terms of access to essential social services (health, education, protection, water and sanitation) for marginalized and disadvantaged groups, specially children and women. In the same way, the Government could make a diagnosis on social welfare in 2017. This survey reviewed the existing social welfare mechanisms and Programmes, and analyzed the existing divides and the inefficiency of coordination. This diagnosis revealed the existence of scattered, not coordinated and unpredictable social welfare Programmes, which were concerning a little part of the population. The universal social insurance is not yet implemented. The official social security system covers less than 12% of the total population. Informal and rural sectors are poorly covered. Indirect social transfer mechanisms are often inefficient (gratuity in primary education, gratuity of malaria treatment for children aged under 5, etc.).

The main results of this diagnosis gave birth to the supporting measures and to the coordination mechanism of this policy. The national document about social welfare particularly emphasizes equity (improve most vulnerable

81 groups’ targeting through analytic data bases) and gender equality (reinforce support measures to economical empowerment of vulnerable groups, particularly women). This policy takes into account every vulnerable population’s needs: disabled persons, children with special needs, women of all ages facing various deprivations, unschooled adolescent girls or with no benefit of decent health care, and elder persons living a precarious condition.

At operational level, the Government, together with partners’ contribution went on supporting the follow-up of local development plans (PCD) in order to get fairer interventions, and to reinforce social protection and access to basic social services for the most vulnerable populations. The MINEPAT and UNICEF evaluated 23 municipalities’, in order to make sure that children’s rights were efficiently taken into account in the PCDs. Recommendations were made and shared with the said municipalities, UNICEF, local and regional services.

 Support to entrepreneurship and to women’s companies development activities

In order to reinforce the entrepreneurship spirit among women and girls, the Government and its partners are going to reinforce women entrepreneurs’ capacities through GICAM’s GERME Programme. As of today, this initiative allowed 327 women entrepreneurs’ capacities reinforcement.

Similarly, the MINPROFF implements yearly sessions for women entrepreneurs’ capacities reinforcement in various areas, and also women’s and girls’ training to the set-up and management of business revenue generating activities. As an example, in 2018 , 27,750 women were trained to RGA in Women’s Promotion Centres.

82 telephone operator to implement digital houses in these structures. These conventions are aimed at improving women’s and girls’ socio-economical condition through the improvement of the use of Information and Communication Technologies, in the management of revenue generating activities. At this stage, 20 CPFFs are equipped with “Digital Houses” and 25 other will be connected in the context of the Central African Backbone project, be a total of 49 out of 94 functional CPFFs.

Regarding financial inclusion, an inclusive finance national strategy Document (DSNFI) was passed in 2013. Its proposal is to provide persons who are excluded from the traditional financial services (women and youth), with basic financial and banking cheap services. This will allow these persons to improve their work conditions, through the access to the funding of their activities. These are specific actions aimed at having women coming out from poverty through financial (credit) and non financial services (training), and then coming to economic autonomy.

A Programme aiming at supporting the implementation of this strategy was settled-up at the Finance Ministry.

As an example, the Support Project for Rural Micro-Finance Development (SPRMD) includes sub-components that are specifically dedicated to the reinforcement of rural entrepreneurs’ skills. It allows to better take into account the needs of the targets in the development of products by EMFs. To this end, training sessions for trainers and financial education animators were organized for recipients’ benefit.

In the CPFF a funding line is foreseen, in the context of poor women’s support.

As most developing countries, Cameroon has to face employment crisis, which is more accurate for women with no qualification, but who strongly want to empower in order to support themselves. To facilitate their integration into the world of work, the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family (MINPROFF) has committed itself to providing this social category with quality basic training in its 94 Centres for the Promotion of Women and Family (CPFF) and the Appropriate Technology Centres (ATC) open throughout the national territory.

Since 2012, the process of linking training to Per Competency Approach (PCA) has been started by updating the referential for textile and clothing industry jobs, and for of Hospitality/Catering (HC).

The extension of the process will take place in the context of the implementation of the Central African Backbone project with the continuation of training Programmes update and the development of ICT and Entrepreneurship training manuals that will be disseminated at the same time as the new Programmes through training of trainers. The Centres are also part of a process to harmonize management and their operating methods.

Other significant actions include:

- Support to local initiatives of development by allowances to social economy organizations. Several projects are conducted by women. - Promotion of female clusters through social economy.

- Positive discrimination by the inclusion of gender factor in the selection of the beneficiaries of some promotional or educative actions (fairs, shows). - Setting-up of a minimum quota of 30% women in some Programmes (e.g.: SPCD/SMSE) even MINDDEVEL, MINAT, MINEPAT (social nets), MINJEC

Hence, socio-economical insertion mechanisms were implemented where every young people without gender distinction benefit from projects fundings:

- National Youth Observatory (NYO) 39% of girls; - National Fund for Youth Integration (NFYI) 33% of girls; - Programme d’Appui à la Jeunesse Rurale et Urbaine (PAJER U) 35% of girls

The Target is mainly composed of non- or de- schooled young people, graduated or not, who have productive projects that valorize innovations, individually or collectively and are aged from 15 to 35.

Let’s mention the creation of five business incubators at FASA, ENSP, ESSEC, ISS and Saint Jérôme de Douala, and the JETEC project aimed at financing start-up projects.

In order to fasten women’s and girls’ education, training and apprenticeship quality, the Government intends to:

- Encourage girls to register in alphabetization and non formal education centres for the ones who early leaved the classical school system; - Keep on alphabetizing women and girls; - Redefine education curricula in the above mentioned centres, to better integrate gender; - Reinforce the national coverage with women’s management structures (CPFF, ATC); - Achieve the curricula reforms at secondary cycle level to better take into account girls’ and boys’ differentiated needs and interests;

- Elaborate, jointly with NGOs who combat GBV an ethic code aimed at ending violence in school environment, drugs use, etc..

10. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to improve women’s and girls’ access to social welfare?

 Implementation or reinforcement of social welfare for unemployed women (e.g. unemployment allowances, public Programmes for employment, social welfare) Implementation or reinforcement of unconditional money transfers  Implementation or reinforcement of non contributive welfare allowances  Reform of contributive welfare protection regimes in order to reinforce women’s access and allowances level.  Improvement of access to the abovementioned measures for specific populations (e.g. women who work in the informal sector, included domestic women workers, immigrant , refugees and in humanitarian conditions women)  Others

 REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Implementation or reinforcement of social welfare for unemployed women (e.g. unemployment allowances, public Programmes for employment, social welfare)

- Help and rescue allowances to indigent and needy persons of which women ;

- Passage of a law on legal support. This law allows to any person without financial means to get free access to justice. In this case, public authorities may cover bailiff’s and lawyer’s fees.

 Implementation or reinforcement of unconditional money transfers

Actions are related to: - Dissemination of project funding strategies and of revenue generating activities for youth, and particularly girls. These projects are funded by SPRUY/SIPCMEMS NYO and NFYI; - Girls’ socio-economical and vocational insertion which is encouraged by the creation of Youth Promotion Multifunctional Centres in Cameroon’s every administrative Units (360). It is also encouraged by MINJEC’s funding structures such as PAJER- U/PIFMAS, FONIJ. - The implementation of a Youth National Observatory.

UNICEF led a survey on the social protection system, allowing better observation of what is done, and the benefiting targets. This survey allowed better definition of the needs of the categories that need social welfare at most. The Social Nets Programme, implemented in 2014 funds the poorest families. UNICEF supplements this Programme with promotion of essential family practices. The aim is to keep children as the first priority of families when the received money is either spent or invested. The implementation follow-up of the Programme shows and improvement of the children’s conditions in the supported families.

The second step of the safety social nets project enlarged its scope of intervention in the emergency zones, taking into account the displaced or living in hosting communities (as in the Far North region). These social welfare Programmes serve more than 4.2 million children. But a great number of children do not access these Programmes because of financial obstacles and of technical and logistic factors. In spite of an economical and financial difficult context, social public expenses for education and health increased by about

CFAF 75 billion in 2017, and represent 18.7% of the State’s global expenses vs. 17.5% in 2016. This increase of social expenses essentially affects the education sector; health expenses slightly decreased in 2017 (they are representing less than 5% of the State’s budget, far from the Abuja declaration). Nevertheless per/inhabitant health expenses slightly increased from 46 USD to 48 USD IN 2017, and ranks Cameroon in the average of lower middle-income countries. Social welfare expenses (deducted pensions and allowances) are estimated in average – for the 2012/2017 period- to 3.5% of the State’s budget. They represent about 1% of the 2017’s GDP, and show a rise vs. 0.57% in 2012. In addition to the rise of social welfare budgets, Cameroon has still to improve access to, and quality of services and increase the efficiency of expenses in the social sectors.

The implementation of the second step of social welfare Programmes and of money transfers allowed increasing the amount of children covered by such Programmes, included in the humanitarian contexts. More than 229.000 children were covered by money transfers Programmes in 2018 vs. 142.000 in 2017, representing a significant increase. UNICEF led evaluations in the areas affected by conflicts and developed partnerships in the field of social welfare with the World Bank, the UNHCR and WFP.

11. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to improve results about women’s and girls’ health?

 Promotion of women’s access to healthcare services through the extension of sanitary universal cover, or through public health services’ one Development of specific health services for women and girls, including sexual and procreative health, mental health services, maternal health, and HIV control services Specific campaigns for people’s awareness and for promotion of health in gender equality issues Gender awareness training for health care providers Reinforcement of comprehensive sexual education in schools or through communitarian Programmes

Access to sexual and procreative health services for refugee women and girls, and for women and girls in humanitarian contexts  Others

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

In order to encourage adolescents’ access to health and reproduction care, clinics for teen-agers were opened in sanitary centres and 2 points of prestations opened in the MCYPs and one in the socio-medical Centre of Maroua’s university.

Their localization is as follows:

FAR NORTH. Maroua’s DH, Mokolo’s DH, Kaélé, Roua, Moutourwa, Guidiguis, UARH/NORTH Garoua Regional Hospital, Figuil DH, Guider, Lagdo, Pitoa, Golombe UARH/ADAMAOUA Ngaoundéré Regional Hospital USRA/EAST Bertoua Regional Hospital, District Hospitals : Abong-Mbang and Batouri Regional PPS MCYP Bertoua Pitoaré and Domayo PPS CMS/UMA, MCYP

The main interventions were related to : - Reinforcement of 150 actors’ capacities in ARHs,

- Implementation of ARH Units in 15 ST, that is to say 4 Regional Hospitals and 11 Departemental Hospitals in 2014;

- Equipment and medical devices providing to 4 Medico- social Hospitals: Yaoudé Universities 1 and 2, Ngaoundéré and Maroua, in 2015;

- Equipment of 3 prestations points in Bertoua’s, Domayo’s and Pitoaré’s MCYPs (Maroua) in 2015 ;

- Reinforcement of the AJVVIHs reference mechanism between the Groupe Technique Régional (GTR), the Agreed Treatment Centre and Bertoua Regional Hospital ARH Unit in 2015;

- Supervision and specific to adolescents/young people data collection tools settlement, in STs in 2016;

- Providing of services to 12,632 adolescents and young people in 2016;

- Medical and psycho-social care for 30 AJVVIHs (pre- therapeutical check-up, including CD4 counting in 2016;

- Providing of services to 1,038 young people, and mass awareness heightening of 1,500 young people in ARHs.

With regards to sexual and procreative education and connected rights, the joint MINEDUB/MINESEC ministerial ruling Nr 281/07 of January, 18, 2007 bearing integration of the EVF/EMP/HIV/aids curricula into Cameroon’s training and education Programmes, introduced comprehensive sexual education in primary and secondary grades.

As of today, the pedagogical project and the integration manual in the various disciplines are available. Education curricula and school bools are available.

It may be noted that in the 2015/2016 period:

- 1,818 teachers and supervisors were trained to SIS in the Eastern Region; - 61,701 adolescents and young people benefited from SIS in school, out-ot-school and communitarian environments; - Pedagocial Supports for awareness, training, and for scripto- audiovisual training were issued : o EVF/EMP/HIV&AIDS Curricula: 600 copies ; o Skills Development GuideS: 600; o EVF/EMP/HIV&AIDS pedagogical guides: 600; o ARH pedagogical cards boxes: 4,500; o Live Together manuals: 16,500; o Folders about 15 ARH themes: 240,000; o Awareness heightening posters « Unbearable Lionesses »: 8,000; o Self-training didacticals and thematic education movies: 200; o 1,320 secondary education teachers, all over the country; - Six issues of the newspaper “100% Young” in French and English versions, were produced and edited, that is to say 90,000 issues; - 248 radio shows were produced and broadcast, for a total amount of 2,176 calls and 7,029 received sms/Whatsapp messages; - 2,084 Young people and adolescents were reached thanks to the ACMS’s green line, of wich 449 girls; - The Adolescents’ Reproductive Health campaign “Reglo Generation” was broadcast (675 broadcasts for the radio spot, and 130 for the TV one);

 Gender awareness training for health care providers

It has to be noted that: - A guide for medical psycho-social care of GBVs women survivors was elaborated; - About 300 health care providers were trained to GBVs’ medical care; - A network for women survivors of GBVs care was implemented;

 Development of specific health services for women and girls, including sexual and procreative health, mental health services, maternal health, and HIV testing services

The strategy, in terms of health, is centered on the detection of sexually transmitted diseases that affect the most vulnerable persons. Its recommendation is to develop mechanisms of risks sharing, in order to facilitate financial access to health care for the most vulnerable and needy ones. Social services’ strategy analyzes the situation of each vulnerable category, particularly women and children, and identifies key actions in order to reduce social inequalities/exclusions and to promote social cohesion (guarantee of minimum revenue for the most vulnerable populations, promotion of medical insurance, reduction of vulnerability risks due to natural or human disasters).

In 2014, in the frame of PTMC, 2,246 women out of 2,775 representing 80% of the examined seropositive pregnant woment (27% of the target) benefited from ARVs for PTMC. Furthermore, 331,430 young people and adolescents aged from 10 to 24 have been mobilized for HIV testing. More than 15% are frequenting the RH socio-sanitary services and the HIV/AIDS convivial ones. Through counseling, 14,914 adolescents and young people aged from 10 to 24 are aware of their serological status and 77% of the positive tested ones benefit from a holistic care.

Throughout the Programmes cycle 2014-2017, UNICEF supported the reinforcement of health agents’ capacities in order to allow an enlargement of SMNI services, and the reinforcement of communitary health agents in order to increase the demand for PTMC. UNICEF supported the pilot phase Option B+ (2013), the extension phase (2014-2015) and the development phase (2016)

Although the Option B+ is implemented at a national level, UNICEF’s intervention area for the period 2016-2017 was limited to 9 prioritary health districts in the Northern and Western regions, and in the emergency areas

(East and Far North). The seropositive pregnant women who received the B+ antiretroviral option went from 54% at the end of 2014, to 79% in 2016. This testifies the progression to the objective of 90% foreseen by the end of 2017.

At macro level, two strategic documents about HIV were finalized in 2016- 2017: the operational plan for the elimination of Mother-child HIV transmission 2016-2017 (PTME) and the operational national 2016-2018 plan to fasten the care and treatment of HIV for Children and Adolescents. The intended objectives are to reach 99% of positive pregnant women receiving the B+ Option (lifetime antiretroviral treatment) and 76% of children and adolescents receiving ARV (LLAT) treatment by the end of 2018.

In order to ease the implementation of these two plans, the Ministry of Health adopted the “test and treat” strategy, on WHO’s recommendation and published other guidances such as systematical HIV testing in every health centre, HIV free testing for every children aged under 15 and pregnant women, and financially supported the clinical follow-up of persons living with HIV/AIDS;

UNICEF’s participation in the transition to Option B+ at a national scale focused on 5 prioritary health sectors in the Northern and Western regions and in emergency areas. UNICEF supported the implementation of interventions aiming at increasing the coverage of counseling and HIV testing among pregnant women, and at encouraging the presence of pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Programmes for the testing of mother-child HIV transmission (PTMC).

The first national Forum on PTME, and HIV care and treatment for children and adolescents took place in Yaoundé on October, 2016. More than 350 attendees coming from Cameroon’s ten regions were present. The objective was to generate a new impulse and to define a strategic vision and priority actions aiming at fastening the elimination of Mother-child HIV transmission and to reinforce children’s and adolescents’ access to LLAT. Experiences,

93 innovations, best practices and learnt lessons were shared. Three UNICEF presentations were awarded – two about search of HIV infection cases concerning children and adolescents in the Northern region, and one about HIV testing for men.

The Adolescents’ HIV combating Programme, which includes testing, treatment, education by pairs and other associated services, also assigned priority – because of budget constraints – to nine districts in the Northern and Western regions, and to three districts in the Eastern and North-Eastern regions. All in all, 1,200 pair trainers coming from 19 groups of young people, 120 supervisors, and 108 staff members from civil society partners were trained to the conception and implementation of integrated communication plans about behavior change. The objective was adolescents’ empowerment in terms of awareness heightening and their pairs’ mobilization in HIV testing.

Cameroon has been part of the All In End adolescent AIDS initiative since May, 2015. The first step of the country evaluation, consisted of a quick evaluation, and of an evaluation of the national Programmes of fight against HIV for the adolescents, and their results were used to plea in favor of the improvement of the coverage of adolescents’ testing, treatment and care services. The second step, which analyzes the bottlenecks in terms of access of young people to adapted healthcare services, was led by the city of Douala. . In 2016, HIV testing and advice were proposed to 6,796 adolescents who were attending the health care establishments and the mobile testing teams of the Fight against AIDS National Committee. Every adolescent who was tested seropositive was accompanied to a treatment centre. In 2017, the awareness and mobilization campaigns for HIV voluntary counselling and testing will be intensified. UNICEF went on supporting HIV’s integration in emergengy planification and intervention. On 655 under LLAT seropositive pregnant women, found in humanitarian positions, 106 could pursue their treatment.

THe percentage of seropositive pregnant women under B+ option went from 54% end of 2014 to 79% in 2016 (vs. a 90% target by end of 2017).

In 2017, educative supervision was emphasized in order to improve the quality of care given to expoded women and children, by implementing PTMC’s performance norms and rules. Data collect and analysis were reinforced. Community’s mobilization and involvement were supported to improve seropositive women’s retention upon antiretroviral treatment by means of new technologies (M-health and U-Report).

In 2018, during public’s awareness campaign, and of other services provided by Youth centres, 109,000 adolescents benefited from a set of integrated services, whereas 254,327 U-Reporters attended civic involvement initiatives.

Ngaoundéré’s and University of Maroua NFSS Games (2018) and the July 2018 campaign “Holidays without AIDS” allowed passing messages about HIV treatment and preventive care to young people and adolescents. In this way, 349,800 adolescents and young people took benefit from HIV counseling and testing. All the HIV tested adolescents and young people were placed on antiretrovirals. These frameworks were also used to increase the U-Reporters population, and the use of free telephone. The amount of U-Reporters went from 121,837 in 2017 to 254,327 by the end of 2018. A total amount of 36,866 adolescents and young people had access to information about HIV/AIDS, teen-agers’ procreative health, and other subjects (birth registration, vaccination, violence against women and children, children’s marriage). The existing information, advice and knowledge about care points and existing treatments near their location helped them to look for HIV prevention.

Adolescents’ and youth people’s knowledge and skills have been strengthened in collaboration with the decentralized structures of the Ministries of Secondary Education; Higher Education; Youth and Civic Education, and in collaboration withYouth Organizations.

Support for PMTCT interventions continued in 10 health districts. In the four supported, regions 93% of the 37,362 women exemined during prenatal care were tested for HIV and 94% (709) of HIV-positive women were placed on ARVs. In order to retain pregnant/breastfeeding women on antiretroviral treatment throughout their lives, technical assistance was provided to the CNLS to develop the concept note on "mother-mentors", which will play a central role in communication campaigns aiming at reducing stigma and discrimination and mobilize demand and sustainable use of PMTCT services.

Mentionning the actions implemented by the Programmeme in order to improve vaccine coverage. Elimination status of neonatal tetanus was then reached by - vitamin A supplementation for children and adolescents

Social mobilization is essential to improve the performance of mass immunization campaigns. In order to, UNICEF supported in 2017 the development of communication materials; the broadcasting of 122 radio and television spots on vaccination, reaching 1.1 million viewers; interpersonal communication training for 176 women's associations, with more than 9,000 members; and the strengthening of the implementation of the Governor's Forum, an advocacy initiative involving local leaders in improving polio vaccination coverage in their regions.

With regard to the strengthening of the system, can be noted:

- The training of 1648 health providers in emergency obstetric care and family planning;

- The equipment of health facilities with medical equipment, ambulances, motor-ambulances;

- The establishment of a national midwife training curriculum in 10 newly established midwifery schools;

With regard to family planning (FP):

- The acquisition and securement of contraceptive and family planning products, which led to annual estimates of 51645 unwanted pregnancies and 196 maternal deaths prevented.

With regard to the fight against obstetric fistula (ONF):

- The development of a strategic plan to combat obstetric fistula in Cameroon (2018-2023);

- The repair of 457 cases of obstetric fistula at the National Fistula Repair Centre created with UNFPA support;

- The targeted prevention of obstetric fistula for adolescent girls.

Particularly with regard to women, the Government through the Ministry for the Advancement of Women and the Family has developed a "Sectoral Plan to Combat HIV, AIDS and STIs - Women and Families" for the period 2013-2015, which was reviewed in 2017. This document has not been implemented due to lack of available financial resources. In the same way, Cameroon revised its National Strategic Plan, which runs from 2014 to 2017 and is aligned with UNDAF. The review process was the object of a gender analysis conducted by UNAIDS and UN Women, which identified a set of weaknesses in the response that would justify the still high prevalence rate among women and girls. This surveys shows that HIV/AIDS feminization is less due to medical factors than to socio-cultural ones. Although gender concerns are addressed, they are not sufficiently taken into account in this reference document, hence the need to provide the Government with support in this regard.

A National Gender Policy has been adopted by the Government, which briefly addresses the issue of HIV in the area of health. A multisectoral action plan for the implementation of PNG is being prepared, which will support the Government in taking the HIV dimension into account in this document. Much more, UN Women intends to develop a national gender and HIV strategy to

97 address this issue in a comprehensive manner, which is not seen as a priority in national policies. As far as budgeting is concerned, the gender and HIV components are still very weak at the country level, and there is already very little national resource mobilization for HIV funding. Moreover, the Ministry for the Advancement of Women and Family remains among the departments with the lowest budget in the Government; consequently, there is no funding line for the fight against HIV feminization.

In support to the Government's efforts through the HIV/AIDS working group, 10 agencies of the United Nations system (WHO, UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF, UNESCO, WFP, ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR) have been implementing a joint AIDS plan since 2004 within the framework of UNAIDS Cosponsoring. UN Women is part of this working group, which each year develops an action plan based on the priorities of each agency. Regular meetings aimed at monitoring the implementation of the plan are held, as well as mid-term and annual reviews. It is important to note that the plan is strongly linked to the National Strategic Plan and constitutes the United Nations' contribution to its implementation, in addition to other multifaceted support.

UN Women was asked to support the Government in mainstreaming gender in the Global Fund's Concept Note for the last two rounds. But UN Women is not often involved in the implementation. However, a draft MOU was being signed between UN Women and the CNLS (Comité National de Lutte contre le Sida) to support the Government (technical assistance) in taking gender into account in the implementation of the Concept Note and the National Strategic Plan.

During 2014, UN Women applied for and received funding from UBRAF funds to conduct a project called: "Support to the national response to HIV and AIDS among women and girls at risk, infected or affected in high prevalence areas in Cameroon". This project was carried out for a period of 6 months in the Central (Yaoundé), Coastal (Douala) and South-Western regions with the support of three (03)

98 partners: the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family - the Institute of Demographic Training and Research - the NGO Cameroon Youths and Students' Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP).

The beneficiaries of the project were women living with HIV, victims/survivors of GBV, infected or affected populations and men and young people involved in the fight against HIV/GBV. It should be mentioned that this project has had significant results in the areas concerned.

Among other visible results in 2014, can be noted:

- Recruitment of 2 legal advisory firms mandated by UN Women to provide legal assistance/guidance (case fees, legal services, etc.) to 118 women living with HIV and/or survivors of GBV in Ondé and Douala;

- To strengthen the economic power of women living with HIV, the implementation of 5 income-generating microprojects carried out by women's associations (chair rental, cutlery rental, sewing, food manufacturing for people living with HIV, broiler farming). More than 142 women members of these associations and their families have benefited from these projects;

-In order to provide a comprehensive response to people living with HIV, UN Women has also set up a holistic HIV/GBV management unit at the Centre for the Advancement of Women and the Family in Douala 1st with a green line, temporary shelter, teams of counsellors and a referral system;

- As part of the Awareness campaign, 5 microprogrammes were carried out with spots, a network of men and young people involved in the fight against HIV (He for She) was set up and support was provided for the development of an action plan,Support for the establishment of another network of communicators involved in the fight against HIV and support for the development of their action plan, the conduct of a study on the links between HIV and GBV, the partnership with the visual tele scriptto media, the production of materials (posters, leaflets, T-shirts, stickers, panels, for communication and awareness raising. Totally, it is estimated that more than 900,000 people were sufficiently affected by the awareness-raising activities

99 during the period, excluding mass communications carried out on national territory;

In 2015, the achieved main actions and results focused on:

- Support for the creation of 2 networks of young girls involved in the fight against HIV in Yaoundé and Douala. The Yaoundé network is made up of 30 members from local universities. The Douala network is made up of young girls and health club leaders from 10 schools;

- Capacity building of girls' networks (70 trained persons) on HIV strategies, the use of social networks to reduce their vulnerability, gender, human rights and HIV advocacy and support for the development of action plans for the year 2016;

- Support to the creation of 3 platforms on the fight against HIV among young girls created on the Facebook-Whatsapps-You Tube-Networks. To date, more than 7,000 young girls have registered, i.e. 4800 on Wathsapps and 2200 on Facebook;

- Strengthening the organizational and technical capacities of the Boys to Boys Network for Boys involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS created by UN Women in 2015 (75 new members affiliated to the networks- Organization of a training session for 25 young people on STI/HIV/AIDS awareness - a network action plan developed for the year 2016);

- Organization of 5 mass television information and awareness-raising sessions on gender and HIV through the programme "Jeunesse, Parlons-en" (250 women and girls participating in the programme were directly sensitized on the feminization of HIV). More than 10,000 people were indirectly affected);

- - Conception, publication and distribution of information and awareness-raising tools on gender and HIV to 500 young people from

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the University of Buea and 1000 young people from the National Youth Council during the 16-days campaign on violence and the Cameroonian week to fight HIV/AIDS;

- Organizational and technical capacity building of the network of communication professionals involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, created by UN Women in 2015 (20 new members affiliated to the network, 30 communicators trained on IEC message dissemination. Development of an action plan for the year 2016);

- Raising awareness among 286,920 people, including 102,040 men and 184,880 women, composed of refugees from the Gado, Lolo, Mbilé, Timangolo, Minawao, Borgop and Ngam sites, of internally displaced persons and host communities on HIV/AIDS prevention, GBV, social cohesion, early and forced marriage;

- Implementation of 4 centres for the prevention and care of sexual and gender-based violence (Call Centres) associated with HIV/AIDS within the Centres for the Advancement of Women and Family in Maroua, Mora, Mokolo, Bertoua;

- Implementation of 3 units dedicated to sexual and gender-based violence (gender desks) prevention and management at Bertoua, Batouri and Meiganga police stations;

- Reinforcement of 4 women's cohesion spaces in refugee sites, and creation of 3 new spaces for psychosocial GBV and HIV care, and referral;

- 151 humanitarian actors trained about gender based violence prevention and hanling;

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- 150 police officiers based on humanitarian sites, trained on the protection of humanitarian position, or military or non-military conflicts women and children ;

- 30 members of HIV+ women's associations trained in business plan development set-up and 30 business plans implemented for the development of HIV resilience economic activities;

- - 30 members of CSOs including women living with HIV and STDs networked and trained in HIV combat, advocacy for access to gender- sensitive services, human rights and HIV;

- Reinforcement of the GBV/HIV call centre of Douala 1st, and training of the team about psychosocial care and referral;

- - 25 HIV and gender focal points from JUNTA, UNGTG and GTEG trained on how to take into account gender and human rights perspective in HIV strategies and the HIV and human rights dimension in gender strategies;

- Conduct of a qualitative and quantitative survey on “links between AIDS and Gender Based Violence” in Cameroon’s regions having high HIV/AIDS prevalence: Centre, Seaside and North ;

- Capacity reinforcement of 21 Gender and HIV focal points of ministries and other national actors on the use of global gender equality and HIV indicators;

- Capacity building of 30 Government gender focal points on integrating health, HIV and gender linkages into the planning and budgeting of sectoral ministries;

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- Conduct of a survey on the undertaken actions regarding the Gender/HIV fields, in the policies, Programmes and national budgets and review of the Gender/HIV strategy.

- Support from the Ministry for the Advancement of Women and the Family to the revision of the sectoral plan "Women, Family and HIV" 2013-2015 and to the development of a national gender and HIV strategy for 2016-2018;

- UN Women support for gender inclusion in the Joint TB/HIV Concept Note approved by the 2016 Global Fund.

For 2016, main achievements were:

- Support to finalization and adoption of the Women, Family and HIV Action Plan 2016-2020 ; - Design, production and dissemination of 3000 gender-related HIV awareness tools (T-shirts, posters, leaflets, etc.); - Design, and production of 3000 copies and distribution of a comic strip on HIV education for young people; - Awareness raising of 880 students and of 15 teaching and administrative staff on Gender and HIV/AIDS prevention and human rights protection at Yaoundé 1 University and Pan-African University of Buea ; - Training of 25 HIV and gender focal points on gender positioning in HIV sectoral plans, in order to achieve the 90*90*90 objectives in Kribi; - Training of 30 managers of genders desks, call centres and CPFF directors on SOPs, psychosocial and community management in GBV and HIV in Yaoundé; - Setting up a joint UN Women, International Plan, MINPROFF stand at the 2016 Women's CAN: 488 visitors’ awareness raised on GBV, HIV, GHM in Yaoundé;

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- Training of 30 women issued from key populations (PS and WSW) on gender, HIV prevention and human rights protection for 90-90-90 women in Mbalmayo; - Training of 30 gender focal points from ministerial departments on gender and HIV in Ebolowa; - Support to the functioning of GBV/HIV units housed at the Women's Promotion Centres in Bertoua and Douala 1; - A CFAF 6,000,000 financial support to the IGAs of 7 associations of women living with HIV and women from key populations, working on HIV in Douala Total: 16 beneficiaries;

Conducting of a mapping about risk and vulnerability of women and girls to HIV in humanitarian areas;

2017 achivements are:

- Recruitment and provision of a consultant to the Government and partners in order to support gender inclusion in the Concept Note of the Global Fund 2018-2020 and in the National Strategic Plan 2018- 2022; - Attendance to the UN Women Regional Retreat on Gender-based Violence held in South Africa in 2017 and sharing of Cameroon's experience in combining HIV/GBV prevention and control;

In 2018, main achievements were:

- Implementation of 8 GBV/HIV call centres within the Centres for the Advancement of Women and Family for the prevention and management of GBV and HIV cases associated with green lines; - Training of 60 genders desks, call centres and CPFF managers on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), psychosocial and community management in GBV and HIV in Yaoundé; - Awareness raising of 880 students and 15 teaching and administrative staff on Gender and HIV/AIDS, prevention and human rights protection at the University of Yaoundé 1 and the Pan-African University of Buea;

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- Training of 250 women from key populations (PS and WSW) on gender, HIV prevention and human rights protection for 90-90-90; - Conducting of a mapping about risk and vulnerability to HIV and AIDS for women and girls in Gado Badzere (Central African Refugees) and Minawao (Nigerian Refugees) refugee camps; - Conduct of 2 surveys, of which quantitative (Magnitude and determinants) and one qualitative (identifying attitudes, perceptions and practices) on the links between HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence in regions with high HIV/AIDS prevalence in Cameroon: central, coastal and northern ones; - Implementation of a network of communicators committed to the fight against GBV and HIV (Netcom Gender) and capacity building of network members on Gender, HIV, and Human Rights.

 Specific campaigns for people’s awareness and for promotion of health in gender equality issues

--Public awareness and gender-specific health promotion campaigns: educational talks in schools or through community programmes; - Reinforcement of of women’s and girls’ capacities in data processing; - Women’s and girls’ training in e-commerce.

 Reinforcement of comprehensive sexual education in schools or through communitarian Programmes

The interventions that were carried out in this field allowed:

- the development of the first strategic plan for adolescent and youth reproductive health (AYRH);

- the development of the national guide to comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) ;

- support to the development of the harmonized pedagogical project for SSE in schools;

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- the integration of WISE modules into training curricula in out- of-school structures;

- 3226 actors’ training on CSE (teachers, MCYP supervisors, young people’s leaders, and education peers)

- the training of 100,000 adolescents on CSE in schools, out of school and in communities in 4 intervention regions (Far North, North, Adamaoua and East), including humanitarian areas;

In the Primary Prevention of HIV among adolescents programme, UNICEF supports MINJEC, MINESEC, and CSOs for comprehensive sexuality education.

In MINESEC, support is provided through after-school and extracurricular activities. In this context, health clubs benefit from support in order to:

- Develop risk and vulnerability maps and integrated micro-communication plans;

- Train peer educators' supervisors on integrated STI/HIV/HIV/RH/GBV modules;

- Provide awareness materials and operating equipment for these clubs;

- Provide voluntary counseling, testing and support for the care of adolescents/young people who test positive.

With MINJEC, support is provided in an out-of-school environment. In this context, MCYPs and youth CSOs benefit from the same set of activities. The MINSANTE and the MINESUP are also partners.

 Access to sexual and procreative health services for refugee women and girls, and for women and girls in humanitarian contexts

In the Far North affected by a humanitarian crisis, interventions in 2018 aimed at improving access to RH, GBV and mental health services for internally

106 displaced persons, out-of-camp refugees, returnees and high-risk populations, with the following achievements:

- Capacities development o 20 structures (schools, FOSAs, other humanitarian actors) were able to identify and refer GBV cases for medical care; o 50 health workers, including midwives, have been trained in MISP-RH; o 23 providers were trained on the medical and psychosocial management of GBVs

- RH Services offer: o 1,986 pregnant women were identified in the community and directed to the appropriate sanitary centres for a secured and free childbirth; o 17,195 women/girls benefited from fixed and advanced strategy RH services.

- Medical services and psychological support offer: o 11 secured spaces for GBVs survivors’ care were implemented in the Far North, Southwestern, Northwestern and Eastern regions ; o 147 GBV survivors took advantage of a quality medical care ; o 343 GBV survivors took advantage of a psychological support ; o 1,390 adolescents, including adolescent mothers, took advantage of a psychological support according to their needs (STI, IHV, no expected progenancies, drugs use, etc…); o 322 adolescents and young people exposed to violent radicalization/extremism escaped from enrolment into, and took advantage of a specific psychosocial support; o 25,547 adolescents and young people were sensitized about RH services availability and about their peer counsellors’ psychological support.

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- Women, girls, boys and men survivors’ mobilization and education: o More than 6,629 personnes and traditional/religious leaders, of which 4,078 girls, 754 women, 1,597 boys et 200 men were mbilized ; o Local and national communities were sensitized and aware of early and forced marriage, and their clear interest in gradually refusing this practice has been observed; o Mobilization of media in the fight against GBV, and assistance in the production and broadcasting of radio and television programs ; o Awareness, education and care of 353 victims/survivors (rape, sexual assault, physical assault, psychological violence, denial of opportunity resources, and forced marriage) about their rights, including sexual and reproductive ones.

- Involvement of men and boys in the fight against maternal mortality, GBVs, harmful cultural practices and forced or early marriage:

o 36 clubs for men involved in the fight against maternal mortality, GBVs, harmful cultural practices and early or forced marriages. The members of these clubs (360) raised community awareness on these issues and reached approximately 13,500 household members in the Eastern and Central regions.

12. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to improve results about women’s and girls’ education and skills?

 Measures taken to increase girls' access to education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and skills development programmes, but also to retain them in and complete them  Strengthening of educational programmes in order to increase gender awareness and eliminate prejudice at every level of education

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 Gender and human rights training for teachers and other education professionals  Promotion of safe, inclusive and harassment-free learning environments for women and girls  Improved access to skills and training in new and emerging fields, in particularly STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and to digital literacy and culture  Access to safe drinking water and sanitation services and facilitation of menstrual hygiene management, particularly in schools and other places of education or training  Strengthening measures to prevent teenagers' pregnancies and enable them to continue their education in the event of pregnancy and/or maternity  Others

 REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Measures taken to increase girls' access to education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and skills development programmes, but also to retain them in and complete them

Actions and interventions shall concern:

- The adoption of a sectoral strategy for education and training;

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- Implementation of the "Child Friendly, Girl Friendly School" Programme; - Increased awareness and advocacy in priority education areas; - Abolition of fees for primary education ; - Passing of a law on girls’ non-enrolment at school ; - Implementation of the Programme aiming at encouraging girls to go to school and stay in school in priority education areas with special support; - Construction of separate latrines (boys-girls, parental motivation under the form of food compensation); - Provision of kits containing school supplies and other necessary accessories (notebooks, bics, pencils, books, shoes, trimmings, toilet soap, toilet milk, toilet gloves, towels... with the support of PAEQUE. Grant from MINEDUB to encourage girls to go to school, nearly 10,000 kits distributed in 2018; - Implementation of Pre-School Community Centres to give communities the opportunity to educate children in a non-formal school system. This action aims at promoting the enrolment of children in rural areas and those of poor families. It also frees up girls held at home - to take care of their younger brothers and sisters - to go to school; - Production of Mathematics and Reading books - from the Initiation to Reading Section - in Baka language, in order to encourage boys and particularly Pygmy girls from the East Cameroon region to attend the school run by Plan International Cameroon (BAKA rights and dignity, December 2016); - Creation of civic education clubs in all educational environments; - Maternity and paternity leave are granted to both the girl and the pregnancy’s author if it is established that the latter is enrolled in a public or private secondary school; - Possibility for both partners to come back to school after the girl's giving birth; - Age exemption for girls who are victims of early marriage and wish to return to school;

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- The yearly organization of the global campaign "Because I am a girl", the objective of which is to mobilize the entire social community for girls schooling; - Dissemination of the results of the survey about the development of monitoring structures for early childhood; - Bringing schools closer to the communities - Creation and building of new public kindergarten and primary schools;

Strengthening of educational programmes in order to increase gender awareness and eliminate prejudice at every level of education

In this area, have to be mentioned:

- School books revision in order to remove gender stereotypes;

- Awarding of Excellence Grants to the most deserving girls in technical education. This activity is supported by the Project to Support the Reform of Technical Education and Vocational Training (PARETFOP);

- Awarding of special bonuses to the best winners of official exames ;

- Grant of scolarships to vulnerable girls at Primary Education level (9000 scolarships, 2017);

- Support for female students enrolled in scientific and technological fields of higher education;

- Development and implementation of kindergarten and primary curricula since September 2018, followed by the training of the actors in the pedagogical supervision chain;

- Curriculum and textbook reform in which the roles played by girls and boys are not discriminatory or sexist

- lnclusion of sexual education into curriculum reforms, and in curricula and teachers’ training programmes;

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- Implementation of the Joint Inter-ministerial Order No. 281/07 /MINEDUB/MINESEC of 18 January 2007 on the integration of EVF/EMP/VIH/sida curricula into training and education programmes. Cameroon has introduced Comprehensive Sexual Education at primary and secondary levels;

- Circular development and ongoing application of the pedagogical project and the manual on gender mainstreaming in the various disciplines;

It may be noted that in 2015-2016:

- 1,818 teachers and supervisors trained on WISE in the Eastern Region; - 61,701 adolescents and young people benefited from WISE in schools, out of school and in communities; - Educational materials for awareness-raising and scriptto-audiovisual training have been produced: - a Curriculum of EVF/EMP/VIH&SIDA was produced in 600 copies, - a Skills Development Guide has been developed, - an EVF/EMP/VIH&SIDA Pedagogical Guide has also been developed, - 4,500 ARH educational sheet sets were acquired, - 8,000 "Indomitable Lionesses" awareness posters were produced, - a self-study tutorial and a thematic educational film have been developed, - Production and publication of six issues of the 100% Jeune newspaper in French and English versions, representing 90,000 copies of the RH magazine; - 2,176 calls and 7,029 sms/whatsapp messages received on topics such as RH;

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- Broadcasting of the Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) Regular Generation campaign (675 broadcasts of the radio spot and 130 broadcasts of the TV spot); - Broadcasting of the Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) Regular Generation campaign (675 broadcasts of the radio spot and 130 broadcasts of the TV spot); - Organization of two workshops (2018 and 2019) to review sexUAL education programmes, interventions and tools as part of the implementation of programme 3 "Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future" in Cameroon

The objectives of this Programme are divided into 4 main components, namely:

- A strong political commitment to provide adolescents with access to CSE and SRH (sexual and reproductive health) services throughout sub- Saharan Africa; - CSE for safer behaviours, reduced teenage pregnancy and gender equality; - Safer, healthier and more inclusive schools and community environments for all; - More secure data on CSE and the school environment. - Cameroon’s High school and college curricula (General and Technical Secondary); - Training programmes for teachers of Cameroon's Teacher Training Schools (ENIEG/ENIET); - Training programmes for teachers of the Higher Teacher Training Schools (ENS/ENSET) of Cameroon; - Gender and human rights training for teachers and other education professionals; - Gender appropriation sessions are organized for school heads, who in turn relay the concept to teachers;

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- Introduction of civic education modules at school, university and out-of-school levels; - Creation of functional civic education clubs since 2015 in all educational settings (3,589 civic education clubs created throughout the country); - Promotion of civic and living together values among young people and educational supervisors; - Training of 80 social leaders in civic education and national integration through its National Centre for Popular Education. - Improvemenr of access to skills and training in new and emerging fields, in particular STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and digital literacy and culture - Granting of support to female students enrolled in scientific and technological fields of higher education; - The “e- higher education” project, the implementation of which is reflected in - Distribution of 500,000 "Paul Biya Higher Education Vision" (PBhev) computers, a special grant from the Head of State to students at State Universities, Private Institutes of Higher Education (IPES), Grandes Ecoles under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education (ENSTP, INJS, SUP'PTIC) and the African Institute of Informatics (2016-2018). - Building, equipment and operation in each of Cameroon's eight (8) State Universities and at the Cameroon-Congo Interstate University (Sangmélima Site) of an ultramodern University Digital Development Centre under the form of a large building, construction area (400 to 1,000 m²) capable of simultaneously accommodating 800 to 1,000 students and housing at least: 10 centres.

 For distance learning: - Implementation of virtual classrooms; - A computer system for the management of distance

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education; - Digitization and production studio for multimedia courses; - An access server to the national digital library.  For University administration: - An harmonized university management information system; - A university data storage centre (university Data Centre).  For e-communication: - A video conference room; - Secured interconnection equipment of Universities ; - Rehabilitation of local computer networks and the installation of Hot spot Wifi networks on the main campuses of the beneficiary univesities  For centre management+: - Technical rooms and administrative offices; - Monitoring and remote monitoring equipments for the installed systems ; - Training of technical and administrative staff of the University Digital Development Centres ; - Training in computer science of nearly 1,800,000 women, in partnership with IAI, an operation supported by Mrs Chantal BYA, First Lady; - Creation of CETIC (African Centre of Excellence in Technology); - Creation and opening of a 3D printing centre and a High Tech Centre at ENSP Yaoundé (Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique) ; - Creation of a professional Master’s degree in Information and Communication Systems Security ;

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- Creation of a remote learning platform; - Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Cameroon and the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences-Next Einstein (AIMS-NEI) in April 2019; - Access to safe drinking water and sanitation services and facilitation of menstrual hygiene management, especially in schools and other places of education or training ; - Strengthening measures to prevent teenagers’ pregnancies and enable them to continue their eductation in the event of pregnancy and/or maternity; - The Government is intensifying the campaign aiming at promoting family planning, which includes the dissemination of contracepmtive methods and the repeal of the circular letter excluding girls who became pregnant during school;

Other measures are being taken, such as the introduction into school curricula of "Education for Family Life in Population and HIV and AIDS Prevention". For this purpose, a school textbook entitled "Living Together" was issued.

In the field of education, special efforts are being made to increase access for girls, especially among the most vulnerable population. By 2015, through the accelerated learning programme for out-of-school refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and children in the host community, 45% of the 11,559 affected children were girls. In order to improve teachers' capacity to take gender issues into account and develop a gender-sensitive curriculum, 894 teachers (43% women) were trained in gender methodologies: differentiated pedagogy, child-centred and psycho-social approaches. Women and men were selected as members of school management committees and community leaders to raise awareness and mobilize for the adoption of

116 essential family practices, including girls' and women's menstrual hygiene and positive attitudes towards girls' education.

In 2016, UNICEF collaborated with the Ministry of Basic Education and the Ministry of Secondary Education to develop a comprehensive strategy and model for in-service teacher training, implemented on an experimental basis in eight intervention areas in the Adamawa, Easter, Far North and Northern regions. The large-scale implementation of these strategy and model was effective in 2017. This programme also supported the development of school and community capacities in the formulation and implementation of performance plans for school improvement. 91 schools in the Adamaoua, Eastern and Far North regions have developed and implemented performance plans.

As a result of UNICEF's advocacy activities, the Government has begun to expand access to education services, even in the areas which were directly affected by the humanitarian crisis as a result of Boko Haram's activities. With regard to teachers located in the targeted areas, UNICEF's programme supported pedagogical capacity building, child-centred pedagogy and psychosocial support services, as well as close pedagogical monitoring throughout the year. 50 inspectors and school principals, local radio representatives and child protection partners participated in a training of trainers programme on psychosocial support. As part of efforts to expand the programme to lower levels, 18 master trainers also trained 400 other teachers (170 in Minawao camp and 250 in Mayo Tsanaga, Logone and Chari and Mayo Sava localities).

In 2017, 40 community pre-schools were supported in the form of kits and facilitator training. 1,339 Baka children enrolled and successfully completed the school year. Although there are 357 primary schools in the programme area, only 131 of them have child-friendly school components, including water points and separate latrines. The programme launched the study on out-of- school children, taking stock of the implementation of the "catch-up programme" for children who have dropped out and who wish to come back,

117 as well as a survey on girls' educational knowledge, attitudes and practices and an evaluation of the 2013-2017 education programme. During the year, the programme set up a model for in-service training and pedagogical supervision. The expected result of this initiative is the improvement of teachers' classroom practices. Of the 1,484 teachers in ZI, 2,611 (pre-primary and primary) received training and pedagogical support. These results were exceeded by 45%. 446 schools out of the target of 320 received learning kits for 107,921 children. 61 of the 100 targeted primary schools have developed school improvement plans with the participation of their school management committees. A team of 40 senior trainers were trained in community pre- schools and then developed a downstream training guide.

124,415 pre-school and primary school-age children (60,963 girls) affected by the Boko Haram (BH) and CAR crises received quality education during the year. 77% of these children benefited from individual learning kits (bags containing various learning materials) and the rest from collective ECD and recreation kits distributed to schools. In relation to the target, the programme result for teachers trained in PSS and C/DDR is 88% higher, and the number of children reached 97,890. 81.2% of children who attended TLPS courses successfully passed the end-of-year examinations qualifying them for integration into host schools.

The programme continues to monitor and collect detailed information on the 33,000 children who are reportedly out of school due to the English-speaking crisis in both the North-West and South-West regions.

In 2018, thanks to financial resources and technical support provided by UNICEF, 26,267 out-of-school children (12,902 girls) had access to quality pre- school and primary education during the year. During the same period, approximately 43,521 children (20,890 girls) in the Far North, North Western and South Western regions received psychosocial support services provided by competent teachers. UNICEF and its partners have also called on the Government to adhere to the Declaration on Safe Schools to ensure

118 accountability for school safety and protection against insurgent attacks and occupation by military and security forces.

During the reporting period, 57,458 children (25,860 girls and 28,017 boys), representing 57% of the target, received learning materials. During the same period, 1,244 teachers (38% women) representing 83% of the combined target of trained and supervised teachers in the intervention area and areas affected by humanitarian crisis benefited from capacity building in psychosocial support, mine risk education, conflict and disaster risk reduction. In addition to the above-mentioned result, 615 inspectors (35% women) and school principals acquired knowledge and skills in the new formative supervision tool developed with UNICEF technical and financial support. These inspectors provide support in the classroom to teachers in the eight intervention areas. 11,069 children (5,314 girls and 5,755 boys) out of school (46% of the cumulative target) had access to formal education, thanks to the combined interventions of the accelerated programme for out-of-school children and community mobilization efforts. This figure includes 4,370 children who benefited from the accelerated education programme and were reintegrated into the formal school system at the beginning of September 2018.

 Gender and human rights training for teachers and other education professionals

Main undertaken measures shall concern:

- Production and availability to teachers of awareness-raising materials (image boxes, posters, films, documentaries on the importance of girls' education and the loss of income due to girls' school drop-outs); - Specific messages broadcasting through posters, signs, banners on the neccesity to send girls to school ; - Implementation of Gender clubs in schools and universities; - Publication of books on sexual assault in school and university environment ;

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- lmplementation of a platform of actors for the abandonment of child marriages as part of the implementation of the project "Prevention of cases of abuse, violence and abandonment at the community level"; - In 2016, organization of 2 advocacy sessions for the abandonment of children marriages for administrative authorities, parliamentarians, traditional and religious leaders, on the occasion of Governors’ fora in the Northern and Adamaoua regions. These conferences involve teachers at any level. - Teachers’ awareness on children’s rights and on girls’ education strengthening ; - In 2016, polularization (3 sessions) of Cameroon’s reports on the implementation of CRC and CADBEE for 150 administrative and civil society officers ; - Development and dissemination of a national child protection policy; - National organization of the African Union’s Campaign to end children marriage; - Organization of sessions to disseminate legal instruments for the protection of the rights of the child, including in schools and universities; - Yearly systematic monitoring of sanitary facilities in secondary schools to avoid internal intrusions between girls and boys;; - Progressive development of "WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene)" facilities in secondary schools.l’aménagement progressif des commodités « WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiène) »;

These measures produce significant results:

- Girls and boys have access to early childhood development and care services and pre-school education that prepares them for primary education ;

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- Gender inequalities in public education are disappearing and equal access for vulnerable people, including people with disabilities, indigenous people, minorities, refugees in crisis situations are all entitled to access to public primary school.

In higher education, the attendance rate of girls is increasing. In some fields, particularly medicine, there is even a reversal of trends such that the percentage of girls is higher than that of boys. Thus, according to the 2014 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS5) published in July 2015, the literacy rate for young people aged 15-24 years rose from 67.9% for women to 82.6% for men, primary school preparation: 32% for boys to 34% for girls; primary school admission rate: 59% for boys to 55% for girls; primary school completion rate: 83% for boys to 75% for girls. As we move on to secondary education, we see that the transition rate from primary to secondary education is still low, at 77.8% for girls compared to 78% for boys. The net secondary school attendance rate is 52.7%. Pre-school attendance: 27% boys vs. 29% girls, primary school attendance: 87% boys vs. 84% girls, secondary school attendance: 55% boys vs. 50% girls, children reaching the last grade of primary school: 93% boys vs. 94% girls. The net primary school attendance rate among young people is 85.4% and the primary school completion rate is 81%. The gender parity index at the primary level is 0.96% while the parity index at the secondary level is 0.92%.

In addition, the State party has set up a programme to disseminate the new provisions of the Criminal Code promulgated on June, 12th 2016, in its aspects relating to the rights of women, family and child in order to raise awareness in the educational community, focusing on the articles making girls' education compulsory and the article punishing child marriage. Moreover, the budget of the ministries in charge of education does not increase every year.

Should also be noted:

- Free of charge primary education;

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- the granting of scholarships of excellence to girls in technical education and paid holiday internships to girls from poor families; - the distribution of the minimum package; - age exemption for girls who are victims of early marriage and wish to return to school; Thanks to these measures, gender parity in education is almost effective inCameroon.  Measures taken to increase girls' access to education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and skills development programmes, but also to retain them in and complete them

Education pays particular attention to girls' school enrolment through better analysis of complex causes such as harmful traditional practices of which early marriage, which is more prevalent in the northern part of the country. Education offer has also adjusted better with teachers who have been equipped to better take into account the gender concept, but also new infrastructures that better and better take into account the specific needs of girls: separate girls/boys latrines, for example. As co-leader of the Education sector in the TFPs, UNICEF provided technical leadership for the UNGEI platform.

Education strategy focuses on the community level in order to increase the pre-school rate and to reduce disparities in primary and secondary schools. Gender and regional disparities have been analyzed, and new approaches have been identified to remedy this situation. Mobilization for the creation of communities, with local authorities’ support the implementation of catch-up courses during the holidays for out-of-school children and those who have dropped out of school and direct support to schools, have helped to strengthen parents' commitment to enrolling their children in school, including those from the Baka ethnic minority. UNICEF supported the process of launching data collection in schools in the programme intervention area to assess children's enrolment rates through these interventions.

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In 2016, UNICEF, whose interventions are focused in Priority Education Areas (PEAs), continued to work with the government to strengthen the education sector, including supporting the preparation of the sectoral assessment and the contextualization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDOs) agenda by 2030. Girls' education and gender equity have been placed at the heart of the education and vocational training focus of the 2018-2020 United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

Access to pre-primary and primary education has been provided to refugee children from Nigeria and the Central African Republic through existing schools and temporary learning and protection spaces. 162,912 (including 57,367 + 105,545 girls), 42% of whom were girls, were offered access to pre-primary and primary education, as well as to existing schools and temporary learning and protection spaces (TLPS). These children also benefited from more than 2,188 education kits including school materials, early childhood development materials and recreation kits. This support has contributed to the improvement of the retention rate: 48% in 2015/16 compared to 36% in 2014/2015.

Other actions are being carried out with regard to the integration into curricula of modules mainly aimed at improving the quality of academic teaching and practices in order to fill existing gaps in the basic learning outcomes of children enrolled at different levels of primary education

For the 2016/17 school year, more than 105,500 children received school supplies, notebooks and bags. Nearly 163,000 refugee children, more than 40% of whom were girls, could access pre-primary and primary education. 2,188 educational kits (“school-in-a-box” kits, early childhood development kits and recreational kits) were distributed in refugee camps and host communities, increasing the school retention rate from 36% in the 2014/15 school year to 48% in 2015/16. 2,425 refugee children aged 3 to 5 years could access early childhood development programmes through the construction of 15 temporary learning and protection spaces in the Minawao refugee camp in

123 the Far North region. 12,314 Out-of-school children living in refugee, displaced and host communities received catch-up education - 48% were girls.

 Promotion of safe, inclusive and harassment-free learning environments for women and girls

Some major challenges, such as persistent negative sociocultural beliefs and practices and insecurity, continue to affect enrolment, retention and learning outcomes, particularly in the Far North, Northwestern and Southwestern regions. More than 60% of girls in education intervention areas marry before the age of 14, reducing their educational ambition.

To address this, UNICEF and its partners are continuously working with communities through awareness-raising and advocacy based on the new Communication for Development (C4D) strategy in order to address misperceptions about early childhood and girls' education Positive partnerships with NGOs (Plan International, ADRA and CRS) enabled them to engage with schools and communities to develop School Improvement Plans (SIPs) to create a safe and protective learning environment for children. The role played by UNICEF and the commitment of the two ministries to address the issue of quality have prompted them to collaborate to develop the in- service teacher training and pedagogical supervision programme. This model was simulated in the field to test its functionality and a training of trainers workshop was organized for 52 master trainers. 236 pedagogical actors from the East were also trained.

Positive partnerships with NGOs (Plan International, ADRA and CRS) enabled them to engage with schools and communities to develop School Improvement Plans (SIPs) to create a safe and protective learning environment for children. The role played by UNICEF and the commitment of the two ministries to address the issue of quality have prompted them to collaborate to develop the in-service teacher training and pedagogical supervision programme. This model was simulated in the field to test its functionality and a trainers’ training workshop was organized for 52 master trainers. 236 pedagogical actors from the East were also trained.

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 Access to safe drinking water and sanitation services and facilitation of menstrual hygiene management, particularly in schools and other places of education or training, or WASH education – can give complementary information about what is done through WASH-in- School.

In 2014, as part of the development of refugee camps, UNICEF built 966 latrines, 40 boreholes, installed 400 collection bins and 32 pits for the storage of household waste. Aware of the health problems that the use of these infrastructures could pose in the short, medium and long term in the environment of the camps, appropriate approaches have been adopted. The constructions were made according to models that avoided groundwater pollution and surface runoff that could cause faecal peril. The bins installed aim at improving the management of household waste in the camps. They facilitate the collection and storage of waste to limit the impact on camp populations.

In 2015, the results of the survey conducted on "WASH in School" showed that separate toilets (girls / boys) allowed girls to enjoy their privacy and feel safer in a context of multiple violence and aggression at school. These results and evidence led to the development of the WASH in Schools strategy, which is essential to advocate for greater government commitment and investment. Gender aspects were also taken into account in all WASH interventions, from planning to implementation. Women and men were selected as community facilitators and the awareness sessions / activities include the women's hygiene aspect (menstrual hygiene). Taking into account the role of women at the household and community level in terms of access to WASH facilities, at least one woman is a member of each water point management committee established.

The National Hygiene Policy was developed in 2016 and the development of the National Water Policy was completed in 2017. UNICEF supported the government in conducting an inventory and mapping of WASH facilities in the Far North region, in developing mechanisms for collecting, managing and sharing WASH data, and identifying communities in emergency situations that

125 should be targeted in 2017 in the Eastern, Adamawa, Northern and Far North regions.

In 2016, as part of the response to the Central African Republic crisis in the Eastern and Adamawa regions, UNICEF supported the construction of 69 boreholes for an estimated 39,000 people in refugee host communities. Ten boreholes were also built to serve health centres and host communities, while the construction of 45 boreholes in the municipalities of Ngoura and Mokolo was launched as part of the decentralization of water supply services. Forty- seven water point management committees have been created to maintain the sustainability of water points. Committee members, at least one of whom is a woman, have been trained in community participation and water point maintenance.

In order to improve access to adequate sanitation in schools and health and nutrition centres, eight schools and 36 health and nutrition centres, located in vulnerable communities hosting refugees and displaced persons in the Adamawa, Eastern and Far North regions, were equipped with separate latrine blocks for boys and girls, and handwashing facilities. Overall, nearly 40,000 people had access to safe drinking water through the construction of 69 boreholes in refugee-hosted areas.608 schoolchildren and 38 teachers benefited from 44 new latrine blocks and handwashing facilities in 8 schools, while nearly 90,000 patients and health workers had access to improved sanitation services in 36 health and nutrition centres.

In 2017, access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities was improved through the construction of 69 boreholes for approximately 38,941 indigenous inhabitants of the target areas, 112 emergency latrines and 44 institutional latrines in 8 schools and 36 health centres. In response and/or to prevent water-related diseases and SAM, 334,235 WASH equipment kits containing the key hygiene message were pre-positioned/distributed and approximately 90,000 people in vulnerable areas were sensitized to good hygiene practices. Sanitation conditions at the household level have been

126 improved through ATPC activities implemented in partnership with local NGOs.

In 2018, access to adequate sanitation facilities in schools and health centres was improved by 2.0% (vs. an initial target of 1%) and 10.1% (vs. an initial target of 4%) through the construction of 92 gender-sensitive latrine blocks with hand-washing facilities for 28 schools (10,449 schoolchildren and 112 teachers) and 27 health / nutrition centres (about 20,000 patients and health workers) and 170 emergency latrine blocks. To increase access to adequate sanitation facilities in the targeted areas, the programme supported the construction of 92 gender-sensitive latrine blocks equipped with handwashing facilities for 28 schools (10,449 schoolchildren and 112 teachers) and 27 health/nutrition centres (approximately 20,000 patients and health staff) and 170 emergency latrine blocks at the Kolofata site for displaced persons.

It is important to note that in the period 2015 to 2018, UN Women in Cameroon implemented the Menstrual Hygiene Management project with the support of the Government (MINPROFF, HEALTH and MINEE) and Civil Society Organizations around 03 main axes:

 Advocacy

 Education for Behavior change

 Research action

In accordance with the advocacy strategy for the integration of the GHM into public policies, which was drafted and validated by the various sectoral ministries in 2017, advocacy actions made it possible to reach: (08) Deputies, (07) Senators, (100) Parliamentarians of the Francophonie, several Ministers including those in charge of Water, Health, Women and the Family, local elected officials, traditional leaders and religious authorities, particularly in Yaoundé, Ntui, Batchenga, Edéa and Idenau.

360 GHM trainers from different sectors were trained with the mission of passing on the learning outcomes to all levels of society. These were (136)

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CPFF teachers; (139) humanitarian actors with the support of UNHCR; (25) communal agents including several mayors; (35) ministerial officials and (25) WASH actors with the support of UNICEF.

In order to fill the knowledge gaps to improve the programme, GHM Research has been an important lever on which UN Women Cameroon has built. 04 Studies have been conducted in different contexts: humanitarian crisis situations; school settings; rural and semi-urban settings; and one on the integration of GHM into public policies.

In termsof acquis:

- Advocacy actions resulted in MINPROFF's decision on the integration of GHM into CPFF training curricula and (05) municipal decisions to create and appoint members of communal committees to monitor GHA/GHM programmes in the municipalities of Meyomessala, Idenau, Ntui, Batchenga, and Somalomo. The municipality of Ntui has budgeted an amount of ten million CFA francs for the GHM in 2017. The inter- agency partnership with UNICEF has also led to the inclusion of GHM in the ATPC Strategy involving the Ministries of Water and Health and the "WASH in School" Strategy involving the Ministry of Basic Education (MINEDUB).

- 8 innovations were selected at the end of the GHM National Innovations Laboratory. These included, in particular:

 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc48322131318" Survey on menstrual hygiene management in the northern region, in the villages of Douroum, Mousgoy and Soulkata Guider and Comics of the Mbourti Welougo Association ;

 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc483221328" GHM study in Cameroon pygmies by Bityeki Miguel and Hebga Meinrad ;

 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc483221346" Automatic dispenser for sanitary napkins by Anne Mbia Mouelle ;

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 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc483221347" Study on GHM and school performance by the NGO AFAIRD ;

 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc483221348" Study on hyacinth-based sanitary napkins by the NGO SEW ;

 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc483221358" FAM washable sanitary napkin and game rumors and truths by KmerPad ;

 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc483221361" Washable hygienic kits YWCA PROHFED ;

 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc483221362" Communal decisions.

However, it is also necessary to consider innovations related to the innovative nature of the PC-GHA itself. These include, in particular:

- The methodological approach of Training of Trainers in GHM - The methodological approach of "Labo GHM" to break the silence around menstruation and strengthen the capacities of targets in terms of GHM - Behaviour Change Education Tools such as the Menstrual Wheel and the “Growing Up” Manual

As a result of the work of trainers and actors in the field, more than (05) million people from different social groups have been sensitized in GHMs, including: students, students, CPFF learners, refugees, women involved in informal trade (called Bayam-selam in local language), urban and rural populations and even the leaders of the Groupement Interpatronal du Cameroun (GICAM).

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Free from violence, stigmatisation and from stereotypes

Critical Areas : D. Violence against Women I. Women’s fundamental rights J. Women and Media L. The girl child

13. Over the past five years, what forms of violence against women and girls have you targeted for priority measures and in which specific contexts ?

 Intimate partner or domestic violence, including sexual violence and marital rape  Sexual harassment and violence in public places, schools and workplace  Technology-enabled violence against women and girls (e.g. cyber violence or online harassment)  Feminicide Violence against women in politics Child, early and forced marriages Female genital mutilation Other harmful practices  Trafficking of women and girls  Others

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REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Intimate partner or domestic violence, including sexual violence and marital rape

The criminal law adopted in 2016 provides for and punishes rape regardless of the actors, context and motives, including between spouses (art. 296), expulsion from the marital home (art. 358) and violence against a pregnant woman (338).

 Sexual harassment and violence in public places, schools and workplace

Sexual harassment is a criminal offence punishable under article 302 of the Criminal Code, regardless of where it is committed.

The regional project "Support to the fight against gender violence in schools" (VGMS) financed by France through the Priority Solidarity Funds (FSP) of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) was implemented from December 2016 to December 2018 in Cameroon by UNICEF, UNESCO and PLAN International. The said VGMS project was divided into 3 components and a transversal component on coordination:

- Component 1: Capacity-building of education systems for the prevention of VGMS, implemented by UNESCO; - Component 2: Understanding and visibility of the VGMS issue, implemented by Plan International Cameroon; - Component 3: Strengthening the protection and monitoring chain, implemented by UNICEF.

UNICEF supported the government partners (MINAS AND MINPROFF) through their decentralized services (Social Centres, Social Action Services and Centre for the Advancement of Women and the Family) and two partner CSOs (Association de Lutte contre les Violences faites aux Femmes and Cercle International pour la Promotion de la Création), for the implementation of

131 activities at the operational level, more specifically in the Yaoundé 2 district, selected as the intervention area.

The major interventions concerned the development of policies and action plans to combat VGMS; the implementation of local networks for protection, detection and care; the implementation of a framework for data collection and reporting of VGMS; and project management and coordination. In addition, this project to combat VGMS was part of the overall process of "modelling a child protection system" for the Yaoundé 2 pilot area, the objective of which is to set up an integrated care system for child victims of physical, sexual and all types of abuse, exploitation and neglect.

The involvement of the heads of Parent/Teacher Associations in preventing violence at school, identifying child victims and referring victims to protection services. Their involvement made it possible to raise awareness among 31,479 people in schools. 1,096 teachers were trained on the theme of VGMS, prevention and referral of victims to protection services for adequate care. 18,438 students were reached by the awareness-raising activities carried out by the peer educators.

 Violence against women in politics

During the 2018 senatorial and presidential elections, the Government, with the support of UN Women, conducted training sessions for future women candidates on leadership, speaking out, peer learning for female candidates and engagement.

Other training sessions were organized with ELECAM officials and political party leaders on the prevention and management of violence in an electoral context. One of the main resolutions of these sessions was that the voters' lists be generated at future elections.

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All these actions have led to the establishment of three monitoring platforms bringing together the country's ten regions.

To date, more than 500 women and girls and other actors in the electoral chain have been trained.

 Child, early and forced marriages

Numerous measures have been taken, notably:

- The implementation of a national coordination platform for the abandonment of child marriages; - The organization of advocacy sessions for parlamantarians, administrative authorities and community leaders in order to encourage their involvement in the fight against women’s human rights violation; - The organization of advocacy and awareness-raising activities during the 2016 African Cup of Nations for women's football for decision- makers and other social stakeholders on the issue of child marriage; - The organization of awareness-raising activities on GBV during the celebration of the Day of the African Child on June 16th, 2015 under the theme "25 years after the adoption of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: let us accelerate our efforts to eliminate child marriage in Africa"; - The launch on November 16th, 2017 of the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage. The said campaign was relayed throughout the national territory; - The training of 256 community leaders (civil registrars, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders) from the North, Far North, Adamaoua and Eastern regions on the consequences of child marriages. They act as relays within their respective communities; - The conduct of a survey on the social norms underlying sociocultural practices harmful to girls, with child marriage as a priority axis in the

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Far North and EasternRegions, considered to be the largest centres of this practice; - The revision of the 1967 Criminal Law in order to comply with commitments made at both international and regional level regarding the protection of the human person; - The reform of the Penal Code resulting from Law No. 2016/007 of July, 12th 2016 made it possible to strengthen the legal framework by criminalizing any marriage celebrated while the future spouses are not 18 years old. Article 356 of the Criminal Code, entitled "Forced marriage", eliminates the legal disparities between girls and boys with regard to the age below which they may not be given in marriage. The punishment is aimed at "anyone who gives in marriage a girl or boy under the age of eighteen (18) years", for example, article 356 of the Criminal Code stipulates:

o Anyone who forces a person into marriage shall be punished by imprisonment for five (05) to ten (10) years and a fine of twenty-five thousand (25,000) to one million (100,000,000) francs.

o Where the victim is a minor of eighteen (18) years of age, the term of imprisonment, in the event of the application of mitigating circumstances, may not be less than two (02) years.

o Anyone who gives in marriage a girl or boy under the age of eighteen (18) years is punished by the penalties provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 above.

o . The court may, in addition, deprive the convicted person of parental authority, guardianship or trusteeship for the period provided for in Article 31 (4) of this Code.

As part of the implementation of the MDGs and the African Union's campaign against child marriage, one of UNICEF's strategic priorities is to help the government combat this harmful practice in Cameroon. A four-year national

134 campaign to end child marriage was launched by the Ministry of Family Promotion and Women in November 2016.

UNICEF supported various interventions to strengthen this campaign and support actors on the ground. Research has generated evidence on child marriage, that has been used to raise awareness among the public and decision-makers. UNICEF has also lobbied parliamentarians to bring Cameroon's legal age of marriage into line with the international standard of 18 years. Innovative strategies, such as the dissemination of SMS via the U- report platform, have been used to raise awareness among young people and communities of the dangers of child marriage. Religious and traditional leaders from the Northern, Far North and Adamawa regions have been mobilized to take action against child marriage.

The main measures taken in the fight against child marriage include the following:

 The implementation in January 2016 by MINPROFF of a national coordination platform for the abandonment of child marriages provides a framework for strengthening intersectoral interventions in the fight against this practice and developing partnerships between key actors in the child protection chain (social services, health, justice, education, law enforcement, communities, etc.).

 The adoption of the law of July, 12th 2016 on the new Penal Code enshrines the harmonisation of the legal age of marriage at 18 years for girls and boys in national legal texts (in accordance with the CRC and the CADBEE). The perpetrators of child marriages and all those who encourage the practice are punished.

 Cameroon took advantage of the 2016 African Cup of Nations for Women's Football in 2016 to carry out advocacy and awareness-raising activities aimed at decision-makers and other social stakeholders on the issue of child marriage, through Sally NYOLO, an internationally

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renowned musical artist and Goodwill Ambassador for the abandonment of child marriages.

 The Government launched the African Union campaign to end child marriage on November, 18th 2016 as a prelude to the celebration of International Children's Day, with the support of UNICEF.

 Based on the gender analysis carried out by UNICEF in 2016 with the support of the Regional Office, Cameroon's 2017-2020 Gender Equality Action Plan was developed on the basis of three targeted priorities (gender-sensitive adolescent health, child marriage, transition to secondary education). With regard to child marriage, gender mainstreaming activities include advocacy for civil law reform regarding the legal age of marriage for girls; dialogue and mobilization of political and opinion leaders for the abandonment of child marriage (governors, parliamentarians, religious and traditional leaders, artists, sports advocates, etc.) at the national and decentralized levels, while ensuring the participation of adolescent girls and boys in advocacy.

 Child marriage was included as a key theme in the Governors' Fora held in 2017 in various regions, including the Far North, North, Adamaoua, East, Centre, South, West and Coast. Traditional chiefs and administrative authorities were actively involved. As a result, a strong and sustainable partnership has been established between the services and these influential figures on issues affecting children, including those related to child protection. Key actors in the different regions have shown their commitment to contribute to the improvement of indicators on the situation of children, implementation mechanisms have been put in place and a work plan has been developed.

 -The production in 2017 of a 26-minute film on child marriage is being used as a C4D tool to raise public awareness on this issue, specifically in the Eastern and Far North regions where the social norms study was conducted. Screenings of the film followed by educational talks in 40 localities in these regions raised awareness among 31,494 people.

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 In order to encourage child participation, MINPROFF organized children's forums in the Eastern and Far North regions as part of the celebration of International Girls' Day on October, 11th 2017. In the same vein, young people and communities are encouraged to express their opinions and potentially make positive changes in child marriage through innovative strategies such as U-report.

 The advocacy sessions organized in 2018 for parliamentarians, administrative authorities and community leaders sparked their engagement in the fight against this social scourge. Roadmaps were developed and implemented gradually by these actors to prevent this practice in their respective communities, particularly in the four regions where the prevalence rate of early marriage is high (Adamaoua, East, North and Far North).

 Awareness-raising and training sessions strengthened the partnership with community actors, including traditional leaders, religious leaders and community organizations, in order to stimulate the development of arguments based on positive social values that promote equal opportunities for girls and boys and their full development, as well as their commitment to eradicate the practice of child marriage. Roadmaps were developed by these actors at the end of the training sessions. Monitoring will assess progress in ending this practice.

 To accelerate action to end child marriage, UNICEF planned to support welcomes and supports women and girls who leave the country for various reasons and who are subsequently trafficked and sexually exploited.

 Victims benefit from training in project development and IGAs with a view to their socio-professional integration.MINPROFF in 2019 to develop a budgeted multisectoral national action plan for the abandonment of child marriage, based on the results of the Money Woman and Social Standards surveys. This will not only make it possible to carry out relevant and specific actions, but also to improve

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the coordination of these actions and to encourage greater involvement of all sectors in the implementation of interventions in this field. This activity is one of the priorities of the cooperation programme between the Government of Cameroon and UNICEF 2018- 2020. Its implementation will contribute to the achievement of the following outcome on child protection: "By 2020, government and key stakeholders at the central and decentralized levels have strengthened their capacity to coordinate, plan and monitor interventions in a legal environment that protects children's rights".

 Female genital mutilation

Female genital mutilation, considered one of the worst forms of violation of human integrity, is punishable under article 277-1 of the 2016 Criminal Code. The Government, with the support of UN Women, has developed a national action plan to combat FGM. Its implementation is in progress.

 Other harmful practices

The 2016 Criminal Act provides for and punishes, inter alia, acts intended to deprive a child of proof of parentage (article 341). It also punishes anyone who, in any way whatsoever, harms an organ in order to hinder its normal growth (article 277-2).

 Trafficking of Women and Girls

Cameroon permanently welcomes and supports women and girls who expatriate for various reasons and who are subsequently trafficked and sexually exploited.

Victims benefit from under development training, from projects and IGAs aiming at their socio-professional integration.

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The criminal law adopted in 2016 foresees and punishes rape regardless of the actors, context and motives, including between spouses (art. 296), expulsion from the marital home (art. 358), violence against a pregnant woman (338)

The new Penal Code promulgated on July 12th 2016 now punishes sexual harassment (article 302, article 1), early marriage (article 356), female genital mutilation (articles 271 et seq.) and rape (article 296),

This violence is visible in both development and humanitarian contexts. A national strategy document to combat violence against women drawn up in 2011 was updated in 2016, as well as a national plan to combat female genital mutilation, incorporating the new provisions of the Criminal Code relating to the rights of women, family and children, in accordance with CEDAW.

In addition, Cameroon organizes advocacy sessions in the National Assembly and the Senate in order to intensify the fight against GBV among the population and the electorate.

Structures for the support of female survivors of gender-based violence have been set up, in the context of the development of reception centres for women in distress, in humanitarian contexts, in police stations gender desks, in cohesion spaces for women in refugee camps and displaced families and in call centres.

A National Action Plan for the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1325 and related on Women-Peace and Security was adopted, focusing on the 03 universal pillars, namely prevention, protection and participation. The implementation of this plan is under way, particularly in humanitarian areas, through psychosocial care and support for survivors of gender-based violence, multisectoral support, call centres and cohesion spaces implementation, police officers’, judges, media, health and social workers training in order to take gender into account in conflict management, the fight against gender-based violence and the provision of humanitarian assistance. The authorities intend to massively scale up these actions to increase their impact.

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14. Over the past five years, what measures has your country prioritized, to combat violence against women and girls?

Implementation or reinforcement of laws related to violence against women, and strenghetning of their operation and implementation Implementing, updating or enhancing national action plans to end violence against women and girls Implementing or strengthening measures aiming at improving women’s access to justice (e.g. creation of dedicated courts, judicial and police staffs’ training, protection orders, recourse and reparation ways, including feminicide cases)  Implementing or strengthening services for violence victims (e.g., shelters, call centres, specialized health services, legal or justice services, counselling or housing)  Implementing or strengthening strategies in order to prevent violence against women and girls (e.g. in the education sector, in media, community mobilization, actions conducted regarding men and boys)

 Impact monitoring and evaluation, including evidence generation and data collection, especially for specific groups of women and girls  Implementation or strengthening of measures to improve understanding of the causes and consequences of violence against women among those responsible for implementing measures to end violence against women and girls  Others

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REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Implementation or reinforcement of laws related to violence against women, and strenghetning of their operation and implementation

Although the new Criminal Code criminalizes several types of violence against women and girls, it should be noted that it does not address the issue in a comprehensive manner due its complexity. The Government and its partners will also continue to advocate for a specific law on violence, the draft of which has been available for several years.

 Implementing, updating or enhancing national action plans to end violence against women and girls

A national strategy document to combat violence against women prepared in 2011 was revised in 2016, as well as a national plan to combat female genital mutilation, incorporating the new provisions of the Criminal Code on the rights of women, the family and children in accordance with CEDAW.

A National Action Plan for the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1325 and related ones on Women-Peace and Security was adopted, focusing on the 3 universal pillars, prevention, protection and participation. The implementation of this plan is under way, particularly in humanitarian areas, through the provision of psychosocial care and support for female survivors of gender-based violence, mulrisectoral support, the creation of call centres and cohesion spaces, police officers, judges, media, health and social workers training in order to take gender into account in conflict management, the fight against gender-based violence and the provision of humanitarian assistance. The authorities intend to massively scale up these actions to increase their impact.

 Implementing or strengthening measures aiming at improving women’s access to justice (e.g. creation of dedicated courts, judicial

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and police staffs’ training, protection orders, recourse and reparation ways, including feminicide cases)

As stated above, the legal framework for the protection of women against attacks on their dignity and physical integrity was strengthened with the adoption in 2016 of Act No. 2016/007 ofJuly, 12th 2016 on the Penal Code and the introduction of new offences for attacks against women. Thus, offences against the physical or moral integrity of women are likely to cover previously existing qualifications such as murder (article 275), murder (article 276), serious injury (article 277), torture (article 277-3), death (article 278), assault with serious injury (article 279), simple injury (article 280), and minor injury (article 281). With regard to sexual violence against women and girls, articles 295 and 296 punish outrages and rape, while articles 346 and 347 punish outrages on minors followed by sexual intercourse or rape. The new offences are mentioned above.

With regard to women's access to justice, it was based on the principle of equal treatment of litigants, which is one of the guiding principles for the distribution of justice and the examination of cases. Article 1-1 of the Criminal Code provides that criminal law is binding on everyone. Equality before the courts implies free access to justice and equal treatment before the judge. In this regard, the Constitution, in its Preamble, provides that the law guarantees everyone the right to justice.

Thanks to the provisions of Law NR. 2009/004 of April 14th, 2009 on the organization of legal aid adopted to promote equitable access to justice, full or partial exemption from legal costs is granted to indigent persons, including divorcing women, with minor dependent children who have no income of their own to facilitate their access to justice. Moreover, this law offers a woman abandoned by her spouse and without resources the benefit of legal aid as of right, in order to obtain legal aid in order to obtain alimony for her children and herself.

Despite the financial constraints penalizing the optimal functioning of some of its commissions, litigants have resorted to the legal aid mechanism. The

142 statistics on legal aid collected over the period 2012-2017 are indicators of this inclusive justice promoted by Cameroon.

In addition, judicial actors have benefited from training sessions on the theme of violence against women in order to strengthen the judicial response to this scourge. At procedural level, preventive engagement procedures have been initiated to prevent cases of violence against women.

To prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, a survey is being carried out at the Ministry of Justice foreseeing to including it in a commitment sheet to be signed by staff when they are recruited.

Legislative reforms include the dimension of combating discrimination and promoting equality, as demonstrated with the Penal Code. However, the State continues its efforts to completely eradicate discriminatory provisions against women from the legal arsenal. This is the case with the possibility given by the 1981 Ordinance on the organisation of civil status to the husband to oppose the exercise of a separate profession by his wife in the interest of the household, the capacity to manage common property recognised only to the husband by the Civil Code. On the latter point, the courts are increasingly applying the egalitarian provisions of the international conventions ratified by the country. This is the case of Judgment No. 31/COM/TGI of November 16th, 2017 rendered by the Court of First Instance of Bamboutos, in which the Judge relied on the provisions of Articles 15 and 16 of CEDAW to cancel a mortgage agreement entered into by the husband on a common building without his wife's consent.

 Implementing or strengthening services to violence victims (e.g., shelters, call centres, specialized health services, legal or justice services, counselling or housing)

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Support structures for survivors of gender-based violence, including in humanitarian contexts, have been set up with the support of UN Women, including shelters for women in distress, in humanitarian contexts, gender desks in police stations, call centres, women's cohesion spaces in refugee camps and displaced families.

In addition, since 2016, training has been organized for police officers (30), magistrates (30), gendarmes (30) and media personnel on the prevention and protection of GBV victims in humanitarian contexts.

In 2014, Cameroon welcomed 141,403 (112,420 Central Africans and 28,983 Nigerians) new refugees distributed through camps in Adamaoua, the East and the Far North. The office contributed to the coverage of nutrition, health, water, hygiene and sanitation, psychosocial protection and education needs. The interventions were coordinated by the thematic and multisectoral groups. These interventions are also systematized for the Cameroonian population.

In 2015, UNICEF Cameroon helped the government responding to man-made and natural crises through vital and integrated assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons and host populations. In the area of child protection, 61,305 refugee and displaced children (89% and 224% of the Central African and Nigerian targets) received psychosocial support through social workers managing 16 child-friendly spaces. 3,284 children separated from their families have benefited from family reunification or placement in alternative care. 84 children allegedly associated with the armed forces.

In 2016, child-friendly community spaces and structures were established in the Far North region and Minawao camp, providing psychosocial support to 57,536 children (28,359 girls and 29,177 boys) out of the 65,000 targeted persons. With the support of the regional office and headquarters, the country office invested in strengthening the capacity of local authorities, of national and international NGOs and of communities to ensure better expertise in mine risk assessment and education, in community-based psychosocial support, and in monitoring and reporting of child rights violations. These longer-term child protection interventions focused on emergency systems strengthening and

144 preparedness continued in 2017 to enable a more effective response to crisis. In the eastern regions, the child protection programme provided psychosocial support to children in temporary learning and protection spaces at refugee sites (15,799 children: 6,808 girls and 8,991 boys). 527 unaccompanied and separated children (234 girls and 293 boys) have been identified by the UNICEF programme.

The issue of children suspected of being associated with armed groups and their protection was a key priority throughout 2017, which strengthened collaboration with the Ministry of Justice. The use of children, especially girls, as kamikaze remained a major concern. Due to the lack of initial clarity of the Law No. 2014/028 of December 23th, 2014 on the suppression of acts of terrorism, a number of children have been arrested under this Law in the northern regions. The law was finally revised in mid-2017, clearly excluding children from its provisions and requiring all cases of minors to be referred to the juvenile procedure. Through ongoing advocacy and capacity-building of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence, the Police and Gendarmerie, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, 38 children (including 4 girls and 34 boys) suspected of association with Boko Haram were released from Maroua prison and reintegrated into their families. The reintegration process was carried out in partnership with the regional social affairs delegation, and social workers from the NGO partner ALDEPA. UNICEF supported the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence in analysing domestic law and accelerating the release procedures for all children arbitrarily arrested on suspicion of association with armed groups. After more than two years of advocacy and technical assistance, the protocol for the transfer of responsibilities for children suspected of being associated with armed forces and groups has been elaborated. The protocol was developed in both official languages, English and French, and is awaiting signature. Considering that various measures have been implemented by the courts to release children (for example, 24 children were released under the "habeas corpus" procedure), the signing of the protocol remains a priority to guide future actions.

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We can also note the follow-up work that is being done for these children so that they do not return to detention centres. In the Far North there have been measures to support vocational training for better integration, through the Cameroonian Children's Institution (ICE) in Maroua.

During this period, 112% of the targeted population of children affected by the crisis in Nigeria received psychosocial support. The 18 newly established Community Child Protection Networks (RECOPE) and 19 reactivated Far Northerners provided psychosocial support to 75,903 children (34,235 girls and 41,668 boys). The identification and documentation of unaccompanied and separated children continued, and by November 2017, the annual target was 89% met with 2,044 unaccompanied and separated children (USC) identified (806 girls and 1,238 boys) and receiving individual support and monitoring. Efforts to improve reunifications got better compared to 2016, although the achieved results remain low compared to the annual target. 284 unaccompanied children were reunited with their families (38% of the annual target). The main challenges were the difficult access on the ground to isolated and unsecured areas where reunification would not be in the best interests of the child. 245 Cameroonian children (125 girls and 120 boys) detained by Boko Haram and returned to Cameroon with their families received psychosocial and psychological support from UNICEF's operational partners until they were resettled by the government into a safer place. UNICEF is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with protection actors to ensure that the rights of these children are respected. In the Eastern region, achievements have been limited to only 2% of targeted children receiving community-based psychosocial support (776 children: 376 girls and 400 boys). 327 unaccompanied and separated children (141 girls and 186 boys - 65% of the annual target) were identified and received individual support and follow-up from UNICEF implementing partners.

The year 2018 was marked by the continuation of emergency interventions in the Far North region after the Lake Chad Basin crisis, the long emergency in the Eastern region and the new emerging crisis in the Northwestern and Southwestern regions. UNICEF provided psychosocial support to 154,243

146 children, girls and boys in humanitarian situations, and provided them with access to child-friendly spaces. 2,128 unaccompanied and separated children (822 girls and 1306 boys) were identified, cared for and 62 children (27 girls and 35 boys) reunited with their families during the three emergencies affecting Cameroon. In the Far North, UNICEF supported the identification and registration of 1,244 unaccompanied and separated children, including 372 unaccompanied children (144 girls and 228 boys) and 872 separated children (315 girls and 557 boys). In the Eastern region affected by the crisis in CAR, UNICEF helped identifying and registering 442 unaccompanied and separated children, of whom 32 unaccompanied children (17 girls and 15 boys) and 410 separated children (175 girls and 235 boys). Due to insufficient capacity of implementing partners and delayed data transmission, due to insecurity, data for the North-Western and South-Western crisis are incomplete and not always disaggregated by sex, unaccompanied and separated children. Nevertheless, this result was achieved through the active contribution of 87 c established and strengthened community-based child protection networks. Members of the networks have been actively involved in identifying children in need, mobilizing them and their families to participate in and monitor activities in child-friendly spaces.

The training of service providers will continue to be an important part of the response mechanism. In addition to the 350 police forces and 32 gendarmerie instructors already trained, UN Women will continue to support security forces in the training of their personnel to the fight against violence in the context of armed and unarmed conflicts.

 Implementing or strengthening strategies in order to prevent violence against women and girls (e.g. in the education sector, in media, community mobilization, actions conducted regarding men and boys)

Preventing and responding to violence against children, especially girls, is one of the priorities of the Government and its partners in child protection. One of the main objectives is to ensure that every child is protected from violence and exploitation. To this end, in order to strengthen the child protection system against violence and exploitation, UNICEF supports the Government in the

147 implementation of specific interventions at strategic, operational and community levels.

At strategic level, a national child protection policy document for the 2017- 2026 period was developed and technically validated in 2017. This policy includes 4 strategic axes, which take into account the whole issue of violence, namely: improving the integration of child protection issues into all aspects of national life; promoting a socio-cultural environment encouraging child protection; modernizing the legal and judicial framework for child protection; improving the accessibility of child protection services and strengthening the governance of actions for the implementation of the national child protection policy. The budgeted multisectoral action plan for the implementation of this policy is being developed with UNICEF’s support. This will provide a framework for interventions for the protection of children, especially the most vulnerable.

At operational level, under the coordination of the Regional Social Affairs Delegations, multisectoral platforms are being set up to encourage greater involvement of all sectors (health, education, justice, police, gendarmerie) in the prevention, referral and care of child victims of violence and exploitation.

At community level, initiatives are developed at decentralized level with a strong involvement of social actors, both those of decentralized State structures and community actors. For example, in order to strengthen capacity to prevent violence, exploitation and abuse against children at decentralized level, UNICEF supported the implementation of an integrated child protection system model in Yaoundé 2 district. Within this framework, 525 social actors (101 social workers and 424 community leaders) - with a mandate to prevent and combat violence, exploitation and abuse - were trained about a set of technical and practical skills. Similarly, 45 professionals (health, justice, and police) were trained in the same programme. In addition, more than 2,245 traditional leaders in the four targeted regions have also been trained to raise community awareness about child marriage in order to end the practice, and about the promotion of birth registration. They have also been empowered to carry out preventive activities to combat violence. Two social centres and one

148 women's and family development centre, as well as two civil society organizations, worked with community and traditional leaders to improve monitoring, reporting and identification of victims.

In order to strengthen community mobilization, Yaoundé 2's community actors were organized into intervention centres (Young Dynamics in the Neighbourhoods and Youth Association Leaders; dynamic Women in the Neighbourhood and Women's Association Leaders; Traditional Leaders; Primary and Secondary Teachers (APPS Leaders for High Schools/Colleges and Primary School Council Leaders), in order to conduct warning actions (scouting approach), prevention and management of cases of violence against children, including in school environment. Participatory workshops bringing together these different actors made it possible to strengthen prevention, referral and care actions for child victims of violence on their way to school and in school environment through greater involvement of community actors in the implementation and local monitoring of interventions. 202 trained community actors are deployed in the field to identify child victims of violence and refer them to care services, thus contributing to the increase in the number of referred children.

In the same vein, other actions are being carried out in the Far North and Eastern regions, through the implementation of Community Child Protection Networks (RECOPE). These regions have 38 and 43 RECOPE respectively. These community-based mechanisms promote community awareness, thus facilitating the identification of child victims of violence and abuse at the family and community level, and their referral to care services. The experience of the Yaoundé 2 district is being extended to the districts of Bétaré-Oya (East) and Mokolo (Far North). 100 community leaders were trained in Ngaoui and Bétaré-Oya about prevention and response to child abuse.

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15. Over the past five years, what strategies has your country adopted, to combat violence against women and girls?

 Communities’ awareness and changes in attitudes and behaviours  Action on primary and secondary education, including the provision of comprehensive sexual education  Mobilization at local and community levels  Change in the representation of women and girls in the media  Actions carried out with men and boys  Programmes for perpetrators of violence  Others

Would you, please provide details about three maximum concrete examples of taken measures, notably their focuses and scopes, target population, budget, impact evaluations, lessons learned and links to complementary information. Please, also provide information about actions aimed at specific women and girls groups, as the ones enumerated in question 3. If possible, please, provide data to emphasize your answers (2 pages max.)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Mobilization at local and community levels

C4D pools were implemented to see how they have contributed to strengthening community engagement for children's and women's rights – problems identification and local solutions design. The sectoral interventions carried out in the 4 focus regions of the Programme since 2014 are supported by the actions of 132 multisectoral C4D pools, 42 networks of women's associations and social leaders' groups, 150 members of C4D pools trained in interpersonal communication. Similarly, 38 local radio stations promote IEPTs in 5 high-risk Health Districts and 4 refugee sites.

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In 2018, the programme generated and used social and behavioural evidence to meet quality standards to inform C4D strategies on country programme priorities, support community engagement platforms that meet quality standards for all development priorities, and advocacy upstream of programmes on priority behaviours and social norms.

The technically approved C4D national strategy is in the process of political approval. Efforts to strengthen the institutional anchoring of communication for development have been undertaken to integrate the C4D as a strategic axis in Cameroon's Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESD). The implementation of this strategy will strengthen community participation and engagement to improve their individual and collective living conditions and, doing so, will contribute to improving the achievement of sustainable development objectives (SDOs) in Cameroon.

The situation analysis highlighted the need to increase the demand for quality basic social services, to strengthen social dialogue on sociocultural norms and practices, to strengthen coordination, to move from an isolated approach to a coherent and integrated approach to addressing social communication issues, and monitor and evaluate progress in behaviour change. In this regard, 40 integrated C4D microplans have been developed in 34 high-risk health districts in 5 regions in order to raise awareness of family health, maternal, newborn and child health, including immunization and good ANJE practices, by involving stakeholders, mothers and families.

With regard to emergencies, the Lake Chad Basin and the Northwestern and Southwestern regions focused on accountability to those affected. Community platforms have been implemented to provide key behaviour change messages to people at risk. A total of 139 community platforms are operational in the 4 priority regions. In the Northwest and Southwest regions, 47 community support groups have been created to improve community partnership in emergency response, as well as to simplify intergenerational dialogue and complement the upward flow of information.

In terms of results:

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- 210,000 people were contacted through feedback and complaint handling mechanisms, as well as community engagement platforms to express their needs / concerns; - 385,000 people were reached by key rescue and behaviour change messages through interpersonal and mass communication activities; - In the Lake Chad Basin (LCB), more than 1.3 million people have been sensitized to cholera prevention and treatment; - 25,404 women and girls are less and less exposed to the risks of GBVs; - Implementation of 10 clinics that reached nearly 4,000 women and girls through sensitization on GBVs, early and forced marriages. A system for their care has been set up through health structures and case management structures; - 37,027 people sensitized on GBVS (25,402 women/girls + 11,625 men/boys).

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 Communities’ awareness and changes in attitudes and behaviours

In order to encourage behavioural change, various awareness-raising materials on the prevention of violence and abuse (leaflets, flyers, thematic sheets, image boxes, awareness booklets) were produced and made available to the target audience.

In 2018, 54 youth clubs in the Far North region and 16 in the North-Western and South-Western regions were established in targeted communities to build the capacity of adolescents and young men and women to protect themselves from violence and exploitation, including gender-based violence, child marriage and recruitment by armed groups. In the Far North, 7,319 (3,439 girls and 3,880 boys) adolescents aged 10 to 19 years (target 104%) actively participated in life skills development activities conducted by social workers and community leaders. 20 social workers/facilitators were trained in the specific methodology for providing age- and gender-sensitive psychosocial support in this specific context of high violence, group dynamics and clinical supervision. Twenty-two intergenerational dialogues were held in the Far North region to promote equitable standards, including the postponement of child marriage. These dialogue sessions brought together 1,712 people (889 girls / women and 823 boys / men), including traditional/religious leaders, parents and adolescents.

Through the U-Report, UNICEF is working to bridge the gap between decision- makers and communities. The initiative is led by the lower house of parliament and local councils. In 2015, the focus was on the participation of young people in the development process as agents of change and claimants of rights. The information provided by U-Reporters through surveys is compiled and forwarded to program managers for corrective action. As a result of this initiative, it is highly expected that the interest of the population in general and of young people in particular in development affairs will be strengthened. The U-Report promotes greater awareness and information for access to services, including the dissemination of sexual health messages and the provision of user-friendly services for youth and adolescents. The Far North

153 region has the highest number of Appellants showing the weight of socio- cultural barriers.

The U-Report Platform consists of four pillars:

- A technical platform that allows surveys to be sent to U-Reporters on their mobile phones via SMS; - A website https://cameroon.ureport.in/ where survey results, articles and other information are shared with U-Reporters, public authorities and the general audience; - Facebook and Twitter social networks, which also allow us to share information on a daily basis and relaunch debates on issues under discussion - The link with services through the green line, which allows callers to be referred to specialized services if necessary.

The U-Report is also its green line, which includes a free call service made available to the population to access quality information and specialized services related to the priority themes that are currently being addressed:

- HIV/STIs; - Gender Based Violence; - Forced Child marriages; - Birth registration; - Vaccination;

It allows callers to be referred to specialised care facilities close to their geographical location. The strategy is called the SERVICE LINK. To use this service, simply call 8555. It's free of charge! Call centre agents are available 7 days a week and from 7am to 8pm. To date, the platform has more than 268,0655 registered people, 62% of whom are men and 38% women; 44% of the platform's members are adolescents and young people aged 15-19; the green line operates in three languages: Fufulde, English, French, with 6 young and trained call centre agents; on average 55% of calls on HIV, followed by

154 birth registration 28% and child marriage 10%; more than 50% of calls come from the Far North and are in Fufuldé language and the rest are divided between East and West; more than 60% of callers are adolescents/youth; more than 70,000 adolescents and young people have benefited from the hotline services: correct information, counselling or referrals to service delivery points.

 Change in the representation of women and girls in the media

Organisation of awareness sessions on the image of women in media.

 Actions carried out with men and boys

UN Women in Collaboration launched the HeForShe campaign in 2016, under the high patronage of the President of the Republic. Several registration campaigns have been conducted, which has enabled Cameroon to rank fifth in the world with 133,604 registered to date. An intervention strategy called Boys to Boys has been put in place to involve young men in the fight against violence against women and girls with significant results.

UNFPA is also supporting the Government and civil society in the implementation of husbands’ schools, particularly in the Eastern and Far North regions.

These two actions aim on the one hand to encourage men and boys to support the fight against violence against women and on the other hand to raise awareness among men and women in order to get their wives to attend health facilities.

16. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to prevent and combat violence against women and girls, facilitated by technology (online sexual harassment, online harassment, non- consensual sharing of intimate images)?

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 Implementation or strengthening of legal and regulatory measures  Implementation of awareness-raising initiatives aimed at the general public and young women and men in educational settings  Collaboration with technology suppliers to define and comply with good business practices  Others

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Implementation or strengthening of legal and regulatory measures

- Adoption of a new Penal Code with new provisions incorporating the rights of women, family and children in accordance with CEDAW.

- Strengthening of the dissemination of Law No 2010/012 of December 21st, 2010 on cyber security and cybercrime in Cameroon. This law punishes with 1 to 2 years' imprisonment and a fine of 1 to 5 million whoever violates the privacy of others by setting, recording or transmitting electronic data of a private or confidential nature without the consent of their authors. It also punishes by imprisonment from 5 to 10 years, and a fine of 5 to 10 million or only one of these two penalties, anyone who makes, transports, distributes by electronic

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communication, or an information system, a message of a pornographic nature to seriously violate the dignity of a child.

 Implementation of awareness-raising initiatives aimed at the general public and young women and men in educational settings

A permanent conduct of youth expression fora, for reflection, exchange and sharing of experience between adolescents and traditional and administrative authorities on issues of social interest was implemented.

17. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to prevent and combat negative image of women and girls, discrimination and/or gender biases in the media?

 Implementation or strengthening of legal and regulatory measures to combat discrimination and/or gender biases in media  Implementation of a constraining regulation for media, including advertising  Media support in order to elaborate voluntary codes of conduct;  Media professionals’ training to encourage the creation and use of non-stereotypical, balanced and diversified images of women and girls in media Promotion of women’s involvement and leadership in media  Implementation and strengthening of consumer protection services to enable them to receive and investigate complaints about media content or discrimination or gender bias in the media  Others

157 girls groups, as the ones enumerated in question 3. If possible, please, provide data to emphasize your answers (2 pages max.)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Media professionals’ training to encourage the creation and use of non-stereotypical, balanced and diversified images of women and girls in media

ESSTIC, as part of its training courses, trains every 03 years girls and boys who are likely to work in the media ithout discrimination.

The Ministry of Communication works in collaboration with its sub-tutor organizations, CRTV and SOPECAM, and with public media companies, radio, television and print media, to raise women's awareness in all sectors requiring either their training or their integration.

MINCOM also works with all the communication units that are the branches within the different administrations or sectors through the communication plan.

The National Communication Council (NCC), the media regulatory body, ensures control with a view to promoting a good image of women.

In April 2019, the Government, through MINPROFF, issued a press release warning the media and users of social networks against using the image of children and young girls for sexual and pornographic exploitation.

18. Has your country taken any specific measures over the past five years to combat violence against specific groups of women facing multiple forms of discrimination?

YES / NO

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If YES, would you, please provide the list of these measures, and three maximum concrete examples of taken measures, notably their focuses and scopes, target population, budget, impact evaluations, lessons learned and links to complementary information. Please, also provide information about actions aimed at specific women and girls groups, as the ones enumerated in question 3. If possible, please, provide data to emphasize your answers (2 pages max.)

Involvement, empowerment and gender-responsive institutions

Critical Areas : G. Women and decision making H. institutional mechanisms to promote the advancement of women I. Women’s fundamental rights J. Women and media L. The child girl

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

YES

19. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to promote women's participation in public life and decision-making?

Reform of the constitution, laws and regulations promoting women's participation in political life, in particular at decision- making level, including reform of the electoral system, adoption of temporary special measures such as quotas, reserved seats, benchmarks and targets Implementation of capacity building, skills development and other measures Encourage the participation of minorities and young women, including through awareness-raising and mentoring programmes

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 Opportunities for mentoring, leadership training, decision- making, public speaking, assertiveness and political campaigning  Measures taken to prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish violence against women in politics  Collection and analysis of data on women's political participation, including positions in which they are either appointed or elected  Others

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Reform of the constitution, laws and regulations promoting women's participation in political life, in particular at decision-making level, including reform of the electoral system, adoption of temporary special measures such as quotas, reserved seats, benchmarks and targets

- During the last municipal and legislative elections in 2013, quotas of 30% were imposed, under penalty of rejection of discriminatory lists by the body in charge of managing elections (Elections Cameroon); - Development of a National Gender Policy with a multisectoral action plan; - Annual publication of a Gender Rank Order highlighting the gaps between men and women in decision-making positions in administrations, and prompting corrective measures in this regard; - The Electoral Code, which provides for a minimum percentage of female candidates in the lists; - Inclusion of gender in the Electoral Code, in decision-making positions, the creation of coaching centres and training in political coaching in all

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regions of Cameroon, the training of women in management, leadership, female entrepreneurship in all ministries of Cameroon.

 Implementation of capacity building, skills development and other measures  In collaboration with civil society organizations, the government has developed a manual about women's political training. This document provides a critical mass of information, which women need to play a role in politics.

In addition, Cameroon has adopted a National Action Plan to support women's participation in decision-making, with a clear outline of the measures to be implemented to maximize women's political and administrative role.

 Encourage the participation of minorities and young women, including through awareness-raising and mentoring programmes

The current Electoral Code incorporates the gender and minority dimension. Other measures are being taken to promote female leadership, including: - Training of young girls from youth movements and associations about leadership; - Sensitizing young girls with a view to their participation in the final stages of the renewal of the National Youth Council of Cameroon's bodies from the grassroots to the national level where, after these elections, 3 out of 10 girls at the regional level are presidents of the regional executive office, i.e. a percentage of 30%, at the national level two girls holding positions of responsibility - Implementation of the circular on strict compliance with quotas when validating the lists of candidates for the CNJ elections.

20. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to improve women's access to expression and participation in decision- making in the media, including through information and communication technologies (ICTs)?

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 Strengthening the provision of formal technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in media and ICT, including in the areas of management and leadership  Measures taken to improve access, affordability and use of ICTs for women and girls (e. g. free wifi hubs, community technology centres)  Establishment of regulations to promote equal wages, retention and professional advancement of women in the field of media and ICTs  Collaboration with media and ICT employers to improve internal policies and recruitment practices on a voluntary basis  Support to women's media networks and organizations  Others

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REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

Cameroon addresses this concern through:

- The equipment of the CPFFs with computer equipment in partnership with the ORANGE Foundation; - The implementation of digital houses; - The training of women in ICT; more than 150,000 beneficiaries since 2014 and the operation is ongoing.

21. Do you follow the part of the national budget that is invested in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment (gender-responsive budgeting)?

YES / NO

If YES , what is the approximative part of the national budget that is invested in promoting gender equality and weomen’s empowerment share?

Would you, please provide information on the specific areas of investment of these resources, as well as an analysis of the achievements and encountered challenges in making budgets gender-responsive.

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

YES, 2%

22. As a donor country, does your country monitor the share of official development assistance (ODA) that is invested in promoting gender equality and empowering women (gender-responsive budgeting?

If YES, please provide additional information on methodology, scope of monitoring, past trends and current share of investments.

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REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

Not applicable 23. Has your country a valid national strategy or action plan for gender equality ?

YES / NO

If YES, please indicate the name of the plan and the covered period, its priorities, funding and alignment with the Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030, including the objectives of SDO 5.

If YES, has the national action plan been estimated, and have sufficient resources been allocated to the current budget for its implementation?

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

YES As in many countries, budgetary resources allocated to promoting gender equality remain in disbursement of targets. Less than 10% of the national budget, to remedy this situation, Cameroon has defined an inclusive policy called "national gender policy" (PNG). The National Gender Policy Document, which runs from 2010 to 2020, is a policy framework setting strategic objectives to be achieved in relation to Cameroon's relevant commitments to gender equality and sustainable development.

Its financing and implementation are carried out with the support of the Agencies of the United Nations System. Its Multisectoral Implementation Action Plan runs from 2016 to 2020. Its priority is to contribute to the systematic elimination of inequalities between men and women at all levels through: - Promoting equitable access to education, training and information for girls and boys, women and men;

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- Improving women's access to health services, particularly in reproductive health; - Promoting equal chances and opportunities between women and men in the economic and employment fields; - Promotion of a socio-cultural environment encouraging women's rights respect; - Strengthening the participation of women's representation in public life and decision-making; - Strengthening the institutional framework for gender promotion.

This plan is estimated CFAF 47,540,000.

24. Has your country an action plan and timetable for the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (in the case of a State party) or the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review or other United Nations human rights mechanisms, to combat gender inequality and discrimination against women?

YES / NO

If YES, Please provide some key points of action plans implementation schedule

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

YES

The timetable is 4 years; the CEDAW Committee's observations constitute the basis for the production of the next report. An Inter-ministerial Committee for the implementation and follow-up of the recommendations and/or decisions of international and regional human rights mechanisms was set up in the Prime Minister's Office in early 2011. The

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Committee is responsible for coordinating the implementation by the various structures of the recommendations made by the Treaty Bodies.

25. Is there a national human rights national institution in your country?

YES / NO

If YES, does it have a specific mandate to address gender equality or discrimination based on sex or gender?

If YES, please provide up to three examples of how the NHRI has promoted gender equality. (max. 2 pages)

Peaceful and inclusive societies

Critical areas : E. Women and armed conflicts I. Women’s fundamental rights L. The child girl

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

Yes, it is the NCHRF whose missions are as follows: - Reducing poverty to a socially acceptable level; - Becoming a middle-income country; - Reaching the stage of a Newly Industrialised Country; - Strengthening national unity and consolidating the democratic process

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26. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to establish and maintain peace, promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and implement the agenda for women, peace and security?

Adoption and/or implementation of a national action plan for women, peace and security  Integration of commitments to women, peace and security into key national and inter-ministerial policy, planning and monitoring frameworks Use of communication strategies, including social networks, to raise awareness of the women, peace and security programme  Increased budgetary allocations for the implementation of the women, peace and security programme  Measures taken to reduce excessive military expenditure and/or to control the availability of weapons  Reallocation of funds from military expenditure to social and economic development, including for gender equality and women's empowerment  Support for conflict analysis and inclusive and gender-sensitive early warning and prevention mechanisms  Others

Would you, please, provide details on three concrete examples of measures taken, including their objectives and scope, target population, budget, impact assessments, lessons learned and links to additional information. Please also provide information on actions for specific groups of women and girls, such as those listed in question 3. If possible, please provide data to support your answers. (max. 2 pages)

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REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Adoption and/or implementation of a national action plan for women, peace and security

- Development and adoption of a national action plan for the implementation of resolutions 1325 and related ones; - Creation of a National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism in 2017 under the authority of the President of the Republic. This Commission works to promote bilingualism and multiculturalism in Cameroon with a view to:  To keep peace;  To consolidate country’s unity;  Strengthen the willingness and daily practice of its populations to live together.

 Use of communication strategies, including social networks, to raise awareness of the women, peace and security programme

In collaboration with TFPs and civil society, the Government is delivering awareness-raising messages on the culture of peace, of living together and bilingualism and multiculturalism. We will quote the tweets of the President of the Republic to this effect, and I quote: "Dear compatriots, whatever your tribe, whatever your religion, whatever your political convictions, you are all sons and daughters of the same country...", "Dear compatriots, you must remain at the ideal of unity to live in peace..."

27. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to strengthen women's leadership, representation and participation in conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding, humanitarian action and crisis response, at the decision-making level, in conflict situations, including armed conflict and in fragile or crisis contexts?

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 Promotion and support of the meaningful participation of women in peace processes and the implementation of peace agreements  Promotion of equal participation of women in humanitarian and crisis response actions at all levels, in particular at the decision- making level  Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, including armed conflicts  Mainstreaming a gender perspective in humanitarian action and crisis response  Protection of civil society spaces and women's rights defenders  Others

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, including armed conflicts

Cameroon is implementing a National Action Plan to follow up on UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and related resolutions on women, peace and security: To this end, 450 police officers, 30 teachers, gendarmes, 60 judges, 30 media professionals, 30 social workers, and 30 health professionals have been trained.

Workshops to strengthen the capacities of women and girls in civic education, culture of peace and living together have been organized throughout the country in partnership with the TFPs.

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In the three-year Special Youth Plan (PTS-Jeunes) and the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Programme (PDDR) launched by the Government, 59 youth leaders, 7 of whom were women, received 45 days of military training during the first quarter of 2019, which aims at making these Youth Executives capable of serving throughout the national territory, including in conflict zones where they can establish themselves as peace actors by training local populations in the values of peace and moral rearmament.

 Promotion and support of the meaningful participation of women in peace processes and the implementation of peace agreements

Civil society and human rights defenders operate freely in accordance with the laws and regulations in force. The synergy of action between these different actors and public authorities is a permanent reality.

28. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to strengthen judicial and non-judicial accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and violations of the human rights of women and girls in conflicts, including armed conflict, humanitarian and crisis response?

 Implementation of legal and policy reform to redress and prevent violations of women's and girls' rights  Strengthening institutional capacities, including the judicial system and transitional justice mechanisms, where appropriate, in the event of conflict and crisis response Strengthening the human rights capacity of security sector institutions and strengthening the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as sexual exploitation and abuse  Improved access to violence prevention and protection services for women victims of the conflict, refugees and displaced women  Measures taken to combat arms trafficking  Measures taken to combat the production, use and trafficking of illicit drugs  Measures taken to combat trafficking of women and children  Others

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REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Strengthening institutional capacities, including the judicial system and transitional justice mechanisms, where appropriate, in the event of conflict and crisis response

Since 2015, the partnership between the government and United Nations agencies in Cameroon has remained focused on human rights and social development, although strengthening economic growth is a major concern of the government. Human rights principles were taken into account during the 2015 mid-term review, focusing on the most disadvantaged, including those in humanitarian situations. The analysis of the capacities of duty bearers and the rights of older persons to effectively advocate has been integrated into both the supply and demand of UNICEF-supported interventions in Cameroon. Building on Cameroon's limited progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, UNICEF has again used lessons learned from the implementation of the first half of the 2014-2017 programme cycle to emphasize the Government's responsibility to children for whom the resources allocated should be considered as investments rather than mere expenditures.

In line with the above-mentioned efforts, UNICEF encouraged Cameroon to accede to the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict signed in 2014. This support aims to strengthen relevant legislation and mechanisms to protect child victims and/or those associated with armed groups, including Boko Haram. Through a tripartite agreement between NGOs,

171 the government and UNICEF, the reintegration of these children is being carried out despite the sensitive context in which children, especially girls, are used almost every week as suicide bombers in the Far North. This continued use of children by Boko Haram makes family reunification increasingly difficult. In this sense, decentralized community-based services have been strengthened to provide adequate care for the most marginalized children affected by humanitarian crises.

In this context of security crisis, the MTR process has enabled the recruitment of new partners at the national and regional levels. The child protection programme has brought in new actors, including the Ministry of Defence, to ensure that the child protection agenda is not overshadowed by security concerns.

In 2016, after numerous suicide attacks by boys and girls, advocacy and political dialogue were conducted with the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Social Affairs on the various international legal instruments and protocols ratified by Cameroon relating to the involvement of children in conflicts. Information, capacity-building and advocacy activities were carried out throughout the year at the national and regional levels.

In addition, UNICEF has advocated to the Ministry of Justice for the amendment of Act No. 2014/028 of 23 December 2014 on the suppression of acts of terrorism, in order to clarify that these provisions do not apply to minors. With the support of UNICEF and the collaboration of various ministries and civil society, more than 95% of these 150 identified children have returned to their families and communities. 57,536 girls and boys (among the 65,000 targeted) received psychosocial support in Minawao camp. 1,216 unaccompanied and separated children were identified with UNICEF support and were provided with family follow-up and reunification support. 49 displaced children were reunited with their families.

Work with the government continued to put in place emergency procedures for the priority handling of cases and the release of children in detention

172 suspected of being associated with Boko Haram. At the request of the Minister of Justice, departmental platforms for juvenile justice have been set up in Diamaré (Maroua) and Logone and Chari (Kousseri). They have been operational since May 2016 and bring together key actors in the justice and social services sector to promote the rapid monitoring of children in pre-trial detention, in particular children suspected of being associated with armed forces and groups (EAFGA).

 Measures taken to fight the production, use and trafficking of illicit drugs

To effectively fight trafficking and smuggling of persons who are a negation of human dignity, the Government has implemented several measures. At the institutional level, the Inter-Ministerial Committee to prevent and combat trafficking in persons set up in 2010 was reorganized in 2017 to become the Inter-Ministerial Committee to oversee actions and combat trafficking in human beings. The structure of the action plan adopted in 2010 by its predecessor and was generally maintained by the reorganized Committee. The new approach takes into account the care of victims and collaboration with civil society organizations in addition to the previous axes relating to knowledge of 4 the phenomenon, the normative framework, prevention, detection and repression of trafficking and smuggling11.5.

With regard to the normative framework, the offences of trafficking and smuggling of persons provided for in Act No. 2011/024 of 14 December 2011 on fighting trafficking in persons have been incorporated into the Criminal Code (article 342-1).

11 Order No 035 CAB PM of 1 March 2017 reorganizing the Inter ministerial Committee for the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in 1111 . / / -

Human Beings. The Committee adopted a plan with the following actions: Action1: Increase efforts in the prevention, detection and repression of acts of trafficking, smuggling and forced labour; Action 2: Continue training of key actors in the prevention and fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings and the monitoring and reintegration of victims; Action 3: Popularize the legal framework for preventing and combating trafficking in human beings; Action 4: Establish a partnership with NGOs involved in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings; Action 5: Conduct an investigation on the existence of hereditary slavery in the northern part of the country.

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With regard to knowledge of the phenomenon, the new approach included the conduct of a national survey on the extent of trafficking in human beings in addition to the survey on the existence of hereditary slavery in the northern regions of the country.

On this last point, the Association of Women and Girls of Adamaoua (AWGA) has carried out activities in some lamidats (chiefdoms) in the Adamaoua (Banyo, Meiganga, Tibati), North (Demsa/Gaschiga, Dargala) and Far North Regions. These actions consisted in identifying the children of the servants living in these Lamidats, establishing birth certificates, supporting the schooling of children or the conduct of income-generating activities by women (mothers of the children or wives of the servants). Community awareness campaigns have been carried out and local anti-trafficking watch committees have been created.

Although the national survey has not yet been conducted to provide consolidated data on the extent and nature of trafficking and smuggling of human beings in Cameroon, the complexity of the phenomenon, for which some organizations have declined some suggestions126, have been discussed during two national symposiums on fighting trafficking and smuggling of persons in Cameroon, was held from 3 to 4 March 2015 and 11 May 2018 respectively. Organized at the initiative of AFFADA, these symposiums brought together public authorities, academics, social workers, OSCs and other development partners. It can be noted that trafficking in Cameroon has an internal dimension with varying realities ranging from trafficking for the exploitation of domestic labour and economic exploitation to sexual exploitation. It also has an international dimension, as the country is a country of departure, transit and destination. This transnational reality has been cruelly highlighted with an increase in the number of cases of Cameroonians in distress in Libya and other countries of the Saharan strip as well as in the

6 12 CIPCRE, Status of Trafficking in Cameroon, 2013 13 Refer to Art. 1 §2, 25,30 and 31 of Decree Nr 2017/383 of July 18th 2017 on the organization of the Ministry of Social Affairs

174 countries of the Near and Middle East. In 2017, for example, of the 104 victims of trafficking registered with the police, 90% came from Kuwait.

Globally, prevention has been one of the main areas of intervention. Thus, the Ministry of Social Affairs, which has the institutional responsibility to coordinate awareness-raising and social mobilization actions against violence, trafficking and smuggling of persons13, produced in 2013 awareness-raising materials on preventing and combating smuggling, trafficking and other emerging social evils, organized a national pilot campaign to prevent and combat smuggling, trafficking and other social evils in 2014, 2015 and 2016, was also performed a poster campaign on the same subject during the National Solidarity Week held from 4 to 7 December 2017. A press conference was equally held on 1 August 2014 in Yaoundé by MINPROFF in order to raise awareness among communities, parents and families about the dangers faced by children engaged in commercial activities in the streets and markets during school holidays.

Several OSCs have also undertaken awareness-raising activities, including radio and TV programmes.

Beyond awareness-raising purpose, the control and monitoring of potential circuits were carried out. Thus, specifically with regard to the fight against child trafficking, a Manual of Procedures of the Ministry of Social Affairs on the Child Adoption Chain in Cameroon has been prepared and disseminated, some procedures for securing children found close to or in a hospital environment have been popularized, while the mapping of private social works supervising children in boarding schools has been prepared with a track list that retraces children's circulation in and out of the country.

In order to prevent trafficking for economic exploitation, private labor placement agencies have been monitored. Of the 103 organizations concerned in 2017, 23 were given formal notice to comply with the regulations in effect, while 03 were suspended. Recurrent reasons for irregularities include the lack of access to labor placement firms by MINEFOP control services, the difficulty of locating them, the difficulty to provide statistical data on the number of persons employed in these bodies and finally the non-existence of contracts

175 signed by workers employed by these firms. With the perspective of guaranteeing the rights of Cameroonians in the countries where their labor is used, negotiations have been initiated with the countries of the near and Middle East with the goal to concluding agreements on employment and concerted labor management.

The State has taken certain measures to better protect our citizen in these areas by creating a General Consulate in Dubai, which is operational since 07 November 2017, and also at the level of the Ministerial Department, the Directorate for Cameroonians Abroad, Foreigners in Cameroon, Migration Issues and Refugees is also operational since 07 November 2017. In addition to that, a Monitoring Unit or Technical Secretariat has been created in order to identify all cases of trafficking that would be reported through any channel that could provide information potentially leading help victims of human trafficking.

In order to ensure effective law enforcement, human rights capacity building activities were organized, including modules on trafficking in persons. Organized by the State or in collaboration with various partners, these activities brought together Headquarters and Public Prosecutors, Judicial Police Officers, social workers and civil society actors. We can mention a seminar on capacity building in the field of human rights, for the benefit of forty magistrates from the jurisdictions of the Courts of Appeal of Adamaoua, the North and the Far North of Cameroon as well as the capacity building of about thirty actors in the criminal chain working in the jurisdictions of the Courts of Appeal of the Coast and South-West. There were also social workers on the protection of women against gender-based violence (GBV) at a training seminar on protection against violations of the right to life, to physical and moral integrity that was held in Douala from 28th to 30th August 2017.

Cameroon was one of the 05 States concerned by the implementation of the Priority Solidarity Fund Project "Support the fight against human trafficking in the countries of the Gulf of Guinea" financed by France. The Project aimed at

176 fighting modern forms of slavery and dismantles human trafficking networks. The support of other partners such as IOM14 7and OIPC Interpol15 in building staff capacity is worth being mentioned.

These trainings produced results in terms of investigations and prosecutions. In 2017, the Police initiated 89 trafficking and smuggling proceedings, arrested 112 suspects and referred them to court.

Even if some consultation platforms have already been set up in some regions, the law enforcement chain still has to face the challenge of coordinating the various actors, police and judicial cooperation in regard of the transnational nature of the phenomenon, not to mention the challenge of protecting victims and witnesses given the capacity of intimidation of trafficking networks. The challenge of caring for victims is also crucial. Victims have been provided with shelter, food, medical care and psychosocial support, particularly in the context of the repatriation of Cameroonians from Libya and Niger.

In order to rationalize the interventions, the Standard Operating Procedures and National Referral System Document on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Persons in Cameroon was developed in 2013 with OIM's support. Within the framework of the Project on the social management of migration flows, for which the search for additional funding is under way, it is planned to increase the dissemination of these procedures and also to build and equip transit and reception centres in border areas so existing structures can be set up to provide better assistance to victims of trafficking. It is also considered to develop a national strategy to combat human trafficking and other related social evils, with the social care and economic reintegration of victims as primary concerns. While awaiting the implementation of the Project, an agreement has been signed

7 14 Training Workshop about trafficking in Central Africa, Yaoundé, March 18th-20th, 2014, for Policemen and Gendarmes 15 Refer to Workshop about trafficking of persons in Central Africa, Yaoundé, April 3rd-5th, 2018 including 33 attendees (Policemen, Gendarmes, Customs Officers, Magistrates) from Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, CAR, DRC, Sao Tome and Principe.

177 between MINAS and MINEFOP for the training of victims of human trafficking in vocational training centres.

The efforts to combat human trafficking have contributed to Cameroon's improved ranking from Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2 in the State Department's 2018 Report on Trafficking in Persons.

 Measures taken to combat the production, use and trafficking of illicit drugs

In this context, Cameroon is carrying out several actions, including:

- Mobilization and sensitization of young people

- The intensification of the national campaign on civic education and national integration, conducted within the civic education clubs for young people in school and the neighborhood civic education committees for out-of-school youth

- During the celebration of national holidays, in particular through the Youth Village on 11th February and the Unity Village on 20th May, in order to enable young leaders of associations and partners of United Nations system organizations to exchange views with young people on the harmful effects of alcohol and drug consumption

- There are also mass campaigns on various themes, including alcohol and drug use in young people.

Moreover, the "Citizen Holidays" operation gives rise to Mobile Urban and Rural Popular Animation Teams (MURPAT) and community mediators who deploy to fight against idleness, immoral, unsociable practices, addictions, etc... with the main task of providing local youth supervision and moral reinforcement.

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Finally, training sessions for peer educators on additive behaviors are organized with the assistance of socio-institutional partners.

 Strengthening the human rights capacity of security sector institutions and strengthening the prevention of sexual and gender- based violence, as well as sexual exploitation and abuse 240 police officers and gendarmes from the Far North have been trained to better understand these legal instruments and 150 children suspected of being associated with Boko Haram have received support from the Cameroonian Children's Institution (CCI) in Maroua with the support of UNICEF. UNICEF has promoted the implementation of resolution 16/12 of 2005, the Paris Commitment to the Protection of Children from Unlawful Recruitment or Use by Armed Forces or Armed Groups, and the June 2010 Ndjamena Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children worldwide from armed conflicts. Improved access to violence prevention and protection services for women victims of the conflict, refugees and displaced women.

Thanks to awareness-raising efforts, 25 children suspected of association, were released from Maroua prison. Efforts to ensure the protection of children in conflict-affected areas in the Far North region continue to play an important role, as the issue of child protection remains a priority due to the increasing number of displaced children in need of psychosocial support, of separated and unaccompanied children, of children used as human bombs and children arbitrarily detained and the various violations to which they have been subjected.

To address the underlying causes (socio-cultural) that deprive children of their right to adequate protection, the child protection programme has focused on strengthening existing community-based child protection mechanisms, namely the Community Child Protection Networks (CCPN) as a frontliner for child protection when the formal national child protection system is weakened by protracted crises. For the Lake Chad basin region, the crises in the Central African Republic and the North-Western/South-Western crises, UNICEF and its

179 implementing partners supported 87 CCPNs in 2018, including 54 in the Far North, 19 in the East, 6 in Adamaoua and 8 in the Northwest and South-West. In addition, 49.82% of operational services (social services, courts, police, gendarmerie) in the targeted regions have at least one staff trained in case management and data collection.

Mechanisms developed with NGOs are nowadays essential to establish systems allowing identifying children at risk, connect them with families, monitor cases and advocate for them. A total of 154,243 conflict-affected children received psychosocial support and access to child-friendly spaces, 2,128 unaccompanied and separated children (822 girls and 1,306 boys) were identified and cared for, including 62 (27 girls and 35 boys) reunited with their families. Reunification has been hampered by insecurity in the areas of displaced persons, while no reunification has been achieved in the North-West and South-West regions due to insecurity, lack of access and acceptance by the population.

Although 122 children associated with armed groups received temporary care, 36 children suspected of being associated with armed groups (14 girls and 22 boys) were reunited and reintegrated into their families. Despite strong advocacy by the UNICEF representative and the resident coordinator to the Multinational Task Force for the release, rehabilitation and reintegration of 55 children detained in a military camp in Mora.

29. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to combat discrimination against girls and violations of their fundamental rights?

 Measures taken to combat negative social norms and practices and to raise awareness of the needs of the young girls  Enhancing girls' access to quality education, skills development and training  Combating health disadvantages due to malnutrition, early motherhood

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(e. g. anaemia) and exposure to HIV/AIDS as well as other sexually transmitted disease  Implementation of policies and programmes to reduce and end child marriage, early marriage and forced marriage  Implementation of policies and programmes aiming to eliminate violence against girls, including physical, sexual violence and harmful practices  Implementation of policies and programmes to end child labour and excessive levels of unpaid care as well as domestic work done by girls  Promotion of girls' awareness and participation in social, economic and political life  Others

Would you, please provide details on three concrete examples of measures taken, including their objectives and scope, target population, budget, impact assessments, lessons learned and links to additional information. Please also provide information on actions for specific groups of women and girls, such as those listed in question 3. If possible, please provide data to support your answers. (max. 2 pages)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Addressing health disadvantages due to malnutrition, early motherhood (e. g. anaemia) and exposure to HIV/AIDS as well as any other sexually transmitted diseases

During the 2014-2017 programme cycle, the Ministry of Health aligned its strategic policies on HIV/AIDS based on WHO recommendations. Significant progress has been made in expanding services for the prevention of mother- to-child transmission (PMTCT). The number of health facilities providing PMTCT services increased from 2,067 in 2010 to 3,466 in 2014, 3,918 in 2015, 4,081 in 2016 and 4,277 (83%) in 2017 out of a total of 5,166 health facilities. As a result, the 80% coverage target for 2017 has been achieved. Antiretroviral coverage increased from 32.7% in 2013 to 53.5% in 2014, 70.4% in 2015 and 76.6% in June 2017. The option B + has been implemented nationally since

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2016. However, the screening of pregnant women's partners is still very low (7%). 2016) due to the lack of community activities.

Progresses in the vaccination of children and pregnant women has been achieved thanks to the active contribution of 142 women groups in the Central and Coastal Region, acting in 2016 as part of a partnership between the Ministry of Health (MINSANTE) and the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family (MINPROFF) in the Far North Region. A group of 89 women associations composed of 1,335 women in the 10 priority health districts also contributed to the task. These associations focused mainly on promoting immunization, active research on dropouts and refusal management with an emphasis on hard-to-reach areas, as well as active research on vaccine- preventable diseases in the communities. Thanks to their actions, socio- cultural barriers to immunization have been removed and thousands of children have benefited from their right to protection from preventable diseases.

The first national forum on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and children/teenagers was held in Yaoundé from 25 to 27 October 2016. It brought together 350 participants from all 10 regions of the country. Cameroon. A call to action has been adopted by all participants. In 2017, UNICEF supported the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Yaoundé call. One of the main operational results of the call is the Ministry of Health's objective to define all health facilities offering PTMEs as antiretroviral treatment centres. Building on the achievements of the first national forum, the second forum, scheduled for 2018, will generate new momentum and provide strategic direction and priority actions undertaken to fill the 90-90-90 gaps and achieve the objectives of e-TME, including the universal coverage of paediatric HIV treatment in Cameroon.

 Measures taken to combat negative social norms and practices and raise awareness of the potential and needs of the child girls In 2015, Cameroon adopted a National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, which took into account the protection of the rights of women and girls.

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- In 2016, Cameroon proceeded to the national launch of the African Union campaign to end child marriage. Until today, more than 500 communitarian, religious and traditional leaders have been sensitized on this theme with UNICEF help.

We also note:

- The ongoing development and implementation of a National Plan to Combat the MGFs;

- The implementation of the national strategy to combat GBVs.

 Implementation of policies and programmes to eliminate violence against girls, including physical and sexual violence as well as harmful practices

UNICEF continued to advocate for policy changes to strengthen the national child protection system. Important milestones were achieved in 2016, including the formulation of the National Policy on Child Protection draft, the official launch of the National Campaign to Abandon Child Marriage and the National Strategic Plan on Civil Status and Vital Statistics (NSPVS). Despite the progress made in developing an appropriate legal framework for child protection, formal child protection services and community mechanisms are still weak. To address this, UNICEF collaborated with the Ministry of Social Affairs to model a decentralized child protection system in three districts in the Central, Far North and East regions.

As part of the 2014-2017 programme, a capacity assessment was conducted in social centres in Yaoundé and Mokolo in the far North region. It has also included an inventory of community structures and civil society organizations active in child protection within the region. UNICEF supported, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs and some NGOs, a technical workshop to review and standardize child protection indicators among vulnerable children and developed a data collection tool. This tool collects information on

183 different categories of vulnerable children and monitors the services available to them.

For the period 2017 to 2018, some child protection platforms were established at national, regional and local levels, particularly in the programme's intervention areas. Through the MINAS Planning Division, a mapping of all child protection actors involved in Yaoundé 2, with the objective of creating a directory of public and private community childcare services. Data collection and case management tools have been harmonized, which makes it possible to collect information on the different structures (services provided, human resources, children benefiting from the services provided, infrastructure and other facilities, referral system and partnership developed with other structures).

Conservation, protection and rehabilitation of the environment

Critical areas : I. Women's human rights K. Women and the environment L. The child girl

30. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to integrate gender perspectives and concerns into government policies?

 Supporting women's participation and leadership in the management and governance of environmental and natural resources  Increased evidence and/or awareness on gender-related environmental and health hazards (e. g. consumer products, technologies, industrial pollution)  Improving women's access to land, water, energy and other natural resources  Promoting the education of women and girls in science, engineering, technology and other disciplines related to the natural environment

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 Improved access for women to sustainable, time and labour saving infrastructures (e. g. access to safe drinking water and energy) as well as climate-friendly agricultural technologies  Measures taken to protect and preserve women's knowledge and practices in indigenous and local communities related to traditional medicines, biological diversity and conservation techniques  Measures taken to ensure that women benefit equitably from decent jobs in the green economy  Monitoring and evaluation of the impact of environmental policies and sustainable infrastructure projects on women and girls  Others

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

N/A

31. What measures has your country taken over the past five years to integrate gender perspectives into policies and programmes for disaster risk reduction, climate change resilience and mitigation?

 Support the participation and leadership of women, including those affected by disasters, in policies, programmes and projects for disaster risk reduction and resilience to and mitigation of climate change  Strengthening of baseline data and increased awareness concerning disproportionate vulnerability of women and girls to the consequences of environmental degradation and environmental disasters  Promoting access of women affected by disasters to services such as relief, disaster insurance and compensation

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 Establishment or strengthening of laws and policies that are promoting gender equality in the areas of disaster risk reduction, climate change resilience and climate change mitigation (e.g, laws concerning disasters that take into account women's vulnerability)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

N/A

Section 3: National Institutions and National processes

32. What is the current national mechanism adopted by your country to achieve gender equality as well as women's empowerment? Please name it and describe its position within the government.

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

The Ministry for the promotion of Women and Family is the main national mechanism for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. In addition to central services, regional, departmental and district delegations, it includes specialized technical units. In addition to this mechanism, gender focal points and gender committees have been established in all public administrations, thus acting as a gender warning and advisory system in sectoral areas. In the same way, gender working groups are set up and operational within the United Nations system (UNGTG), the Multi-Partner Committee (MPC) and civil society (GTOG).

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It will only be a question of improving the functionality of these bodies to ensure better coordination between them.

33. Is the person responsible for the national mechanism a member of the institutional process for implementing the SDOs (e. g. inter-ministerial coordination office, commission or committees)?

YES/NO

If YES, please provide extra information

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

YES The Minister for the promotion of Women and Family is the referent with regard to SDO n°5. It participates in local assessments through its technical services (DEPC) and at the strategic level during Cabinet Counsels.

In addition, MINPROFF is a member of the National Monitoring Committee for the SDOs. This year, for the first time, Cameroon will be among the 42 countries that will conduct the Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the SDOs. The government, with the support of the United Nations, will present the results of this exercise in July 2019 to the United Nations High Level Policy Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. For this exercise, the government, with the support of the United Nations, will develop two products that will be presented / showcased to the FPHN, namely a report on Cameroon's experience in implementing the SDOs and a video with key messages on SDOs. MINPROFF is a stakeholder in this process.

34.Are there formal mechanisms allowing different stakeholders to participate in the implementation and monitoring of the Beijing Declaration, the Action Programme as well as for the Programme for Sustainable Development by 2030?

YES/NO YES

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If YES,

(a) Among the following stakeholders, which ones are formally participating in the national coordination mechanisms established to contribute to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration Action Programme as well as the Programme for Sustainable Development by 2030?

Beijing declaration and action Sustainable development programme programme for 2030

 Civil society organizations  Civil society organizations  Women's rights organizations  Women's rights  Academia and Think-tanks organizations   Faith-based organizations  Academia and Think-tanks   Faith-based organizations Parliaments/parliamentary Parliaments/parliamentary committees committees  Private sector  United Nations system  Private sector  Other actors, please  United Nations system specify  Other actors, please Bi and multilateral partners specify (TFPs) Bi and multilateral partners (TFPs)

(b) Do you have mechanisms in place to ensure that women and girls from marginalized groups can participate and that their concerns are taken into account in these processes?

YES/NO

Please provide more details on the mechanisms used. (max. 2 pages) YES

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The implementation, since 2013, of an Intersectoral Committee for the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of Projects and Programmes for Vulnerable Indigenous Populations (PPVNP), with the goal to achieve better coordination of actions. The objective is to create a synergy of various actors and resources to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the interventions made towards vulnerable indigenous populations, including women and girls from these categories.

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

The process of preparing this report has been carried out in 7 steps:

-Sharing of the concept Note of the Comprehensive Review with the Ministry of Women and Family Development and working sessions on understanding the process that is led by the Government.

-Organization of a ceremony to launch the comprehensive review process, which was held in conjunction with the restitution of the work of the CSW.63 During this session, the broad outlines of the consultation process were announced, as well as a first exercise of exchange with national stakeholders.

-Establishment of an ad hoc process steering committee including all public administrations, the Civil Society, the development partners, United Nations system agencies and representatives of women's organizations, all under the coordination of the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and Family.

-Organization of a methodological framing and exchange workshop with the members of the Ad Hoc Committee.

-Organisation of the national consultation

-Preparation of draft 0 of the report

-Organisation of a reading session to review the report.

A high-level meeting to present the report is planned after its validation by the Regional Committee.

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35. Are gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls considered a key priority in the national plan or national strategy for the implementation of the SDOs?

 Yes  No  There is no national plan or national strategy for the implementation of the SDOs

Please provide explanations

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

YES

In Cameroon, there is a roadmap for monitoring the implementation of the SDOs. It all began with an exercise to contextualize the SDOs and to adapt them to national priorities. Gender issues are taken into account vertically through SDO N°5 and crosswise through the other objectives.

In order to prepare the report, the government and the United Nations system team produced a questionnaire to collect data and information on the progress made in the implementation of the SDOs since their adoption in September 2015. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are considered a key priority in this process.

Section 4: Data and Statistics

36. What are the three main areas in which your country has made the most progress over the past five years in gender statistics at the national level?

 Enactment of laws, regulations or statistical programs/strategies establishing such gender-based statistics

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 Implementation of an inter-institutional coordination mechanism for gender statistics (e.g. technical working group, inter-institutional committee)  Increased use of gender-sensitive data in policy formulation as well as programmes and project implementation  Reprocessing existing data (e. g. censuses and surveys) to produce sex-disaggregated statistics and/or new gender-based statistics  Conduct new surveys to produce national baseline information on specialized topics (e. g. time use, gender-based violence, asset ownership, poverty, disability)  Improvement of administrative or alternative data sources to fill gender data gaps  Production of knowledge products on gender statistics (e.g., intuitive reports, guidance notes, research articles)  Development of a centralized online database and/or dashboard on gender statistics  Engage and strengthen capacity building to promote the use of gender statistics (e. g. training, statistical assessment seminars)  Others

Would you, please provide details on three concrete examples of measures taken, including their objectives and scope, budget, impact assessments, lessons learned and links to additional information. Please also provide information on actions for specific groups of women and girls, such as those listed in question 3. If possible, please provide data to support your answers. (max. 2 pages)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

 Establishment of an inter-institutional coordination mechanism for gender statistics (i.e. a technical working group, an inter-institutional committee)

Cameroon is classified as a Tier 2 country, which means it is a country where data collection and production of gender-sensitive statistics is irregular. It has therefore been selected since 2018 as a pilot country for the development and implementation of the Making Every Woman and Girl Count (MEWGC)

191 programme, with the main objective of improving the production of gender statistics in the country.

The MEWGC programme is one of UN WOMEN's priority programmes at worldwide level, which aims at improving the production of gender statistics into national statistics. As part of this programme, the government conducted a national gender and statistical assessment process. This exercise provided a clear overview of the National Statistical Development System (NSDS).

In addition, it was found that even if sensitive gender data are available, they are not sufficiently used.

The Programme therefore provides: - The support for the implementation of a Statistical Information System at the Ministry for the Advancement of Women and the Family;

- The support from the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) in the production of gender statistics; - The support from national institutions (BUCREP, REGAE, IFORD) in major national surveys such as the General Population and Housing Census (GPHC), the General Census of Agriculture and Livestock and the training of demographers;

- The engagement in capacity building for national actors to promote the use of gender statistics

- The development of a centralized online database on gender statistics.

To date, an inter-ministerial coordination committee on gender statistics has been established and is operational under this MEWGC programme ;

 Increased use of gender-sensitive data in policy formulation and programme and project implementation

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In addition to the national mechanism for the production of official statistics, there are statistical units in all ministerial departments responsible for producing current gender-disaggregated statistics for the formulation and implementation of sectoral policies.

In addition, MINPROFF, in collaboration with the National Institute of Statistics, produces a very regular statistical directory book on the situation of women and girls, which reports on the evolution of the situation of women and girls in the country.

Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that the information produced is not yet sufficient in view of the transversal nature of the theme, which affects all development sectors.

 Conduct new surveys to produce national baseline information on specialized topics (e. g. time use, gender-based violence, asset ownership, poverty and disabilities) All the major national surveys conducted by Cameroon in recent years (MICS 5, EDS 4, ECAM 4) include gender statistics in certain areas such as education, fight against violence, maternal health, etc...

It should be noted that the results of the MICS 5 and the Fourth Cameroon Household Survey (ECAM 4), published in early 2016, were used to conduct a human rights and equity-based analysis of the situation of children and women (SITAN). This analysis highlighted the current situation and trends in child deprivation over the past decade, indicating gender, geographical (rural versus urban, northern and southern regions) and economic disparities. It also indicates the determinants of these deprivations, are related to poverty, socio- cultural barriers, low funding and provision of social services, and exogenous shocks related to political and security crises in neighbouring countries (Nigeria, Central African Republic). In addition, under the leadership of the government, a child poverty analysis using the MODA (Multiple Overlap Poverty Analysis) method was conducted to estimate the country's multidimensional child poverty levels.

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This analysis identifies the policy measures needed to promote children's rights in Cameroon. Based on the evidence generated by the MODA analysis, advocacy and political dialogue will all be used as strategies to place children in decision-making.

These two analyses (SITAN and MODA) were decisive for the definition of a national social protection policy adapted to children.

37. Among the following measures, which are your country's top three priorities for strengthening national gender statistics over the next five years?

 Development of laws, regulations or statistical programmes/strategies for the promotion of gender statistics  Establishment of an inter-institutional coordination mechanism for gender statistics (e. g. technical working group, inter-institutional committee, etc.))  Increased use of gender-sensitive data in policy formulation and programme as well as project implementation  Reprocessing existing data (e. g. censuses and surveys) to produce sex statistics and/or gender statistics  Conduct new surveys to produce national baseline information on specialized topics (e. g. time use, gender-based violence, asset ownership, poverty, disability)  Increased use and improvement of administrative or alternative data sources to fill gender data gaps  Production of knowledge products on gender statistics (e.g., user- friendly reports, guidance notes, research papers)  Development of a centralized online database and/or dashboard on gender statistics  Institutionalization of exchange mechanisms between users and producers

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 Strengthening users' statistical capacity to increase statistical appreciation and use of gender statistics (e. g. training, statistical appreciation seminars)  Others

Would you, please, provide a brief explanation and examples of your plans (maximum 2 pages)

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

As part of the Making Every Woman and Girl Count (MEWGC) programme, Cameroon intends to work on all the proposed priorities by focusing its intervention on three pillars:

 Increased use of gender-sensitive data in policy formulation and programme and project implementation

In the coming years, it will be necessary to ensure that gender is systematically taken into account in the national statistical system. A partnership is being developed with the INS in this regard, with the ultimate objective that all national and sectoral data be broken down by gender.

 Development of a centralized online database and/or a dashboard on gender statistics

In order to make gender statistics available at the national level, the MEWGC programme plans to support the Ministry of Women's and Family Development (MINPROFF) in the process of setting up a gender information system as well as a framework for monitoring and evaluating national gender policies by creating a central Internet database to store and share sustainable development indicators developed and available online.

 Strengthening users' statistical capacity to increase statistical appreciation and use of gender statistics (e. g. training, statistical appreciation seminars)

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One of the main findings of the base study on gender statistics is that data producers and users are poorly trained on gender issues; additionally, gender experts and staff of the national gender mechanism often do not possess the technical capacity to report on gender data in their respective sectors. Additionally, gender focal points have been appointed in all ministerial departments to fill this gap. In the coming years, it will be necessary to strengthen national capacities in the collection, production, dissemination and use of gender statistics to ensure that this perspective is effectively taken into account in national policies.

38. Have you defined a national set of indicators to monitor the progress of the SDOs?  Yes  No

If Yes, how many indicators does it include and how many of them are gender-specific?17 8?

120 indicators are used for monitoring the SDOs, including 20 on gender. During the mapping exercise of the SDO indicators in Cameroon, we selected all 15 indicators concerning SDO 5. However, other gender-related indicators identified by the National Statistical Information System (NSIS) are included in other SDOs.

If YES, how many gender-specific indicators are additional country indicators (i.e. not part of the global monitoring and indicators framework of the SDOs)?

N/A

Please provide the indicators in an appendix

17 The term "gender-specific indicators" refers to indicators that explicitly call for a breakdown by sex and/or refer to gender equality as an underlying objective. For example, indicator 5.c.1 of the SDO includes the percentage of countries with systems to track public allocations to policies and programmes that promote gender equality. The underlying objective is to promote gender equality. The term is also used for indicators where women and girls are specified in the indicator as the target population (see UN Women. 2018. Translate promises into actions: Gender equality in the Sustainable Development

Agenda to 2030. New York).

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Table 1: Proposal of monitoring and evaluation indicators for the SDOs

Institution responsible Agenda 2030: Sustainable for the Identify national indicators for Development Objectives / target specific targets Priority Targets implementat ion (ministries) Goal 1: Eradicate poverty in all its forms and everywhere in the world Poverty rate, Incidence rate of Government poverty (%) 1.1 By 2030, completely Annual per capita income, Gross eradicate extreme poverty Government National Income (GNI) per capita worldwide (currently Overall underemployment rate, defined as living on less Participation rate (active than $1.25 per day) Government population over percentage of total population) 1.2 By 2030, reduce by at least half the proportion of men, women and Inequality ratio, Incidence of children of all ages Government poverty of each group suffering from some form of poverty, as defined by each country 1.4 By 2030, ensure that Severity of poverty Government all women and men, MINADER, Proportion of new businesses especially the poor and MINEFOP, created by young graduates of vulnerable, have equal MINPMEESA, agricultural schools rights to economic MINPROFF resources and access to MINADER, basic services, land MINEFOP, Activity rate of each group (%) ownership, control of land MINPMEESA, and other forms of MINPROFF property, inheritance, natural resources and new technologies as well as Proportion of policy documents MINEPAT, financial services adapted incorporating the vulnerable MINFI, to their needs, including approach MINAS microfinance 1.5 By 2030, strengthen Number of environmental the resilience of the poor protection measures MINEP and vulnerable persons implemented and reduce their exposure Number of regional projects MINADER, to extreme weather implemented MINEFOP,

197 events and other MINPROFF economic, social or An ambitious policy to preserve environmental shocks and the environment and combat the MINEP disasters harmful effects of climate change MINTP, Structure the energy production MINEE, (proportions of hydroelectricity, MINIMIDT, thermal and gas energies) MINEP MINADER, Improve food insecurity rates MINEPIA, among refugees and host MINAS, populations MINATD, MINJUSTICE Goal 2: Eradicate hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture MINADER, Livestock production (in tons) MINEFOP, MINEPIA Food insecurity rate (%), MINADER, agricultural sector growth rate, MINEPIA, food self-sufficiency rate 2.1 By 2030, eradicate MINEFOP Per capita food production index hunger and ensure that MINADER, everyone, especially the Prevalence of food insecurity at MINEFOP, poor and vulnerable, the national level (in %) MINEPIA including infants, has Quantity of animal protein access to safe, nutritious MINEPIA produced (in tons) and sufficient food all year Area of irrigated/drained round agricultural land, Volume of agricultural credits granted to MINADER, producers, Rate of agricultural MINEPIA, mechanization, Number of MINEFOP kilometers of rural roads built/rehabilitated 2.2 By 2030, eliminate all Infant underweight rate (%), Food MINADER, forms of malnutrition, insecurity rate (%), Daily fat MINSANTE, including by achieving by intake per capita MINEPIA 2025 the internationally MINADER, agreed goals on stunting Area of agricultural exploitations MINEPIA, and emaciation in children MINEFOP under five years old and meet the nutritional needs MINADER, Number of approvals granted to of adolescents, pregnant MINEPIA, fishermen and lactating women as MINEFOP well as the elderly

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MINADER, Food insecurity rate (%) MINEPIA, MINEFOP Proportion of arable land under MINADER, 2.3 By 2030, double the cultivation, Growth rate of the MINEPIA, agricultural productivity agricultural sector, number of MINEFOP and revenues of small- modern farmers scale food producers, in Agricultural mechanization rate MINADER, particular women, (number of tractors per hectare MINEPIA, indigenous peoples, family of cultivated land) MINEFOP farmers, farmers and MINADER, fishers, including by Incidence of poverty in rural MINEPIA, ensuring equal access to areas, share of funding allocated MINEFOP, land as well as other to rural world MINEPAT, productive resources and MINFI factors of production, MINADER, knowledge, financial MINEPIA, Yields and production of the main services, markets and MINEFOP, priority sectors opportunities for value MINEPAT, addition and employment MINFI other than agricultural MINADER, MINEPIA, Amounts of grants and bonuses MINEFOP, MINEPAT, MINFI MINADER, Proportion of cultivated arable MINEPIA, 2.4 By 2030, ensure the land MINEFOP sustainability of food MINADER, production systems and MINEPIA, implement resilient Harvest production index MINEFOP, agricultural practices that MINEPAT will increase productivity MINADER, and production, National agricultural area MINEPIA, contribute to the occupied by farms MINEFOP, preservation of using good production practices MINEPAT, ecosystems, enhance MINRESI adaptive capacities to MINADER, reply to climate change, MINEPIA, extreme weather events, Number of cooperatives or MINEFOP, drought, floods and other agricultural GICs MINEPAT, disasters, progressively MINPMEESA improve land and soil Number of sustainable MINADER, quality development initiatives MINEPIA, encouraged MINEFOP,

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MINEPAT, MINPMEESA, MINEPDED MINADER, MINEPIA, Public budget allocated to the MINEFOP, rural sector (in %) MINEPAT, MINPMEESA, MINEP MINADER, Chronic malnutrition rate of MINEPIA, children under 5 years old, Net MINEFOP, number of jobs created per year, MINEPAT, Amount of agricultural imports / MINPMEESA, Amount of agricultural exports MINEP Goal 3: To enable everyone to live in good health and promote the well- being of all at all ages Maternal mortality ratio MINSANTE Proportion of the population with access to health services, Proportion of the population MINSANTE 3.1 By 2030, reduce the residing within a 5 km radius of a global maternal mortality health facility (CSI, CMA and HD) rate to below 70 per Hospital morbidity (%), Mortality 100,000 live births ratio maternal (/100,000 live births), MINSANTE Infant and child mortality rate (/1,000 live births) 3.2 By 2030, eliminate Immunization coverage, Infant preventable deaths of and child mortality rate MINSANTE newborns and children (/1000 live births), Neonatal and under 5 years old, with all infant mortality ratio countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to 12 Hospital morbidity (%), Infant and per 1,000 live births child mortality rate MINSANTE maximum and under-five (/1000 live births), Immunization mortality to 25 per 1,000 coverage live births maximum 3.3 By 2030, end the AIDS HIV/AIDS prevalence rate (%), MINSANTE epidemic, tuberculosis, Knowledge of AIDS malaria and neglected Percentage of children from 0 to tropical diseases and 5 years old sleeping under a MINSANTE combat hepatitis, water- MILDA borne illnesses and other Prevalence rate of diseases in MINSANTE, transmissible diseases schools, universities and in MINEDUB,

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vocational training MINESEC, MINESUP Incidence/prevalence rate of communicable diseases, MINSANTE immunization coverage Goal 4: Ensure equitable, inclusive and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all 4.1 By 2030, ensure that Gross pre-school enrolment rate, all girls and boys receive a Primary completion rate (% of the full, free and quality corresponding age group), gender MINEDUB primary and secondary parity index in primary and education on an equal secondary education basis, providing them with Proportion of students in science MINEDUB, truly valuable learning and technology sector at MINESEC outcomes secondary level (%) 4.3 By 2030, ensure that MINEDUB, Proportion of public resources all women and men have MINESEC, allocated to education equal access to quality and MINESUP, (disaggregated values) affordable technical, MINEPAT vocational and tertiary MINEDUB, Proportion of public resources education, including MINEPAT, allocated to primary school university education MINFI

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and gir Number of measures implemented to fight social MINPROFF discrimination Participation rate, Girls/Boys ratio in higher education; Proportion of female employees in the non- MINPROFF, agricultural sector, Girls/Boys MINPMEESA, ratio in primary education, MINADER Girls/Boys ratio in secondary 5.1 End all forms of education discrimination made MINFI, against women and girls A law on parity in the MINEPAT, worldwide management of public affairs MINFOPRA, MINPROFF A Legal framework for the MINFI, establishment of shelters/transit MINEPAT, centers for women victims of MINAS, violence. MINPROFF Number of structures for the MINPROFF, reception and support of women MINAS victims of domestic violence.

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Number of reported cases of MINPROFF, 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence MINAS violence against women Number of awareness raising and girls, including MINPROFF, campaigns trafficking and sexual as MINAS well as other forms of MINPROFF, exploitation from public Specific text on gender-based MINAS, and private life violence MINJUSTICE MINPROFF, 5.5 Ensure that women Women's perception of their MINFI, participate fully and development MINEPAT, effectively in leadership MINEFOP positions at all levels of A text that clarifies the imprecise MINPROFF, decision-making, in provisions of the Electoral Code MINATD, political, economic and on Gender MINJUSTICE public life, and get equal An institutional framework for MINPROFF, access to them the implementation of the MINFI, National Gender Policy MINEPAT 5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care and ensure that all people can exercise their reproductive rights, as decided in the Programme Proportion of women with access of Action of the to sexual and reproductive health MINSANTE International Conference care on Population and Development, the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the subsequent review conferences Goal 6: Ensure universal access to sustainably managed water supply and sanitation services 6.1 By 2030, ensure universal and equitable MINEE, access to safe drinking Rate of access to drinking water MINTP water at an affordable cost Goal 7: Ensure access for all to reliable, sustainable and modern energy services at an affordable cost 7.1 By 2030, ensure access Growth rate of electricity MINEE, for all to reliable and production from gas MINTP

202 modern energy services at MINIMIDT, Number of new sources of oil an affordable cost MINEE, production found MINTP, Growth rate of electricity MINIMIDT, generation, transmission and MINEE, distribution capacity MINTP, MINT Development plan for the MINEE, operational electricity sector MINTP MINEE, 7.2 By 2030, significantly Growth rate of energy supply MINTP increase the share of MINEE, renewable energy in the Growth rate of alternative energy MINTP, global energy mix supply MINEPDED Goal 8. Promote sustained, shared and sustainable economic growth as well as full and productive employment and decent work for all 8.1 Maintain a per capita MINEPAT, economic growth rate MINFI, Economic growth rate appropriate to the MINADER, national context and, in MINEPIA particular, an annual gross MINEPAT, Overall investment rate (% of domestic product growth MINFI, GDP) rate of at least 7 per cent MINTP in the least developed Economic growth rate, GDP MINEPAT, countries growth rate per capita MINFI 8.2 Achieve a high level of MINEPAT, Overall investment rate (% of economic productivity MINFI, GDP) through diversification, MINTP technological modernization and innovation, in particular by Strategy to promote operational MINEPAT focusing on high value- labour-based approaches added and labor-intensive sectors 8.3 Promote Entrepreneurs' perception of the MINPMEESA, development-oriented institutional, legal and regulatory MINEPAT policies that promote policy environment productive activities, decent work, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, Number of supported GICs and MINPMEESA, stimulate the growth of GECs MINEPAT micro, small and medium- sized enterprises and facilitate their integration

203 into the formal sector, especially through access to financial services 8.5 By 2030, achieve full MINEFOP, Number of decent jobs created and productive MINTSS employment and ensure A functional and incentive MINEFOP, decent work and equal framework MINTSS pay for work of equal value for all women and men, including youth and Rate of growth in the supply of MINEFOP, persons with disabilities, decent jobs MINTSS by 2030

8.6 By 2020, significantly reduce the proportion of Proportion of young people out MINEFOP, young people either out of of school MINTSS school or without employment nor training Goal 9: Build a resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization that benefits all and encourage innovation

9.2 Promote sustainable and inclusive industrialization and, by 2030, significantly increase the contribution of the Number of implemented MINEPAT, industry to employment Programmes MINFI and gross domestic product, depending on the national context, and double it in the least developed countries 9.3. Increase access to MINPMEESA, A credit guarantee structure for financial services, MINEPAT, financing SMEs/SMIs including affordable loans MINFI for enterprises, in particular for small industrial enterprises, Share of national savings MINPMEESA, particularly in developing allocated to the financing of MINEPAT, countries, as well as their industries and SMEs, SMIs MINFI integration into value chains and markets 9.4 By 2030, modernize Number of maintenance and MINTP, infrastructure and adapt rehabilitation programmes for MINEPAT, industries to make them reinforced infrastructure MINFI

204 more sustainable through more efficient use of resources and increased use of clean and MINTP, Number of new infrastructures environmentally sound MINEPAT, moved in industrial technologies MINFI and processes, with each country acting within its means Goal 10. Reduce inequalities within and between countries 10.1 By 2030, achieve Annual income per capita Government progressive and sustainable income growth for the poorest 40 per cent of the population Average income Government at a faster rate than the national average income Proportion of employed women, 10.2 By 2030, empower all Number of women's homes, people and promote their Average income of women, Rate social, economic and of women's participation in political integration, MINPROFF, political institutions, proportion regardless of age, gender, MINEPAT, of women in decision-making disability, race, ethnicity, MINAS bodies (parliament, elections, origin, religion or etc.), Number of vulnerable economic or any other persons cared for, proportion of status vulnerable persons trained 10.3 Ensure equal opportunities and reduce inequality of outcomes, including by eliminating Ratio of girl/boys in education, MINPROFF, discriminatory laws, proportion of women MINAS, policies and practices and parliamentarians MINEPAT encourage the adoption of appropriate laws, policies and measures MINPROFF, Rate of access to basic social MINAS, 10.4 Adopt policies services (water, electricity, etc.) MINEPAT including budgetary, wage Amount of the minimum wage Government and social protection Rate of change in salaries in policies, in order to Government technical occupations gradually achieve greater equality Overall underemployment rate, MINPROFF, Informality rate, visible and MINAS, invisible underemployment rate, MINEPAT

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Goal 11. Ensure that cities and human settlements are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 11.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to MINEPAT, adequate, safe and Number of social housing units MINFI, affordable housing, slums built MINAS sanitization and basic services for all 11.2 By 2030, ensure access for all to safe, accessible and sustainable transport systems at an affordable cost by improving road safety, including by developing MINTP, Number of km of asphalt roads public transport, with MINEPAT particular attention to the needs of people in vulnerable situations, women, children, people with disabilities and seniors Number of operational measures MINAC, 11.4 Intensify efforts to to safeguard national identity MINJEC protect and preserve the Number of operational measures world's cultural and to reclaim our common historical MINJEC natural heritage past Goal 12. Establish sustainable consumption and production patterns

MINEPDED, A plan for the sustainable MINADER, development and management MINEPIA, of the operational rural area MINIMIDT MINEPDED, An operational mechanism for MINADER, 12.2 By 2030, achieve the concerted management of MINEPIA, sustainable management natural resources MINIMIDT and rational use of natural Forest areas under management resources and reforested, National MINEPDED, agricultural area occupied by MINADER, farms using good fertility MINEPIA, management practices, Restored MINIMIDT land area and various climate change adaptation measures put

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in place

12.5 By 2030, significantly Number of research Programmes reduce waste generation conducted to minimize pollution through prevention, sources MINEPDED, reduction, recycling and MINADER, reuse MINEPIA,

MINIMIDT

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Number of methods developed to MINEPDED, 13.2 Incorporate climate strengthen adaptive capacities in MINFOP, change measures into the face of exogenous shocks MINEPAT national policies, MINEPDED, Implement the National Climate strategies and planning MINFOP, Change Adaptation Plan MINEPAT Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate fishing, put an end to overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based Number of new measures MINEPIA, management plans, with adopted to regulate fishing MINEPDED the objective of restoring fish stocks as quickly as possible, at least to levels that achieve maximum sustainable yield while taking into account biological characteristics

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Goal 15. Preserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems, ensuring their sustainable use, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt the loss of biodiversity

15.1 By 2020, ensure the preservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and Number of new operational freshwater ecosystems measures implemented to MINEPIA, and related services, in promote sustainable MINEPDED particular forests, management of freshwater and wetlands, mountains and terrestrial ecosystems drylands, in accordance with obligations under international agreements 15.2 By 2020, promote the sustainable management of all types of forests, halt Number of new operational deforestation, restore measures implemented to MINEPIA, degraded forests and promote sustainable forest MINEPDED significantly increase management afforestation and reforestation globally Goal 16: Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, ensuring access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

16.1 Significantly reduce all Number of reported cases of MINPROFF, forms of violence and violence MINJUSTICE associated mortality rates MINPROFF, Proportion of violence in enlisted worldwide MINJUSTICE, cases MINCOM

Proportion of children of detainees MINPROFF, living in families MINJUSTICE Law enforcement agencies trained in the detection, deterrence and MINPROFF, 16.2 End abuse, exploitation punishment of those involved in MINJUSTICE and trafficking, and all forms offences against children of violence and torture made MINJUSTICE, to children An education Programme for MINEDUB, operational responsible parenthood MINESEC, MINESUP A protocol ratified and put into MINAS, practice MINJUSTICE

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Make operational he education MINAS, project for vulnerable children MINJUSTICE The national policy framework MINAS, document for integrated child MINJUSTICE development MINAS, A Child Protection Code MINJUSTICE The strategy for the promotion and MINAS, protection of the rights of the child MINJUSTICE Standard operating procedures and referencing systems in the fight MINAS, against child trafficking and MINJUSTICE smuggling MINJUSTICE, Number of cases of referrals by MINATD, victims of state human rights MINDEF/SED, structures, public satisfaction rate DGSN, with the judicial system ELECAM 16.3 Promoting the rule of Number of court cases, Proportion law in the domestic and of cases tried on enlisted cases, MINATD, international order and number of legal instruments MINDEF/SED, ensure to all an equal access protecting public freedoms, number DGSN, to justice of cases of infringement of public ELECAM freedom MINATD, MINDEF/SED, Public service users satisfaction rate DGSN, ELECAM Cour Number of newly created Suprême, constitutional institutions provided MINJUSTICE, 16.6 Establish effective, for in the Constitution MINATD accountable and transparent Cour institutions at all levels Number of institutions and Suprême, regulatory bodies established MINJUSTICE, MINATD 16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedom, in Act on access to public information MINCOM accordance with national legislation and the international agreements

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Appendix 2: Matrix of contextualized and prioritized SDO targets Agenda 2030: Domain/ Sector as Vision, National Strategy, Sustainable identified in the main Sectoral/thematic/regional Development documents for development strategy: Objectives / Priority planification Closest objective/target Targets presented in the document addressing the issues corresponding to an SDO/target Goal 1: Eradicate poverty in all its forms and everywhere in the world 1.1 By 2030, Labor Vision (page 18): Eradicate completely eliminate poverty by reducing it to a extreme poverty socially tolerable residual worldwide (currently level, i.e. below 10%. meaning living on less Labor Vision (page 18): Accelerate than $1.25 a day) and consolidate the pace of economic growth, focusing on its immediate assets (agriculture, mining, etc.) and ensuring a less unequal distribution of the generated revenues. Economic governance Vision (page 20): reducing the country's vulnerability to internal and external shocks Labor GESD (page 10): reduce the monetary poverty rate from 39.9% in 2007 to 28.7% in 2020 Labor GESD (page 14): reduce underemployment from 75.8% to less than 50% in 2020 with the creation of tens of thousands of formal jobs per year over the next

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ten years 1.2 By 2030, reduce by Civil protection, food Vision (page 24): Reduce the at least half the security, conflict gaps between rich and poor proportion of men, management, and all forms of inequality by women and children of vulnerable groups improving redistribution all ages suffering from systems some form of poverty, as defined by each country 1.4 By 2030, ensure Economic governance Vision (page vi): Reduce the that all men and gaps between rich and poor women, especially the and between women and poor and vulnerable, men by improving the have equal rights to sharing of the benefits of economic resources and economic growth to ensure that they have Youth GESD (page 89): facilitating access to basic services, the settlement of young land ownership, land people and graduates of control and other forms agricultural schools through: of ownership, training in setting up large- inheritance, natural scale agricultural projects; resources, new facilitating access to credit; technologies and facilitating access to modern financial services agricultural inputs; and adapted to their needs, facilitating access to land. including microfinance Civil protection, food Vision (page 31): Promote security, conflict the empowerment, social management, inclusion and integration of vulnerable groups women, youth and other vulnerable populations into the economy. Civil protection, food Vision (page 47): Integrate security, conflict the vulnerable approach into management, all development policies in vulnerable groups order to permanently reclaim vulnerable or marginalized social segments

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Civil protection, food NIPA (page 46): Implement a security, conflict national land use plan to management, provide secure access to land vulnerable groups resources and avoid agricultural land grabbing at the expense of family farms 1.5 By 2030, Agriculture, fishing, Vision (page 29): Intensifying strengthen the livestock, industry, environmental protection resilience of the poor trade, rural and combating the effects of and vulnerable and development, climate change reduce their exposure to tourism, extreme climatic events environmental and other economic, protection and social or environmental sustainable shocks and disasters. development

Agriculture, fishing, Vision (page 31): Promoting livestock, industry, regional projects: Niger trade, rural Basin, Lake Chad Basin development, tourism, environmental protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, Vision (page 31): Develop livestock, industry, and implement an ambitious trade, rural policy to preserve the development, environment and combat the tourism, adverse effects of climate environmental change protection and sustainable development

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Agriculture, fishing, Vision (page 37): Improving livestock, industry, the supply of clean energy to trade, rural boost economic growth and development, fight climate change through tourism, the diversification of energy environmental sources (wind, nuclear, protection and biofuel, solar,..), as well as sustainable the substitution of fossil fuels development with clean energies Gender and human BAD-AHUR (page 3) rights Contributing to reducing the potential risk of humanitarian disasters among refugees and the host population Goal 2: Eradicate hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 2.1 By 2030, eradicate Agriculture, fishing, Vision (page 29): Intensifying hunger and ensure that livestock, industry, the industrial processing of everyone, especially the trade, rural locally produced products poor and vulnerable, development, including infants, has tourism, access to safe, nutritious environmental and adequate food all protection and year round sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, GESD (page 65): promoting livestock, industry, the improvement of short- trade, rural cycle livestock farming development, (poultry, pig farming, small tourism, ruminants, etc.) environmental protection and sustainable development

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Agriculture, fishing, GESD (page 64): increase livestock, industry, yields and areas by 30% trade, rural compared to 2005 levels in development, order to ensure food security tourism, and strengthen growth and environmental employment protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, SDSR (page 66): Developing livestock, industry, the consumption of local trade, rural products, improving food development, security for the population tourism, and the well-being of rural environmental populations protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, NIPA (page 38): Increase livestock, industry, animal protein production trade, rural (meat, milk and eggs) to development, bring consumption closer to tourism, FAO and WHO international environmental standards protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, NIPA (page 27): Improving livestock, industry, the performance of the trade, rural fundamental factors of development, production through the tourism, optimal development of land environmental and water resources, the protection and improvement of the sustainable framework development of rural producers' lives and their connection to markets, improved access to materials, equipment and

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appropriate financing

2.2 By 2030, eliminate Civil protection, food GESD (page 72): Doing some all forms of security, conflict primary prevention on malnutrition, including management, malnutrition and non- by achieving by 2025 the vulnerable groups communicable diseases. internationally agreed Agriculture, fishing, GESD (page 65): revitalize goals on stunting and livestock, industry, the rice sector through the emaciation in children trade, rural revival of large farms such as under five years and development, those in Yagoua, Maga, meet the nutritional tourism, Santchou and Ndop in order needs of teenagers, environmental to reduce import pregnant and lactating protection and dependency women and the elderly sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, GESD (page 65): grant more livestock, industry, licenses to fishermen in trade, rural order to better exploit the development, enormous fishing potential tourism, of the Bakassi region, combat environmental the upsurge in illegal fishing protection and activities and irresponsible Sustainable fishing practices development 2.3 By 2030, double the Agriculture, fishing, Vision (page x): intensify agricultural productivity livestock, industry, sylvicultural and fish farming and income of small- trade, rural activities scale food producers, development, especially women, tourism, indigenous peoples, environmental family farmers and protection and fishermen by ensuring sustainable equal access to land, development

215 other productive Civil protection, food Vision (page x): to move resources and factors of security, conflict towards a more professional production, knowledge, management, structure of the rural world, financial services, vulnerable groups dominated by large and markets and medium-sized farms. opportunities for value Agriculture, fishing, addition and non- livestock, industry, agricultural employment trade, rural development, Vision (page 29): Stimulating tourism, the development of large environmental and medium-sized farms protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, livestock, industry, trade, rural development, Vision (page 29): Strengthen tourism, rural financing capacities environmental protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, livestock, industry, NIPA (page 36): Make trade, rural Cameroonian products more development t, competitive and gain tourism, additional shares in sub- environmental regional and international protection and markets sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, NIPA (page 45): Contribute to livestock, industry, providing rural producers trade, rural with the financial resources development, necessary to increase tourism, production and increase the environmental income of rural operators protection and

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sustainable development

2.4 By 2030, ensure the Agriculture, fishing, GESD (page 64): making sustainability of food livestock, industry, factors of production, production systems and trade, rural including land, water and implement resilient development, agricultural inputs, accessible agricultural practices tourism, and available that increase environmental productivity and protection and production, contribute sustainable to the preservation of development ecosystems, enhance Agriculture, fishing, GESD (page 64): developing adaptive capacity to livestock, industry, the competitiveness of climate change, extreme trade, rural production chains weather events, development, drought, floods and tourism, other disasters and environmental gradually improve lands protection and and soils quality sustainable development Civil protection, food GESD (page 64): Promoting security, conflict access to technological management, innovations through, in vulnerable groups particular, strengthening the research/vulgarization link Civil protection, food GESD (page 64): encourage security, conflict the grouping and synergy of management, family businesses in the form vulnerable groups of cooperatives or JIGs, through targeted and privileged State support for this type of peasant organization Civil protection, food GESD (page 66): organize and security, conflict encourage initiatives by management, individuals, associations, vulnerable groups partners, civil society, etc. for

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sustainable and rational environmental development

Agriculture, fishing, SDSR (page 66): Planning, livestock, industry, equitable allocation and trade, rural sustainable management of development, rural areas and natural tourism, resources environmental protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, PNIA (page 27) : make the livestock, industry, rural sector an important trade, rural actor of the national development, economy, creating decent tourism, jobs and wealth to meet environmental domestic and foreign protection and demand by sustainable ensuring food and nutritional development security for populations in a context of sustainable development Goal 3: To enable everyone to live in good health and promote the well-being of all at all ages 3.1 By 2030, reduce the Health, nutrition, HIV GESD (page 107): reducing global maternal maternal mortality by three- mortality rate to below quarters 70 per 100,000 live Health, nutrition, HIV Vision (page 24): Improving births the offer and ensuring access to quality health services for the majority

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Health, nutrition, HIV DSSS (page 71): Reduce hospital and community lethality of priority communicable and non- communicable diseases, maternal and child mortality 3.2 By 2030, eliminate Health, nutrition, HIV GESD (page 107): reduce preventable deaths of under-five mortality by two- newborns and children thirds under 5 years old, with Health, nutrition, HIV DSSS (page 71): Reduce all countries aiming to hospital and community reduce neonatal lethality of priority mortality to 12 per communicable and non- 1,000 live births at most communicable diseases, and under-five mortality maternal and child mortality to 25 per 1,000 live births at most

3.3 By 2030, end the Health, nutrition, HIV GESD (page 107): Reduce the AIDS epidemic, prevalence of HIV/AIDS by tuberculosis, malaria 50%. and neglected tropical Health, nutrition, HIV GESD (page 107): reduce the diseases and combat malaria-related death rate to hepatitis, water-borne less than 10% by the end of and water transmissible the strategy. diseases as well as other Health, nutrition, HIV DSSEF (page 80): Promoting communicable diseases health in schools, universities and vocational training Health, nutrition, HIV DSSS (page 71): Reduce the incidence/prevalence of communicable diseases by 2027 Goal 4: Ensure to all equitable, inclusive and quality education as well as life-long learning opportunities 4.1 By 2030, ensure that Education, vocational DSSEF (page 53): increase the all girls and boys receive training, scientific gross pre-school enrolment

219 a full, free and quality research rate from 27% in 2010 to primary and secondary 40% in 2020 education on an equal Gender and human DSSEF (page 53): DSSEF (page basis, providing them rights 53): improving access by with truly valuable reducing disparities of all learning outcomes kinds in primary, general secondary and technical secondary education 4.3 By 2030, ensure that Education, vocational DSSEF (page 49): all women and men training, scientific strengthening positive have equal access to research discrimination in the quality and affordable allocation of resources technical, vocational and Education, vocational DSSEF (page 49): continue tertiary education, training, scientific efforts towards effective free including university research primary education education Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 5.1 End all forms of Gender and human Vision (page 47): intensify discrimination against rights the fight against social women and girls discrimination worldwide Labor DSSEF (page 100): strengthening women's economic empowerment, especially in rural areas Gender and human DSSEF (page 101): adopt a rights law on parity in the management of public affairs Gender and human DSSEF (page 101): develop a rights legal framework for the establishment of shelters/transit centres for women victims of violence. Gender and human DSSEF (page 101): creating rights structures for the reception and support of women victims of domestic violence

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5.2 Eliminate all forms Gender and human GESD (page 93): intensifying of violence against rights the fight against violence women and girls, against women including trafficking and Gender and human DSSEF (page 100): raising sexual and other forms rights women's awareness of their of exploitation, from rights public and private life Defence and security DSSEF (page 101): adopt a specific text on gender-based violence 5.5 Ensure that women Gender and human DSSEF (page 100): creating a participate equally, fully rights socio-cultural environment and effectively in leading to the full leadership positions at development of women all levels of decision- Administrative and DSSEF (page 101): adopt a making, in political, local governance text that clarifies the economic and public life imprecise provisions of the Electoral Code on Gender Administrative and DSSEF (page 101): setting up local governance an institutional framework for the implementation of the National Gender Policy 5.6 Ensuring universal Health, nutrition, HIV Health Sector Strategy access to sexual and reproductive health care and ensuring that all people can exercise their reproductive rights, as decided in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the subsequent review conferences

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Goal 6: Ensure universal access to sustainably managed water supply and sanitation services 6.1 By 2030, ensure Urban development, GESD (page 101): increase universal and equitable water, housing the rate of access to drinking access to safe drinking water to 75% by 2020 water at an affordable cost Goal 7. Ensure access for all to reliable, sustainable and modern energy services at an affordable cost 7.1 By 2030, ensure Mining, Vision (page 57): increase access for all to reliable Hydrocarbons and electricity production by and modern energy Energy giving priority to developing services at an affordable the country's hydroelectric cost and gas potentia Mining, Vision (page 57): intensify Hydrocarbons and exploration and have a Energy better value for money for petroleum resources Mining, Vision (page 57): Expand and Hydrocarbons and modernize distribution and Energy equipment facilities. Mining, GESD (page 56): Electricity Hydrocarbons and Sector Development Plan by Energy 2030 (PDSE 2030) 7.2 By 2030, significantly Mining, Vision (page 37): Improving increase the share of Hydrocarbons and the supply of clean energy to renewable energy in the Energy boost economic growth and

222 global energy mix mitigate climate change, including through the diversification of energy sources (wind, nuclear, biofuel, solar…), and the substitution of fossil fuels with clean energies Mining, Vision (page 57): Valorize Hydrocarbons and alternative energies Energy Goal 8. Promote for all sustained, shared and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work 8.1 Maintain a per Agriculture, fishing, Vision (page 7): accelerate capita economic growth livestock, industry, growth through the rate appropriate to the trade, rural intensification of agro- national context and, in development, pastoral and fish farming particular, an annual tourism, activities and perform an gross domestic product environmental industrial technological leap growth rate of at least 7 protection and with an emphasis on the per cent in the least sustainable development of local raw developed countries development materials Infrastructures, Vision (page 10): Accelerate transports, ICT, growth by investing heavily communication in infrastructure and modernizing production Economic governance GESD (page 10): raise growth to 5.5% on average per year in the period 2010-2020 8.2 Achieve a high level Infrastructures, Vision (page 36): Intensifying of economic transport, ICT, investment in infrastructures productivity through communication and productive sectors diversification, Labor GESD (page 20): technological Implementing the strategy to modernization and promote HIMO\ approaches innovation, in particular

223 by focusing on high value-added and labor- intensive sectors 8.3 Promote Labor GESD (page 17): creating an development-oriented institutional, legal and policies that promote regulatory policy productive activities, environment conducive to decent work, the development of entrepreneurship, collective entrepreneurship creativity and in Cameroon innovation and Labor GESD (page 17): Promote stimulate the growth of collective, group micro, small and entrepreneurship as one of medium-sized the reliable strategies enterprises and facilitate through the creation and their integration into the development of viable social formal sector, including economy organizations and through access to enterprises that can financial services effectively combat poverty while promoting economic growth. 8.5 By 2030, achieve full Labor Vision (page 36): Promoting and productive the creation of a critical mass employment and ensure of decent jobs decent work and equal Labor Vision (page 30): pay for work of equal Strengthening the incentive value for all women and framework for the creation men, including youth of decent jobs and persons with Labor GESD (page 85): increasing disabilities the supply of decent jobs Labor GESD (page 85): matching employment demand Labor GESD (page 85): improving labour market efficiency 8.6 By 2020, significantly Labor DSSEF (page 93): Facilitating reduce the proportion of the integration and young people out of reintegration of out-of- school and without school and early school

224 employment nor leavers training

Goal 9: Build a resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization that benefits all and encourage innovation 9.2 Promote sustainable and inclusive industrialization and, by Vision (page 39): to set up 2030, significantly specific competitiveness increase the programmes for sectors with contribution of industry Economic governance high growth and job creation to employment and potential, for which our gross domestic product, country has comparative depending on the advantages national context, and double it in the least developed countries Increase, particularly in Vision (page 39): Assist SMEs developing countries, in the creation of a credit Labor the access to financial guarantee structure services, including concerning financing affordable loans, for Vision (page 39): promote enterprises, including instruments for mobilizing small industrial national savings and enterprises and manage Labor channeling savings to finance their integration into industries in general and value chains and SMEs in particular markets 9.4 By 2030, modernize Infrastructures, Vision (page 40): Strengthen infrastructures and transport, ICT, infrastructure maintenance adapt industries to make communications and rehabilitation them sustainable, programmes

225 through more efficient Infrastructures, Vision (page 40): Expand and use of resources and transport, ICT, diversify infrastructures and increased use of clean communications transport networks by land, and environmentally rail, water, sea and air sound industrial technologies and processes, with each country acting within its means Goal 10. Reduce inequalities within and between countries 10.1 By 2030, achieve Political and Vision (page v): become a progressive and democratic middle-income country sustainable income governance, justice growth for the poorest Political and Vision (page v): At least 40 per cent of the democratic double the average income population at a faster governance, justice to move the country from rate than the national low- to middle-income average income country through accelerated double-digit growth by 2017 10.2 By 2030, empower Gender and human Vision (page 43): all people and promote rights Strengthening the social role their social, economic of women as well as their and political integration, financial autonomy along regardless of age, with other marginalized or gender, disability, race, marginalized groups ethnicity, origin, religion or economic status or other 10.3 Ensure equal Gender and human Vision (page 31): Continue opportunities and rights the fight against social reduce inequality of exclusion and strengthen outcomes by eliminating gender equality discriminatory laws, Gender and human Vision (page 18): Work to policies and practices rights reduce inequalities and encouraging the adoption of appropriate laws, policies and

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10.4 Adopt policies, Economic governance Vision (page ix): pursue an including budgetary, ambitious policy of income wage and social redistribution, in particular protection policies, in through the intensification, order to gradually generalization and achieve greater equality improvement of basic social services (health, education, training, water, electricity, communication channels, etc.) and equitable access to these aforementioned services. Economic governance Vision (page 30): Thawing the management of the minimum wage and also the global salary scale Economic governance Vision (page 30): Revaluing the salary scale for technical occupations Economic governance Vision (page 30): Promote the negotiations of the collective conventions in all sectors of the national economy.

Goal 11. Ensure that cities and human settlements are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 11.1 By 2030, ensure Urban development, GESD (page 62): build at least universal access to water, housing 17,000 social housing units adequate, safe and affordable housing as well as providing basic services for all and

227 disinfect the slums

11.2 By 2030, ensure Infrastructures, GESD (page 62): Build asphalt access for all to safe, transport, ICT, roads accessible and communications sustainable transport systems at an affordable cost by improving road safety by developing public transport, with particular attention to the needs of people in vulnerable situations, women, children, people with disabilities and seniors 11.4 Intensify efforts to Culture, leisure, art, Vision (page 35): protect and preserve the physical education safeguarding the national world's cultural and and sports identity, in particular through natural heritage the promotion of national cultural heritage and the introduction of the arts and national languages into school curriculum* Culture, leisure, art, Vision (page 35): Reclaiming physical education our common historical past and sports Goal 12. Establish sustainable consumption and production patterns 12.2 By 2030, achieve Agriculture, fishing, SRHR (page xii): Planning, sustainable livestock, industry, equitable allocation and management and trade, rural sustainable management of rational use of the development, rural space and natural natural resources tourism, resources environmental protection and

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sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, SRHR (page 42): Establish a livestock, industry, mechanism for the trade, rural management of natural development, resources tourism, environmental protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, NIPA (page 27): Optimize the livestock, industry, sustainable use of natural trade, rural resources for the balanced development, promotion of all sectors tourism, while taking into account the environmental environmental preservation protection and constraints and the sustainable adaptation to climate change development 12.5 By 2030, Agriculture, fishing, SDSR (page 38): Conduct significantly reduce livestock, industry, research Programmes to waste generation trade, rural identify and minimize through prevention, development, pollution sources reduction, recycling and tourism, (agrochemicals, processing reuse environmental waste and residues, protection and emissions sustainable greenhouse gases, air development pollutants, effluents to water and soil, heavy metals, etc...)

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 13.2 Incorporate climate Agriculture, fishing, SDSR – (page 52): Creating a change measures into livestock, industry, National Climate Change national policies, trade, rural Observatory (NCCO) strategies and planning development,

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tourism, environmental protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, SDSR – (page 52): Promote a livestock, industry, green economy model, trade, rural which takes into account the development, effects of climate change tourism, environmental protection and sustainable development Agriculture, fishing, SDSR – (page 52): Improve livestock, industry, knowledge of climate change trade, rural and its impacts and development, implement the National tourism, Climate Change Adaptation environmental Plan protection and sustainable development Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 14.4 By 2020, effectively Agriculture, fishing, NIPA (page 47): Preserve the regulate fishing, put an livestock, industry, country's environmental end to overfishing, trade, rural capital to enable balanced illegal fishing, development, development within various unreported and tourism, sub-sectors and limit the unregulated fishing and environmental adverse effects of climate destructive fishing protection and change on the biophysical, practices, implement sustainable human and socio-economic science-based development environment management plans with

230 the objective of restoring fish stocks as quickly as possible, at least to levels that achieve maximum sustainable yield taking into account biological characteristics Objective 15. Preserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems, ensuring their sustainable use, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and put an halt to the loss of biodiversity 15.1 By 2020, ensure the Agriculture, fishing, NIPA (page 47): Preserve the preservation, livestock, industry, country's environmental restoration and trade, rural capital to enable a balanced sustainable use of development, development of the various terrestrial ecosystems, tourism, sub-sectors and limit the freshwater ecosystems environmental adverse effects of climate and related services, in protection and change on the biophysical, particular forests, sustainable human and socio-economic wetlands, mountains development environment and drylands, in accordance with obligations coming under international agreements 15.2 By 2020, promote Agriculture, fishing, NIPA (page 47): Preserve the the sustainable livestock, industry, country's environmental management of all types trade, rural capital to enable balanced of forests, halt development, development of the various deforestation, restore tourism, sub-sectors and limit the degraded forests and environmental adverse effects of climate

231 significantly increase protection and change on the biophysical, global reforestation. sustainable human and socio-economic development environment

Goal 16. Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, ensuring access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 16.1 Significantly reduce Defence and security GESD (page 93): intensify the all forms of violence and fight against violence against associated mortality women rates worldwide Defence and security PANPPDL (101): improving information and peace awareness mechanisms for families, women and men who are victims and/or perpetrators of violence Defence and security PANPPDL (101): adopt a specific text on gender-based violence Defence and security PANPPDL (101): Develop a legal framework for the establishment of reception/transit centres for women victims of violence. 16.2 End child abuse, Gender and human PANPPDL (page 105): child exploitation and rights encouraging families and trafficking, and all forms social services to care for the of violence and torture children of detained persons against children Gouvernance PANPPDL (page 105): training politique et law enforcement agencies in démocratique, justice the detection, deterrence and punishment of offenders against children as well as

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proper care for child victims

Gender and human PANPPDL (page 105): rights Revitalizing the Responsible Parenthood Education Programme Gender and human PANPPDL (page 106): ratify rights the Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography Political and PANPPDL (page 106): finalize democratic the draft National Policy for governance, justice the education of children in need of special protection measures Political and PANPPDL (page 106): finalize democratic the elaboration of the governance, justice national policy framework document for integrated child development Political and PANPPDL (page 106): adopt democratic the Child Protection Code governance, justice Political and PANPPDL (page 106): democratic elaborating the strategy for governance, justice the promotion and protection of the rights of the children Political and PANPPDL (page 106): finalize democratic and popularize the standard governance, justice operating procedures and referencing system for the fight against child trafficking and child smuggling 16.3 Promoting the rule Political and Vision (page 24): Promote of law in the domestic democratic the rule of law and the

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and international order governance, justice credibility of the judicial and ensuring equal system access to justice for all GESD (page 21): ensuring for Political and all a better respect for democratic individual rights and civil governance, justice liberties Political and GESD (page 21): Strengthen democratic governance governance, justice 16.6 Establish effective, Political and SNG (page 76): Establish and accountable and democratic operate the institutions in transparent institutions governance, justice line with their missions and at all levels as mandated by the constitution Political and SNG (page 90): establish all democratic institutions and regulatory governance, justice bodies, especially the Constitutional Council and the High Court of Justice 16.10 Ensure public Political and SNG (page 130): developing a access to information democratic draft law on access to public and protect governance, justice information fundamental freedoms in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

If NO, how many gender-specific SDO indicators (list provided in Annex 1) are available in your country?

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

N/A

39. Did the data collection and compilation on SDO 5 indicators and gender- specific indicators in the frame of others SDOs start?

Yes

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 No

If YES, please describe the privileged indicators

REPLY OF THE STATE OF CAMEROON

All 15 indicators of SDO 5 are privileged.

If NO, explain the main challenges for collecting and compiling data on these indicators

RESPONSE OF THE CAMEROON STATE

40. Which of the following breakdowns189 are regularly provided by the main surveys in your country?

Geographical location Revenue Gender Age Education  Marital status Ethnic origin Migration status Handicap Other characteristics relevant to local context * * *

18 As specified in the document A/RES/70/1, with addition of education and marital status

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III. VARIANCES AND CHALLENGES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEIJING PROGRAMME AND ACTION PLATFORM

Although significant progress has been made during the period, it should be noted that Cameroon still presents many challenges in terms of gender equality and women's empowerment in relation to the targets set for 2030.

The tables below are showing the current situation.

TARGET SDO 5 Current Situation Comments

5.1 Ending all forms of Great progress Several measures discrimination made to are currently women and young girls undertaken, everywhere in the world. especially concerning additions to some texts the CEDAW.

5.2 Eliminate all violence Some progress A lot of efforts were made to women and made but have been young girls. annihilated by the current situation of the country when it comes to humanitarians and security needs. The rates of violence are remaining high.

5.3 Eliminate all harmful Some progress We can note an practices evolution in the behavioral change, especially concerning harmful cultural practices.

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5.4 Take into account No progress A lot of actions have and give value to the not been addressed non-remunerated in this domain. healthcare and homecare. 5.5 Ensure full and Great progress Progress was made effective participation of in this domain, even women in leadership if we are still below positions; at all decision- the African Union’s making levels. standards.

5.6 Ensure access to all Some progress There have been for sexual and improvements in the reproductive health health situation of care. Ensure that women, particularly everyone can exercise in the area of their reproductive rights maternal health and HIV.

5a Undertake reforms to Some progress There are some give women equal rights reforms, but not to economic resources enough in the economic field

5b Strengthen the use of Some progress Several initiatives key technologies, in are underway and particular information are producing and communication satisfying results technologies 5c Adopt sound policies Great progress Efforts are being and legislation to promote made with the gender equality national legislation, particularly with the new penal code, although the Family Code and the

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Violence Act are still awaited.

Other targets SDOs Current Situation Comments

Zero poverty (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, No progress The poverty rate at 1.4, 1b) the national level is decreasing, but poverty remains mostly female with a rate of about 52%.

Zero hunger (2.3) Great progress This target can be considered reached.

Good health and well- Some progress There has been an being (3.7, 3.8) improvement in the health situation of women, particularly in the area of maternal health and HIV.

Quality education (4.1, Some progress Huge progress is 4.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4a) being made at all levels of education, although gender parity remains marginal

Work decency (8.3, 8.5, Some progress Reforms are here, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9) but the results for women and girls are not yet clearly visible

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Reduced inequalities Some progress Inequalities are (10.2) reduced, particularly at the institutional level.

Sustainable cities (11.7) No progress This domain is not sufficiently addressed with regard to women and girls

Measures concerning the No progress This area is not climatic change. (13b) sufficiently addressed with regard to women and girls

Peace, Justice and Some progress Much progress is efficiency of the being made, but the Institution (16.1, 16.2, situation is being 16.7) undermined by the humanitarian and security situation

Partnerships to reach the Some progress Partnerships are goals. (17.18) present at all levels. Need for better coordination.

IV -RECOMMENDATIONS

In regard of the current situation as well as the implications and challenges addressed, Cameroon will, within the 5 next years implement new measures in order to accelerate and improve progress and reach goals and targets previously set.

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Short Term Recommendations -Organize a national meeting presenting and restituting the findings of the report. -Create a new gender profile -Create a new multi sectoral strategic plan on Beijing and the 5 year plan for the 2030 agenda supporting the National Politic on Gender and coupled action plans with yearly assessment. Mid-Term Recommendations: -Develop regulations for the financial freedom of the women with all the structures and organisms concerned. -Strengthen current initiatives for improvement of girls’ education and women’s training -Strengthen current initiatives for bettering women’s health. -Rethink the national strategy concerning the GBVs and ensure better coordination during interventions in the fight against violence done to women. -Promote women’s participation in the peace-building process. (prevention, conflicts resolution, peace consolidating) -Strengthen women’s participation to the decision-making process, in particular concerning the coming electoral deadlines. -Rethink the institutional mechanisms in charge to promote women and set a center to monitor gender equality. -Vulgarize women’s fundamental rights, especially concerning the international, national and regional legislation. -Bring better coverage on the women’s image in the medias -Develop and implement a strategy taking into account the gender in the environment. -Develop a global and coordinated strategy for the protection of child girls.

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