WEBINAR REPORT
Cameroon Human Rights Webinar for National Development
-Institutionalization for Peaceful Coexistence-
Date and Time: Saturday, April 15th, 2023, 9:00 AM (Cameroon)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Topics: Peaceful coexistence, Peace institutionalization
Host: HWPL Global 04 Branch
Speakers:
Mr.Kang Blaise Mua, President of Laws and Political Science Students at the University of Buea
The Webinar was held to share the situation in Cameroon and suggest DPCW and peace activities of HWPL as solutions through peace institutionalization and ask for participation in the peace movement of HWPL.
“When it comes to the language conflict in Cameroon, there is a need to redress government strategy like the call for another national dialogue and assistance from some peace organizations around the world.”
-Kang Blaise Mua
Introduction Webinar
On April 15th, <Cameroon Human Rights Webinar for National Development> was held by international peace NGO, Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light to raise awareness of human rights in Cameroon society. The main theme of this event was “Language conflict” in Cameroon. Lawyers, students in Law and Political science, a project manager of an NGO, and several figures from peace education and IPYG sector attended and participants focused on conflicts, peaceful coexistence, and peace institutionalization to find the answer to peace.
Background Information
In the year 1884, Cameroon was annexed by Germany. In 1916, as Germany was defeated in Cameroon by the Allied forces with Britain and France, the territory was then to be divided by France taking 4/5(East Cameroon/French Cameroon) and Britain taking 1/5(West Cameroon/British Cameroons) of the territory. All these Colonial arrangements were constantly done without the concern and approval of Cameroonians. Today in Cameroon, the English-speaking regions complain of their marginalization by the dominant Francophone-led government. There have been various arguments between different factions in tensions that began in 2016 in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, such as the government, secessionist groups, federalist groups, unionists, etc. on what was the main reason for conflict and the way forward in achieving sustainable peace
Points of discussion
Conflict is a definitely central fact that holds back the development of not only organizations but also nations.
And if conflicts get worse, it can cause an internal armed conflict or a war. Armed conflict often leads to forced migration, long-term refugee problems, and the destruction of infrastructure.
Social, political, and economic institutions can be permanently damaged. Even if we put everything aside, war can take our lives. Is there anything more important than life?
Life is the most precious. Even if we have everything in this world, what if we die? Then, everything would be useless.
Conflicts are original roots that threaten our routine lives.
Mr. Kang Blaise Mua shared the situation about language conflict in Cameroon. He said there have been various arguments between different worrying factions in tensions on what was the main reason for conflict and the way forward in achieving sustainable peace.
And he added that there is a need to redress government strategies like the call for another national dialogue, which shall involve all stakeholders and belligerent parties with different ideologies to be involved and assistance from some peace organizations around the world to build trust amongst several parties that will be a crucial step in solving the language conflict in Cameroon about English and French.
Highlights
Mr. Kang Blaise Mua: There is a need to redress government strategy like the call for another major national dialogue and assistance from some peace organizations around the world.
Prof. Willibroad Dze Ngwa: If we multiply this webinar, our context, and our strategies, peace would reign in all the corners of Cameroon and the world. Because each of us is supposed to be an active factor in peace education.
Next Steps
We will continue to hold more webinars dealing with this kind of topic to raise awareness of the human rights violation problem in various sectors of Cameroon society.
And they can be the platform of communication to find practical solutions to conflicts in Cameroon.
