PRE-CONFERENCE SEMINAR FOR ELECTED WOMEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS

Transcription

1 PRE-CONFERENCE SEMINAR FOR ELECTED WOMEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS Thème : "Strengthening Women s Leadership in Local Government for Effective Decentralized Governance and Poverty Reduction in Africa: Roles, Challenges and Strategies" (Yaounde Conference Centre, Cameroon 26 th -27 th May 2008 By : Honorable NIYINDI Henriette Françoise épouse ELOUNA, Mfoundi s CPDM MP Municipal Counsellor Yaounde 7 Council Yaounde Conference Centre, Cameroon May 2008 Page 1 of 9

2 Contents I. INTRODUCTION THE NUMEROUS CHALLENGES OF WOMEN LEADERS IN GORVERNANCE... 3 a) Historical background... 3 b) Challenges relating to the number of women holding duty posts... 5 c) Challenges Relating the Level of Education... 7 d) Challenges Relating to Cultural Taboos... 7 e) Challenges Relating to Legal Rrestrictions STRATEGIE FOR A BETTER GENDER APPROACH IN THE ASSIGNIMENT OF ROLE IN THE SOCIETY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF DECENTRALIZED GORVERNANCE a) Training of Women in the Principles of Governance... 8 b) At the institutional level: CONCLUSION:... 9 Page 2 of 9

3 I. INTRODUCTION The phenomenon of women s integration in local governance in Africa and in the World is a current issue. Today, the roles of the women which was hitherto limited to that of mother and wife are undergoing great changes. As a matter of fact, many women are leaders (Members of Parliament, Mayors, Ministers, Directors etc ) and effectively take part in the management of public and local affairs in Cameroon. The UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Violence against Women (CEDAW), ratified by Cameroon and many other Countries on 23 August 1994, is a clear expression of this change. Hence, referring to the challenges of female leaders in the management of public and local affairs in Cameroon means investigating and presenting the difficulties that women leaders and women politicians face in reasserting their new positions as leaders, managers, organizers in one hand (Part one of the paper), and proposing strategies for a gender balanced governance with regard to the assignment of duties in Cameroon on the other part (part two of the paper). Examples to support our statements are drawn from the case of Cameroon. 2. THE NUMEROUS CHALLENGES OF WOMEN LEADERS IN GORVERNANCE a) Historical background Since the independence in 1960 till 1975 when the theme of female empowerment started being advocated, the role of the woman was mainly limited to that of minister of the household interior, in other words, that of mother and/or wife, that of woman in the farms, streams and rivers of whom Camara Laye makes mention. Page 3 of 9

4 At the level of the organs of the former one party, the Women s Organisation of the Cameroonian National Union (WCNU) was just an almost folkloric structure in charge of cheering high-ranking male comrades of the Cameroonian National Union during meetings, manifestations and tours of the Party. Thus the woman was not meant to be a political leader. At the time, governance of the republic was exclusively a men s affair and the woman, even, was limited to secondary roles. 1975, was proclaimed the year of women s empowerment by the United Nations, and manifested in Cameroon by the appointment of the first female minister as Minister of Social Affairs and by the election soon thereafter of the first woman Member of Parliament, Madame BONO SAMBA Madeleine: this is the fruit of empowerment of the Cameroonian woman. During this same period, however, there was no female mayor, municipal counselor, soldier, policewoman nor any woman in any other command post in the country. This means that the society had made the woman invisible publicly: the woman remained absent in the management of public affairs. This situation lasted till the end of the ruling of the first President of the Republic. With the advent of the New Deal, there was a significant evolution with the creation of the ministry of Women s Affairs and Social Affairs under the authority of Madame Yao Haissatou. This evolution was pursued with the appearance of women in the political scene and command duties until now. Such change that we commend both as women and as elected representatives of the peoples however presents many challenges. Page 4 of 9

5 b) Challenges relating to the number of women holding duty posts The type of policy advocated by the United Nations has gradually let States to involve women in local governance. In Cameroon, women represent 51% of the total population estimated at 15 million inhabitants. The number of women holding duty post remains low despite efforts in training in other to increase their number within decision making bodies. Table 1: number of women within certain decision making in Decision making bodies Number of women 1. Government 6 (5 minister+ 1 secretary of State) 2. parliament (National Assembly) 3. decentralized communities (councils) 4. State Universities 5. political parties 6. State corporations 25 members of Parliaments 20 mayors Cameroon in 2008 Number of men Total number of men and women % % percentage 1 rector 5 rectors % % women leaders % Directors Total percentage of women in decision making bodies 6.6% Sources: Archives of the National Assembly Page 5 of 9

6 This table shows an overall representativeness of 6.6% within decision making bodies in Cameroon, such that it might look like a handful of women in a completely men s world. Table 2: Number of women in the last three legislatures in Cameroon Legislature 8 th legislature: th legislature: th legislature: Number of women Number of men Total number of men and women Percentage % % % Sources: Archives of the National Assembly The second table shows an increasing female representation at the National Assembly of Cameroon. It could be said here that political will is manifest but female representation remain low and diverse at national level. However, during the last elections, hierarchy gave instructions aimed at encouraging female candidates, in this regards, the 8 th legislature (ongoing) of the national assembly respected the principles on gender balance both as concerns distribution of posts at the bureau of the National assemble and the different general committee. Out of the 23 elected members of the bureau of National Assembly there are 7 women. Page 6 of 9

7 Since 2006, two women have been appointed district officers the Cameroonian army and police have several senior officers including a colonel. In addition, the World Association of women entrepreneurs is Françoise Foning, Mayor of Douala III. The list is not exhaustive! c) Challenges Relating the Level of Education Though in certain provinces like the East, Adamawa, North and Far North, the school attendance rate remains low compared to men; women are increasingly demonstrating themselves in the scientific and technological domains to a point where they challenge their male partner in the mastery of their respective domains (female agronomist, female engineers, female doctors, female architects etc.). Besides, the national association of architects is chaired by a woman. d) Challenges Relating to Cultural Taboos In certain provinces where tradition remains strong, the education of the girl child is not a priority. Some families with low revenue prefer to send the boy to school to the detriment of the girl child. Though it is being abandoned, certain cases of female genital mutilation are still noted. In addition, no domain is still reserved to men exclusively: the phenomenon of female pastor today is a brilliant illustration. Similarly, there are female bus drivers, female train conductors. e) Challenges Relating to Legal Restrictions It should be noted that there has been remarkable evolution at the legal level with regards to female magistrate. Legislation has Page 7 of 9

8 equally improved with the lifting of prior authorization by the husband in case of travel out of the national territory. In this direction we commend the draft family code which is being prepared and which provides for the consolidation of the role of women within the family and society. 3. STRATEGY FOR A BETTER GENDER APPROACH IN THE ASSIGNIMENT OF ROLES IN THE SOCIETY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF DECENTRALIZED GORVERNANCE. a) Training of Women in the Principles of Governance The mass sensitization of women through the organization of training seminars will raise awareness on the role women must play to consolidate and strengthen their position as political leaders. This will contribute to change certain beliefs in the Cameroonian society such as the woman s enemy is the woman. To this end, the sensitization program should target socioprofessional categories such as women associations and movements in both the political and social spheres, in urban and rural areas: women minister, women members of parliament, married women, single women, women engineers, rural women To resolve the problem of gender bias in education, the intensification of the training of the disfavor girl child should be the order of the day. This activity should be supported under by bilateral and multilateral cooperation through sponsoring actions leading to the effective professional insertion of the girl child. Page 8 of 9

9 b) At the institutional level, we wish that the a policy of regional balance for competitive entrance exams and recruitment test into the major training school be henceforth be followed by the principle of gender equilibrium: For the same qualifications, the female candidates should be given priority 4. CONCLUSION: At the end of our presentation, it appears that the issue of the integration of female elected leaders in local governance has evolved positively until today. Beside such integration was practically sustained by political will from the highest authority in the country. However, such integration remains to be improved through specific programs. We commend and welcome the holding of this conference in Yaounde and especially wish that more of such events be organized to intensified sensitization at central and decentralized levels, at sectoral and multi-sectoral levels. We hope that a conference of this nature will lead to the signing of North-South partnership agreements, the design and implementation of concrete win-win development programs to the benefit of our respective peoples. All these measures, if applied, would certainly with time increase female representation at all levels of national and international leadership. Thank you for your kind attention. Page 9 of 9