Cameroon: UNESCO joins the National Efforts to prevent Femicide
By UNESCO News
October 9, 2026
The National Conference on the Prevention of Femicide brought together public authorities, justice and security actors, civil society, experts, international partners and women themselves in Yaoundé on 24 September 2026.
Organized by AWEP Cameroon, the conference sought to strengthen understanding and prevention of the forms of violence that can lead to femicide.
Femicide, described as the most extreme manifestation of violence against women, rarely occurs in isolation. It may be preceded by different forms of violence, dependency, family or social isolation, economic vulnerability and difficulties in accessing protection. The conference therefore aimed to promote a more coordinated, preventive and concrete response.
The discussions were structured around four areas of action: Recognize and Understand, Prevent, Act and Empower, and Protect. The different panels examined the factors surrounding violence against women, prevention and early warning, women's empowerment, as well as protection, access to justice and institutional responses.
Within the panel discussions, UNESCO contributed to the reflection on the prevention of femicide and the role that can be played through its areas of mandate. Its contribution lies in addressing the root causes of violence against women through education, sciences, culture, communication and information, with gender equality remaining a global priority for the Organization. One of the areas highlighted was education as a means of preventing violence. UNESCO supports the integration of gender equality into education systems to challenge stereotypes that can contribute to discrimination and violence against women and girls.
The Organization also presented Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) programme in sub-Saharan Africa, which addresses gender-based violence, child marriage and early pregnancy among young people. The programme aims to reach 10.7 million learners and 30 million community members, including parents and traditional leaders.
Beyond education, UNESCO's contribution highlighted work to prevent gender-based violence and promote safe and inclusive environments, while also addressing online harassment, gender-based disinformation and other forms of digital violence, particularly affecting women journalists, political leaders and human rights defenders.
Looking ahead, UNESCO representative identified several areas in which the Organization’s contribution to the prevention of femicide could be strengthened. These include further integrating gender equality in education system, training teachers on the prevention of gender-based violence and raising awareness among boys and young men about positive masculinities. Research and reliable data were also identified as important for understanding femicide and informing public policies. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of responsible media reporting, particularly in avoiding narratives that normalize violence against women. He also highlighted the need for a centralized mechanism for collecting and managing data to support the development of evidence-based policies grounded in a comprehensive approach.
The conference was intended as a starting point for continued action, with the proposed development of a Yaoundé Declaration on the Prevention of Femicide and a follow-up mechanism to support the implementation of recommendations. By bringing different actors together, the conference placed prevention at the centre of the discussion and opened further reflection on how institutions and society can act earlier to address violence against women and girlTop of Form.
ⓒ UNESCO
