Yaoundé - A regional workshop, organised by the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (CNDDR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and UN Women, in partnership with the Association de Lutte contre les Violences faites aux Femmes (ALVF-EN) and Local Youth Corner (LOYOC) was held on 24 and 25 June 2024 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with the aim of strengthening the involvement of women's and civil society organisations in the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process.

The event brought together more than 129 participants from women's organisations and civil society organisations (CSOs) involved in DDR initiatives in the four countries of the Lake Chad Basin: Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Niger.

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to share experiences, discuss common challenges and formulate strategies for better integration of women and civil society in DDR processes. Discussions focused on best practices, coordination mechanisms and ways of overcoming obstacles to the active participation of women and CSOs in promoting peace and security in the affected regions.

In the Lake Chad region, women and young people suffer disproportionately from the impact of conflicts and crises of instability. However, they are an essential driving force for change and can play a decisive role in establishing lasting peace.

"It is essential to include women and young people in DDR processes if they are to be truly inclusive and effective," said Mr Abdel Rahmane DIOP, IOM Chief of Mission in Cameroon. "Women and young people have unique perspectives and experiences that can contribute to conflict prevention, reconciliation and reconstruction. He added later.

In addition to the development of the skills of women's organisations and civil society in engaging in DDR, and the strengthening of the presence of women and young people in the decision-making processes associated with DDR, the workshop participants put forward recommendations to promote gender mainstreaming in DDR programmes. They highlighted the need to collect gender-disaggregated data on women and young people involved in DDR, and to raise awareness of the positive roles that women and young people can play in consolidating peace and security.

The CNDDR, IOM and UN Women expressed their commitment to supporting the efforts of women's and civil society organisations in crisis-affected regions. They announced future initiatives aimed at strengthening collaboration networks between the various DDR actors and promoting an inclusive and integrated approach to peacebuilding.

This regional workshop marks an important step in recognising the vital role of women and civil society in the DDR process. By strengthening their commitments, the countries of the Lake Chad Basin are taking a decisive step towards consolidating peace and stability in the region.

Since May 2022, the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (CNDDR) in Cameroon, has been working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and UN-Women, as part of the joint project "Strengthening the meaningful participation of women in the design and implementation of DDR policies in Cameroon based on the National Gender DDR Strategy 2021-25: Strengthening platforms for women's associations", funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) for the implementation of the CNDDR Gender Strategy 2021-25, with the support of implementing partners such as: the Association de Lutte contre les Violences faites aux Femmes (ALVF-EN) and Local Youth Corner (LOYOC).

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For further information, please contact: 

• Maurice Charles Rabier Quentin, IOM Cameroon, Tel : 690366090, e-mail : cmaurice@iom.int
• Pascale ESSAMA, IOM Cameroon, Tel: 657103074, e-mail: pessama@iom.int