AP-WORP Advocates Coordinated Action To Protect GBV Survivors In North West Region

Family Photo Taken At The High-Level Dialogue 

By Raymond Dingana

A better-coordinated response, an effective justice system and stronger referral mechanisms have been prescribed as necessary measures to better serve survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in Cameroon's North West Region.

The recommendations emerged Thursday, September 24, 2026, during a High-Level Regional Dialogue on Survivor-Centred Protection, Justice and Accountability for Women and Girls, organised by the Association for the Promotion of Women’s Rights and Peace Building (AP-WORP) in Bamenda.

Held under the theme, “From Voices to Action,” the dialogue brought together stakeholders from the Justice, Security, Humanitarian, Development and Civil society sectors to examine gaps in the response to GBV and identify practical ways of addressing them.

‘What Happens After Reporting?’

According to Munteh Florence Cheah of AP-WORP, a lot of sensitisation has been done around reporting GBV, but what happens after a survivor reports is the real issue, because that is where service delivery starts.

“We need a system that works, not a collection of activities for survivors, because if we don't have a functional system, we will end up with cracks and gaps, and that is where survivors keep falling off those gaps,” 

she said.

Munteh Florence Cheah, AP-WORP Executive Director 

She also explained that when a survivor reports violence or GBV, there are steps and procedures that are supposed to be followed, with services provided at every level, but these needs are most often not adequately addressed.

“There is a protocol for survivor-centred response, and most often we just treat survivors like any other, be it in the hospital, at our various interventions at the level of organisations that don't have the expertise in mental health and psychosocial support for victims or survivors, or at the level of the justice system, which is cumbersome and most often costly for the survivors,”

she explaines.

Cheah decried the time it takes to address survivors’ needs when it comes to justice, saying survivors sometimes go without justice because the system is weak and does not hold perpetrators accountable on time.

She stressed that time is of the essence in responding to survivors’ needs.

Munteh Florence also emphasised the need for rehabilitation, which she said is crucial because survivors need to be reintegrated into their families.

“They also need to be empowered economically,”

 she added.

Presenting findings from months of bilateral consultations, AP-WORP Executive Director Munteh Florence Cheah said the dialogue provided an opportunity for stakeholders to listen to experiences and concerns around GBV response, examine existing gaps and identify actions that can strengthen survivor protection.

The consultations involved 12 organisations working in protection, human rights, justice, women’s rights, peacebuilding and disability inclusion.The findings showed that survivors often need a range of services after experiencing violence, including emergency protection, safe accommodation, medical and post-rape care, psychosocial support, access to justice and continued follow-up.

Providing these services effectively, stakeholders noted, requires institutions and organisations to work together.

Calls For Stronger Justice, Punishment Of Perpetrators

Rev Fr Peter Foleng, Coordinator of Counselling Services at the Archdiocese of Bamenda, suggested that severe punishment should be meted out to GBV perpetrators.

“Human beings are such that most of the time they are deterred by the punishment that will follow, but since laws are hardly implemented fully, there are always exceptions. When someone commits a crime, those who are supposed to ensure justice prevails would say their hands are tied,”

said Fr. Foleng.

Rev.Fr. Foleng

He also indicated that if people who commit crimes are punished based on the magnitude of their crimes, many would be afraid to follow the same path.

To Gillian Tamambang, in charge of services for the advancement of women and gender at the North-West Regional Delegation of Women Empowerment and the Family (MINPROF), her ministry is willing and ready to work with organisations that are committed to ensuring that GBV survivors access justice.

“MINPROF is committed to working with all organisations involved to ensure adequate access to justice. We have realised that they have a lot of challenges, and as a government institution, we are committing to ease their work on the field by liaising with other partner institutions to support them,”

she indicated.

Dr Sally Mboumien Making Her Point On The High-Level Dialogue 

Stakeholders consequently called for stronger referral and follow-up mechanisms linking protection, health, psychosocial and justice services. The justice system was also placed under scrutiny, with participants discussing how legal and institutional mechanisms can respond more effectively to survivors and improve accountability.

According to Justice Banmi Patience Gana, the allegation that the justice department sometimes frees perpetrators without due process is a general opinion, but not really true.

“When we talk of justice, it's a whole network, and it's also true that bail is a right, but that doesn't mean that abusive bail should be granted to perpetrators of GBV. Putting someone on bail doesn't mean the case has ended. It's a process of justice, which doesn't mean the case will end there. Many perpetrators are being barred,” 

she said.

The Judicial Bench At The Dialogue: L-R: Justice Patience Gana, and Bar.Akumah Miranda

She also put health facilities under scrutiny, highlighting the role of medical authorities in ensuring that GBV survivors get justice.

“The hospital plays a key role. They need to run emergency medical checks, and in some of those GBV-related cases, like assault, the medico-legal certificate that is issued by the health authority equally determines the qualification of the offences as per the Cameroon Penal Code,” 

She explained that the number of days given for bed rest is used to qualify the offence, adding that the medico-legal certificate is important evidence in sustaining prosecution and justice.

“If the medical authority is certifying 30 days in a case where they are supposed to certify 90 days, six months and above, not knowing that the medico-legal certificate is a principal piece of evidence to sustaining prosecution and justice,” 

she added.

Stakeholders Seek Stronger Referral, Coordination Mechanisms

During the dialogue, two panel discussions focused on legal and policy frameworks, institutional coordination and survivor-centred protection, as well as justice and accountability.

Participants further identified protection, justice, accountability, reliable referrals, women’s participation and inclusive protection as areas requiring sustained attention.

The meeting also stressed the need for locally owned coordination mechanisms capable of continuing beyond individual projects and funding cycles.

Participants At The High Level Dialogue 

According to AP-WORP, the region already has coordination structures, partnerships and community-level mechanisms that can serve as a foundation for a stronger GBV response.

For AP-WORP, a report of violence should lead to protection, support and access to justice. The organisation said the Bamenda dialogue should therefore not end with discussions, but lead to concrete commitments, action and follow-up.

The overall call was for stakeholders to move from voices and evidence to commitment, action and accountability, with a better-coordinated system capable of responding to survivors at every stage of their journey.