Gender-Based Violence: Gendarmerie Orders Proactivity To Protect Children, Elderly

Amidst a worrying spike in criminal activities targeting the most sensitive layers of the Cameroonian society, the Secretary of State to the Minister of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Galax Etoga, has issued a high-level "Message Radio-Porte" (Radio Message) mandating an immediate and aggressive intensification of the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Strategic Roadmap
The directive, dispatched from the Gendarmerie’s Central Command (SED/CGN), serves as a strategic roadmap for commanders across the national territory. It specifically highlights the urgent need to protect women, children, and the elderly - groups the military command identifies as increasingly vulnerable to criminal predation in the current socio-economic climate.

"Judicial Proactivity" 
The core of the SED’s instruction centers on the efficiency of the Judicial Police. Galax Etoga has ordered all regional commanders and unit heads to demonstrate "greater diligence and proactivity" in handling cases related to gender-based crimes. In the past, domestic violence and crimes against minors have often been slowed by procedural bottlenecks or, in some cases, a lack of specialized investigative focus.
The new mandate seeks to reverse this trend. By requiring "complete and solid files" for judicial proceedings, the Gendarmerie leadership is signaling that it will no longer tolerate shoddy investigations that allow perpetrators to escape the grip of the law. This focus on "proactivity" suggests that units are expected to intervene more decisively when cases of abuse are reported, ensuring that evidence is preserved and suspects are swiftly brought to justice.

Beyond Arrests
In a notable shift toward a more compassionate form of policing, the directive places significant emphasis on the welfare of the victim. The National Gendarmerie is now mandated to ensure strict "confidentiality and victim protection" throughout the entirety of the legal procedure. This is particularly crucial in a social context where victims of GBV often fear reprisal or social stigmatization when coming forward.
Furthermore, the SED has introduced a systematic requirement for "psychosocial care." Gendarmerie units are now instructed to systematically inform competent social services of all "proven cases of distress." This collaborative approach ensures that when a woman or a child enters a Gendarmerie brigade to report an assault, their journey does not end with a statement. Instead, they are to be channeled toward specialists who can provide the emotional and social support necessary for recovery. This integration of police work with social services marks a sophisticated evolution in Cameroon’s internal security strategy.

Reinforcing The "Gender Desks" 
To ensure these instructions do not remain mere ink on paper, the directive reinforces the role of the "Gender Focal Points" (IG4/IGGN) within the Gendarmerie. These specialized desks are tasked with the "reinforced coordination" of all activities related to gender violence.
A key component of this coordination is the maintenance of rigorous statistics. By requiring units to provide summaries and track the prevalence of these crimes, the SED is building a data-driven approach to security. This statistical map will allow the National Gendarmerie to identify "hotspots" of violence and deploy resources more effectively, whether in urban centers or remote rural outposts where vulnerable populations may be more at risk.

The Context Of Citizen Security 
This directive comes at a time when the National Gendarmerie is redefining its "Citizen Security"...