Combating Femicide: Vast Gov’t Strategies Outlined

“What are the measures taken at your level to eradicate, if not, reduce the phenomenon of femicide in the Cameroonian society?” This is the question that was asked to the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa by Hon. Toukam Tela Angèle Sandio. The Minister provided clarifications during a plenary sitting on June 19, 2026 chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Theodore Datouo. In her response, the Minister said the measures are basically threefold; prevention, care giving to victims and repression of perpetrators. Femicide, it should be noted, is the intentional gender-related murder of women and girls in the society for various reasons. As concerns prevention, the Minister said the Ministry has contributed in averting sexist violence and femicide through a multi-sectoral and community approach which involves families, school establishments, youth organisations and partner institutions. Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa explained that this is done through the organisation of various advocacy and capacity building seminars, the putting in place of a toll-free number (116) for child assistance, the putting in place of regional platforms for the fight against gender-based violence and implementation of a programme for the promotion of peace, living together and social cohesion within families and the community. With regards to care provided to victims, the Minister said appropriate and specific measures are being given by competent authorities. “The protection of every citizen remains the priority of powers that be,” she stated. At the family level, she said care is being offered to children who become orphans as a result of femicide, the assistanc...