ProMosaik interviews Mr Elvis Wepngong of OGCEYOD
Good evening from the Editorial Team of
ProMosaik e.V.,
ProMosaik e.V.,
as you have seen this week was dedicated to
the struggle against BREAST FLATTENING in Cameroon. After the publication of
the research by Rebecca Tapscott in German and Italian, we have also published
video materials in different languages to raise public opinion awareness about
it.
the struggle against BREAST FLATTENING in Cameroon. After the publication of
the research by Rebecca Tapscott in German and Italian, we have also published
video materials in different languages to raise public opinion awareness about
it.
Breast flattening or breast ironing is a
painful mutilation of the women’s body. It leaves traces for the whole life,
and does not solve any problem. Mothers want their girls to go to school, not
to be raped and to avoid an early pregnancy. But the solution is not breast
ironing, but sexual education, and effective laws against men committing rape
and sexual violence against women.
painful mutilation of the women’s body. It leaves traces for the whole life,
and does not solve any problem. Mothers want their girls to go to school, not
to be raped and to avoid an early pregnancy. But the solution is not breast
ironing, but sexual education, and effective laws against men committing rape
and sexual violence against women.
I am very happy to have interviewed Mr Elvis
Wepngong, the Executive Director of the Organization for Gender, Civic
Engagement And Youth Development (OGCEYOD) in New Town in the South West Region
of Cameroon about breast flattening, the reasons why it is practised, and the
strategy to struggle against it.
Wepngong, the Executive Director of the Organization for Gender, Civic
Engagement And Youth Development (OGCEYOD) in New Town in the South West Region
of Cameroon about breast flattening, the reasons why it is practised, and the
strategy to struggle against it.
Thank you Elvis for your time.
If somebody can help Elvis‘ organisation,
she/he is welcome to donate. The bank details are indicated below.
she/he is welcome to donate. The bank details are indicated below.
Thank you so much for sharing this interview
with your friends to help women in Cameroon.
with your friends to help women in Cameroon.
Best Regards
Dr. phil. Milena Rampoldi
Editorial Team of ProMosaik e.V.
ProMosaik e.V.:
ProMosaik e.V. is of the opinion that the
problem of breast flattening should be known all over the world to make people
understand how dangerous it is for women.
problem of breast flattening should be known all over the world to make people
understand how dangerous it is for women.
Therefore we have translated the study by
Rebecca Tapscott written in 2012 in German and Italian. Which strategies do you
think are the most important to stop this practice of breast flattening in
Cameroon?
Rebecca Tapscott written in 2012 in German and Italian. Which strategies do you
think are the most important to stop this practice of breast flattening in
Cameroon?
Elvis Wepngong:
Sensitization in communities and educational
workshops with traditional and women leaders.
workshops with traditional and women leaders.
ProMosaik e.V.:
Are the religious and ethnical differences
in breast flattening or is it practiced in the same way in the whole country?
in breast flattening or is it practiced in the same way in the whole country?
Elvis Wepngong:
Breast Flattening or ironing is commonly
practised as a culture by some ethnic groups in Cameroon. Other tribes just
copied the art because they think it is good for the girl children and it
protects them from men. Religiously it is not practiced though the perpetrators
are part of a religion.
practised as a culture by some ethnic groups in Cameroon. Other tribes just
copied the art because they think it is good for the girl children and it
protects them from men. Religiously it is not practiced though the perpetrators
are part of a religion.
ProMosaik e.V.:
What can we do in villages to help mothers
to understand that breast flattening is not the solution?
to understand that breast flattening is not the solution?
Elvis Wepngong:
We need to intensify sensitization and
education in villages.
education in villages.
ProMosaik e.V.:
What should the state urgently do to protect
women in Cameroon from rape?
women in Cameroon from rape?
Elvis
Wepngong:
Wepngong:
During our recent sensitisation on sexual
violence in the South West and Littoral regions in Cameroon, we realised that
cases of rape reported were not properly handled by traditional rulers and
state officials. The state should train legal practitioners (Magistrates, State
Council, Lawyers), Public Security officials (Police), chiefs, medical
practitioners, etc. on how to handle cases of sexual violence and how to provide
prompt response to victims.
violence in the South West and Littoral regions in Cameroon, we realised that
cases of rape reported were not properly handled by traditional rulers and
state officials. The state should train legal practitioners (Magistrates, State
Council, Lawyers), Public Security officials (Police), chiefs, medical
practitioners, etc. on how to handle cases of sexual violence and how to provide
prompt response to victims.
ProMosaik e.V.:
ProMosaik e.V. thinks that your organization
does a great job. What have you achieved in the past? And what are the aims of
your organization for the future?
does a great job. What have you achieved in the past? And what are the aims of
your organization for the future?
Elvis Wepngong:
At the beginning of the year 2013, we
started a campaign to end any form of violence against women and on the 14th
February 2014 we join the world to celebrate the “One Billion Rising for
Justice on Violence against women”. We mobilised 150 women in Limbe for a
“Break the Chain on domestic violence” dance and sensitisation. The forum also
encouraged women and created a safe environment for them to speak up of cases
of violence in their homes. We had a host of others who followed us to our
office to share their stories in private. We were able to document on video
some of these stories. We some financial support from the British High
Commission, Cameroon, OGCEYOD was able to run a sensitisation workshop in the
South West and Littoral regions of Cameroon. The project is titled, “Break the
Chain of Sexual Violence against Women in Cameroon” and the outreach touched
more than 2400 women, men and youths. The following outcomes achieved were
during the sensitisation:
started a campaign to end any form of violence against women and on the 14th
February 2014 we join the world to celebrate the “One Billion Rising for
Justice on Violence against women”. We mobilised 150 women in Limbe for a
“Break the Chain on domestic violence” dance and sensitisation. The forum also
encouraged women and created a safe environment for them to speak up of cases
of violence in their homes. We had a host of others who followed us to our
office to share their stories in private. We were able to document on video
some of these stories. We some financial support from the British High
Commission, Cameroon, OGCEYOD was able to run a sensitisation workshop in the
South West and Littoral regions of Cameroon. The project is titled, “Break the
Chain of Sexual Violence against Women in Cameroon” and the outreach touched
more than 2400 women, men and youths. The following outcomes achieved were
during the sensitisation:
Perpetrators of violence became aware that
violence against women is a crime punishable by law.
violence against women is a crime punishable by law.
We have more rape cases reported.
Women became aware and educated on the
causes, remedies and infrastructures to provide prompt aid to the violated.
causes, remedies and infrastructures to provide prompt aid to the violated.
Youths were fully engaged in the development
of the sensitization aid giving them improved knowledge on sexual violence
against women.
of the sensitization aid giving them improved knowledge on sexual violence
against women.
We just put up a new project proposal
requesting support for the following activities:
requesting support for the following activities:
Train legal practitioners (Magistrates,
State Council, Lawyers), Public Security officials (Police), chiefs, medical
practitioners, etc. on how to handle cases of rape and provide prompt response.
State Council, Lawyers), Public Security officials (Police), chiefs, medical
practitioners, etc. on how to handle cases of rape and provide prompt response.
Equip some police stations with furniture
and training police officials to create an enabling environment for victims of
violence to tell their story and to be heard.
and training police officials to create an enabling environment for victims of
violence to tell their story and to be heard.
Provide financial assistance to victims of
sexual violence especially rape cases.
sexual violence especially rape cases.
In all our awareness creation campaign
Breast flattening or ironing and Female Genital Mutilation were discussed as
other forms of violence punishable by law. Our aims is to extend this
sensitisation to the remaining 8 regions of Cameroon and training more state
officials and chiefs on how to handle cases of violence and provide prompt
response since the law now punishes the act.
Breast flattening or ironing and Female Genital Mutilation were discussed as
other forms of violence punishable by law. Our aims is to extend this
sensitisation to the remaining 8 regions of Cameroon and training more state
officials and chiefs on how to handle cases of violence and provide prompt
response since the law now punishes the act.
To conclude, we will be grateful for any
financial support to help us continue this outreach to others regions of
Cameroon.
financial support to help us continue this outreach to others regions of
Cameroon.
Please feel free to donate and inform us
through ogceyod@yahoo.com of your donations so
we can have your name on our end of year newsletter. Our account details are:
through ogceyod@yahoo.com of your donations so
we can have your name on our end of year newsletter. Our account details are:
Bank Name: Ecobank
Cameroon S.A.
Cameroon S.A.
Bank Address: B.P. 582, Douala
Account Name: OGCEYOD
Account number: CM21 10029 2601501406449601 90
Swift code: ecoccmcx
It is not possible send out pictures of
victims of Breast Ironing. It is the victims’ privacy. Hope you understand.
victims of Breast Ironing. It is the victims’ privacy. Hope you understand.
Keep the stream in friendship
Elvis WEPNGONG
Executive Director
Executive Director
Organization for Gender, Civic Engagement
And Youth Development (OGCEYOD) Cameroon.
West End Junction, Newtown
P.O. Box 467, Limbe
South West Region
Cameroon
Office Tel: +237 233 333 136, 243 162 632
Direct: (+237) 674 215 497,698 911 816
Email:
ogceyod@yahoo.com
