CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Creation Of MINPROFF

Some ten years back, the celebration of the international year of the family which main objectives then were sensitization of the stakeholders on issues on capacity building of national institutions on the management and care of the families, development of partnerships between the civil society and the government.

Over the years the need to establish an institutional mechanism for the promotion and protection of the family was gradually felt and this les to the creation of the ministry of Social Affairs in 1975under the head of Mme Delphine Tsanga.

This ministry was created by the Head of State H.E AhmadouAhidjo through the president decree No- 75/723 of November 19th 1975. This creation was as the result of the National conference held at Mexico in 1975 and the desire of the president to promote the social climate at that time.

The name was late change to the ministry of Women Affairs by H.E Paul Biya following the presidential decree No- 84/029 of 4th February 1984. Four years after the creation of the ministry of Social Affairs under the decree No- 88/1281of 22nd September 1988, it gave birth to the ministry of Social and Women’s Affairs (MINACOF).

On June 9th 1995, a department in charge of Women’s Advancement in the ministry was created. In 1998 the presidential decree No-98/068 of May 1998 created the ministry of Women’s Affairs (MINCOF) and in 2004, following the decree No-2004/320 of 8th December 2004, the ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF) was created. As a result the Women Empowerment Center which is a specialized technical unit of MINPROFF was created under the supervision of madam Niger Thomas.

1.2 Mission

MINPROFF has as mission to study and propose measures to reinforce harmony within the family that is, to define and implement the national family policy. This mission was enriched with promotion and protection of children’s rights.

Thanks to the decree No-2011/408 of 9th December 2011, it organized the government thereby translating the Head of State strong will to make the family a basic unit of our society to becoming an entity enabling the protection and development of an individual with a view to build a sustainable human capacity and the protection and promotion of thsse right and status of the Cameroonian woman.

1.3 Objectives

MINPROFF place under the authority of the minister has as the following objectives

Provides strategies and programs in alleviating by promoting economic advancement of the woman and the family through

• The promotion in the development of women’s entrepreneurship
• The conception and the implementation of all programs for the reduction of poverty within the family and women

The fight for the elimination of all forms of violence against women especially gender based violence and female genital mutilation.

Implementation and evaluate measures related to the respect of the rights of the woman and protection of the family as such it ensures the following

• Ensures the elimination of all forms of discriminatory practices against women
• Ensurethe increase in equal opportunities with respect to women in economic, social, political and cultural participation for the development of the community which is one of the objectives of the (MDGs) which is to be achieved by the end of 2015.

Fight against gender disparity in education.

Fight against insecurity and malnutrition

Studies and proposes strategies and measures aim at reinforcing family harmony. This is done through the following ways

• The settlement of marital conflicts
• The elaboration, implementation and follow up of strategies aimed at protecting vulnerable members of the family
• Elaborate and follow up policies and programs for the empowerment of the family

Elaborate decisions that facilitates the integration of women in the political, economic, social and cultural decision making bodies and propose measures that facilitates a wider participation of women in private and public administration

Making MINPROFF known to the public. This is done through the seminars they organized, radio programs.

1.4 Activities of the institution

MINPROFF Mamfe has the following activities,

i.Celebration of the Day of the Family which takes place on the15th every year. During this day the institution organizes seminars, talks, radio programs which main objective is to education the population of Mamfe on how to build a happy and harmonious family.

ii.Celebration of the International Day of the Woman which takes place on the 8th of Marchevery year. On this day women come out to show case what they have for the development of the community. MINPROFF celebrate this day by educating women on income generating activities and many more.

iii.The celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child which is celebrated every 6th of February each year. MINPROFF uses this day and other days to education the population of Mamfe on the importance of educating the girl child and the fight against discriminatory practices on girls

iv.Celebration of international widows day which takes place on the 23rd of June every year

v.Pan-Africa women’s day which commerce on the 31st of July every year

vi.Rural woman’s day which takes place on the 15th  October every year

Training, thecenter organizestraining for both men and women in order to empower them. The training is done in the following societies

a)Training in Agro- pastoral farm in this field men and women

• Are train on how to produce food crops and –
• Theproduction (rearing) of birds and animals.

Computer Training, the center organized training programs for men and women so that they  become computer literates,

Catering and Hotel Management

Tailoring, dress making, and interior decoration

Counseling of marriages and the settlement of matrimonial conflicts

MINPROFF also organizes mass marriages and they are in charge of the coordination

• The center operates a day care centre for children whose parents are career orientated and have little or no time to cater for them. The school takes care of children from 0-3 years. The school fee for this program is30,000 FRS.

-Agro-pastoral training

-Poultry farming

-Water melon cultivation

-Snail farming

-Project managements

Objectives

During this period the main objective is to create awareness on gender issues, sensitizing women on their rights and to empower women economically and socially in order for them to have a higher status in the community.

Achievements

-Many women’s and young girls have been training in the various fields mention above which has made them economically empowered in the community of Mamfe .

-Violence against women has radically reduce due to continuous sensitization on the rights of women and young girls .female genital mutilation which is violence against women perpetuated by women themselves has also been reduce as defaulters were threaten with legal action.

-men, women boys, and girls, who have undergone training, have gain employment in both private and public sectors.

-women have gain economic status in the society reason been that MINPROFF gives them loans ranging from 50,000 to 20000 and above for a start at the end of their training which helps them to grow economically.

-It has also helped to alleviate poverty.

-Food insecurity rate is low as compare to the previous year and improve nutrition in the family, this has also help bring family harmony and reduce violence at home.

-Marital conflict has also been reduced since women have become economically independent.

-Politically women now contribute to the development of the community of Mamfe as they are involved in the politics of the town.

Challenges

-Lack of human resources both in the government and private

-The center does not have a trainer for the field for hotel management and cattery.

-Inadequate finances and equipments to run the programs.

-Unwillingness by women and men to participate in these programs.

-Participants are slow in learning and usually come to classes late

1.5 Target population

Target population is also of several types

Firstis public and private institutions national and international civil society organization. Then comes bilateral and multilateral partners, traditional and religious authorities, members of parliament elected local officials and opinion leaders.

Finally families, men, women and young people regardless of gender are also important targets. MINPROFF Mamfe involves both the men and women of Mamfe town and those of the nearby villages like Egbekaw, Besonghabang, Osing, kembongetc

1.6 Organizational structure.

MINPROFF Mamfe is located at Main Street around the Round About junction. The ministry shares block with the Finance, Basic Education, and Treasury building. Theministry of women’s empowerment and the family has as organ.

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