Gender Equality Cameroon Project #60049

Resilience Building for GBV Survivors

by Refugees Welfare Association

Project Report | Feb 26, 2026
Promoting Compliance With the Domestic Violence Act (DVA)

By Dr. Mukete Tahle Itoe,PhD | Project Team Lead & Supervisor

1. Executive Summary

The Refugee Welfare Association of Cameroon (REWAC) implemented the “Strengthening Implementation of Domestic Violence Protections and Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)” project to address the growing incidence of domestic violence and related forms of SGBV, particularly among refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, and girls in conflict-affected regions of Cameroon.

Despite the existence of legal frameworks under the Cameroon Penal Code and international human rights conventions ratified by Cameroon, survivors of domestic violence continue to face barriers in accessing justice, protection, and support services. These barriers include lack of awareness, weak institutional response, social stigma, fear of retaliation, and limited access to legal and psychosocial services.

The project aimed to strengthen the implementation of domestic violence protections through community awareness, capacity building of justice actors, provision of legal aid and psychosocial support, establishment of community protection mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement.

Key achievements include:

Increased legal awareness among vulnerable communities
Strengthened institutional capacity of justice and law enforcement actors
Improved access to legal aid and psychosocial support for survivors
Establishment of community protection committees
Enhanced coordination among stakeholders

The project significantly contributed to improving protection, promoting access to justice, and strengthening institutional and community response mechanisms.

2. Project Background and Context

Cameroon continues to face a complex humanitarian and protection crisis, particularly in the North-West and South-West regions affected by armed conflict. This has resulted in widespread displacement, economic instability, and increased vulnerability to domestic violence and SGBV.

Women and girls, particularly refugees and internally displaced persons, are disproportionately affected. Domestic violence remains underreported due to:

Lack of awareness of legal rights and protections
Cultural norms that normalize abuse
Fear of retaliation and stigmatization
Limited access to legal and support services
Weak institutional capacity

While Cameroon has legal provisions criminalizing violence under the Penal Code and has ratified key international instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), implementation gaps remain significant.

REWAC designed this project to bridge the gap between legal frameworks and practical protection.

3. Project Objectives

Overall Objective

To strengthen the implementation of domestic violence protections and improve access to justice and support services for survivors of domestic violence and SGBV.

Specific Objectives

Increase awareness of domestic violence laws and protections among vulnerable populations.
Strengthen the capacity of justice and law enforcement actors to respond effectively to domestic violence cases.
Improve access to legal aid and psychosocial support for survivors.
Strengthen community-based protection and prevention mechanisms.
Enhance coordination among key stakeholders.

4. Target Beneficiaries

Direct Beneficiaries

Survivors of domestic violence and SGBV
Women and girls in vulnerable communities
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Police officers, gendarmes, and judicial personnel
Community leaders and volunteers

Indirect Beneficiaries

Families of survivors
Wider community members
Civil society organizations
Justice and protection institutions

5. Project Activities Implemented

5.1 Capacity Building for Justice and Law Enforcement Actors

REWAC organized capacity-building workshops for:

Police officers
Gendarmes
Magistrates
Lawyers
Social workers

Training topics included:

Domestic violence legal frameworks
Survivor-centered approaches
Evidence collection and documentation
Protection mechanisms
Handling of vulnerable victims

These trainings strengthened institutional response.

5.2 Legal Aid and Access to Justice

REWAC provided legal assistance to survivors, including:

Legal counseling
Case documentation
Assistance in filing complaints
Referral to legal professionals
Follow-up support

This enabled survivors to pursue justice.

6. Project Results and Achievements

Outcome 1: Increased Awareness of Domestic Violence Protections

Communities gained improved understanding of domestic violence laws and survivor rights.

Results included:

Increased awareness among community members
Increased reporting of domestic violence cases
Improved community support for survivors

Outcome 2: Strengthened Institutional Capacity

Justice and law enforcement actors improved their ability to respond effectively.

Results included:

Improved handling of domestic violence cases
Increased survivor-sensitive approaches
Enhanced professional competence

Outcome 3: Improved Access to Legal and Psychosocial Services

Survivors gained access to essential support services.

Results included:

Increased access to legal aid
Improved survivor recovery and well-being
Increased survivor confidence in justice systems

7. Impact

The project contributed to:

Improved protection of vulnerable populations
Increased access to justice for survivors
Strengthened institutional response capacity
Increased community awareness and prevention
Enhanced survivor resilience and recovery

The project helped bridge the gap between legal frameworks and practical implementation.

8. Challenges Encountered

Key challenges included:

Cultural Barriers

Deep-rooted cultural norms continue to discourage reporting.

Limited Resources

Financial and logistical constraints limited project reach.

Conflict Environment

Security challenges affected implementation in some areas.

Stigma and Fear

Survivors feared retaliation and stigmatization.

Institutional Constraints

Some justice actors require continued specialized training.

9. Lessons Learned

Key lessons include:

Community awareness is essential for prevention.
Capacity building improves institutional response.
Legal aid is critical for survivor access to justice.
Multi-stakeholder collaboration enhances effectiveness.
Survivor-centered approaches are essential.

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

REWAC monitored implementation through:

Field monitoring visits
Beneficiary feedback
Case tracking
Training evaluations
Activity reports

Monitoring ensured accountability and effectiveness.

11. Conclusion

The REWAC Domestic Violence Act implementation project has made significant progress in strengthening protection and access to justice for survivors of domestic violence and SGBV in Cameroon. Through awareness raising, capacity building, legal aid, psychosocial support, and community engagement, the project contributed to improving survivor protection and strengthening institutional and community response mechanisms. Continued support from donors will be essential to sustain and expand these gains and ensure long-term protection for vulnerable populations.

Links:

Domestic Violence Act (DVA) Implementation Initiative

Attachments:

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Oct 30, 2025
Champions for Community Financial Empowerment

By Dr. Mukete Tahle Itoe,PhD | Project Team Lead & Supervisor

The Champions for Community Financial Empowerment component has been progressing steadily and has generated promising results. Through targeted training sessions, over 1000 GBV survivors have been equipped with essential financial literacy skills, entrepreneurship knowledge, and basic savings management practices. These sessions focused on helping beneficiaries rebuild confidence, regain autonomy, and integrate into sustainable livelihood activities.

Community Champions—selected from among trained survivors and local women leaders, 55 in number,—have been instrumental in cascading knowledge to their peers. They have organized small group discussions, peer mentorship sessions, and community awareness drives to promote financial inclusion and resilience. Several beneficiaries have already begun small income-generating ventures with guidance from the Champions, demonstrating improved decision-making and self-reliance.

Monitoring visits show growing solidarity among survivor groups and an increased willingness to engage in cooperative savings schemes. The next phase will emphasize expanding mentorship networks, linking survivors to microfinance institutions, and documenting success stories for wider advocacy.

Overall, this component is fostering not only economic empowerment but also psychosocial healing and social reintegration among GBV survivors in the target communities.

This initiative is a powerful testament to the transformational power of collaboration. When organizations like REWAC, Giving Tuesday Cameroon, MTN Cameroon Foundation, and BaCCUL join forces, the impact is undeniable. Together, they are not just equipping women – they are building a brighter future for Bamenda, one empowered woman at a time within the overall platform of the GlobalGiving Portfolio.

Links:

REWAC Champions for GBV Community Financial Resilience

Attachments:

2 Attachments

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Jul 3, 2025
Healthcare Heroes Responding to GBV Victims

By Dr. Mukete Tahle Itoe,PhD | Project Team Lead & Supervisor

Introduction

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a pervasive challenge in Cameroon, with significant physical, psychological, and social consequences for victims, primarily women and girls. The Refugee Welfare Association Cameroon (REWAC), recognizing the urgent need for a coordinated and compassionate response, initiated the Healthcare Heroes Responding to GBV Victims project in Bamenda as part of the GBV Resilience Building Project for GBV Survivors ,with the aim to empower healthcare professionals to provide effective, survivor-centered care to GBV victims. .

Background and Context

Bamenda, in the Northwest region of Cameroon, has faced socio-political instability and conflict that exacerbate vulnerabilities to GBV. Women and girls often suffer sexual violence, domestic abuse, and other forms of GBV but face barriers accessing adequate healthcare and psychosocial support. Healthcare workers, being first responders in many GBV cases, are critical to the provision of timely medical care and referral services. However, many lack specialized training in GBV response and trauma-informed care.

REWAC, a local NGO with extensive experience in refugee welfare and human rights advocacy, designed this project to strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers in Bamenda to respond to GBV effectively. by conducting training workshops, the development of resources, and establishing referral networks.

The project aimed to:

Enhance the skills and knowledge of healthcare workers on GBV identification, medical treatment, and psychological support.
Improve the quality of healthcare services provided to GBV survivors in Bamenda.
Establish multi-sectoral referral systems linking healthcare facilities with legal, psychosocial, and protection services.
Raise awareness in communities on the importance of timely healthcare seeking after GBV incidents.
Advocate for survivor-friendly policies within healthcare institutions.

Activities Undertaken1. Training Workshops for Healthcare Workers

REWAC organized multiple training sessions targeting doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers from public hospitals and clinics in Bamenda. The curriculum focused on:

Understanding the types and impacts of GBV.
Medical protocols for treating survivors, including forensic evidence collection.
Psychological first aid and trauma-informed care.
Confidentiality and ethical considerations.
Referral pathways to legal aid, counseling, and shelter services.

Approximately 120 healthcare professionals participated in these workshops, enhancing their competence to deliver compassionate and comprehensive care.

2. Development and Distribution of GBV Response Guidelines

REWAC, in collaboration with local health authorities, developed easy-to-use GBV response guidelines tailored to the Bamenda context. These guidelines were distributed to health centers and hospitals to ensure standardized procedures when handling GBV cases.

3. Establishment of Referral Networks

A key component of the project was linking healthcare providers with civil society organizations, legal aid clinics, counseling centers, and protection agencies. REWAC facilitated meetings and created a referral directory, allowing seamless case management and holistic survivor support.

4. Community Awareness Campaigns

The project included community outreach through radio programs, posters, and workshops to sensitize the population about GBV, available healthcare services, and the importance of prompt medical attention.

5. Advocacy and Policy Engagement

REWAC engaged with hospital administrators and regional health officials to promote the integration of GBV response protocols into healthcare policies and improve resource allocation for survivor care.

Impact and OutcomesImproved Capacity of Healthcare Providers

Post-training assessments showed a significant increase in healthcare workers’ knowledge and confidence in managing GBV cases. Many reported better understanding of survivor needs and more empathetic attitudes, which are critical for encouraging victims to seek care.

Enhanced Survivor Care

Healthcare facilities reported improved services, including more timely clinical examinations, better documentation of injuries, and increased referrals to psychosocial and legal support. Survivors received more holistic care, addressing both physical injuries and emotional trauma.

Strengthened Referral Systems

The newly established referral networks facilitated quicker access to complementary services such as counseling, shelter, and legal aid, reducing the risk of secondary victimization and improving protection outcomes.

Raised Community Awareness

Awareness campaigns helped demystify GBV and healthcare responses, contributing to increased reporting and early presentation of victims to health facilities. Community members expressed greater willingness to support survivors.

Policy Influence

Some healthcare institutions began adopting GBV guidelines and including survivor care training in routine professional development programs. REWAC’s advocacy efforts fostered greater institutional commitment to survivor-centered healthcare.

Links:

Health Care Heroes

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