Nearly 500 Women of Substance Gather in Yaoundé, Sign Declaration for Peace, Empowerment and Gender Justice
YAOUNDÉ, August 27, 2026 — Nearly 500 women of substance from across Cameroon gathered at the Palais des Congrès in Yaoundé on Thursday for the 2026 National Conference of Women-Led Organisations in Cameroon, a major initiative aimed at transforming women’s participation in peacebuilding, economic development and gender justice into concrete action, especially in the wake of alarming femicide in the country.
Organised by the Network of Women-Led Civil Society Organizations (NEWOLEC) under the leadership of its Founder and General Coordinator, Dr. Solange Swiri Tumassang, the conference was held under the distinguished patronage of the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family.
Held under the theme “Women-Led Organizations as Catalysts of Peace, Inclusive Development, and Gender Justice,” the gathering brought together women-led organisations, government representatives, development partners, civil society actors and community leaders from the country’s ten regions.
From the opening sessions, organisers stressed that the conference should not become another platform for speeches and discussions, but a springboard for practical action.
A major highlight was the peacebuilding session led by renowned peace champion Dr. Esther Omam, who challenged participants to reflect on the impact of the numerous peacebuilding workshops and conferences held in Cameroon.
She asked how many participants had attended such workshops before and, more importantly, how many had actually transformed their communities afterwards.
Her message was that participation must lead to measurable results. She urged every woman to take at least one lesson from the conference home and put it into practice.
Dr. Omam also called for women to be treated as active architects of peace rather than participants brought in merely to add visibility to peacebuilding initiatives. Women, she stressed, should be trusted, protected and adequately resourced to design and sustain peace.
The conference subsequently examined women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, with contributions from the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Participants were introduced to government programmes and opportunities aimed at strengthening women’s participation in economic development and entrepreneurship.
Another major session focused on gender justice and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV). Against the backdrop of growing concern over violence against women and feminicide in Cameroon, participants discussed practical approaches to prevention, advocacy, survivor support and community mobilisation.
The conference also featured a development partners’ roundtable involving representatives of UN Women and the World Food Programme (WFP). The discussions explored opportunities for partnerships between international development agencies and women-led organisations, with particular attention to gender equality, gender justice, food security and sustainable development.
In her presentation on the Women Leaders Toolkit, Dr. Solange Swiri Tumassang encouraged women leaders to approach conferences strategically. She urged participants to arrive prepared to network, promote their organisations, identify opportunities, establish partnerships and acquire knowledge that can be transformed into action.
A keynote address by Gladys Viban further energized participants. Encouraging women to support rather than compete against one another, she used the powerful analogy that “a candle doesn’t lose its light by lighting another candle.” Her contribution to inspiring women and girls was later recognised with an Honorary Award.
The defining moment of the conference came with the signing of the Yaoundé Declaration 2026, an 11-point framework committing women-led organisations to stronger collaboration and action on issues affecting women and communities.
The declaration is intended to serve as a working document and roadmap rather than simply a conference resolution.
The organisers also established four thematic working groups covering peacebuilding; women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship; GBV prevention; and food security and sustainable agriculture.
The groups are expected to work on interventions, advocacy, policy development and implementation between now and the next national conference in 2028, when organisers hope, participating organisations will return to report not only on commitments but on measurable achievements.
The conference also featured the presentation of Dr. Tumassang’s forthcoming book, Be an Authentic Leader: Building the Leader Within, Volume 1. Drawing on her experience as a leadership coach and mentor, she encouraged women to view leadership not simply as occupying positions but as developing the capacity to create meaningful impact.
The event concluded with the National Women Leadership Awards, which recognised women for their contributions to leadership, peacebuilding, youth development and GBV prevention.
Ayamba Precious was named Young Woman Leader of the Year, while Counsellor Manique Queen received the Woman Leader of the Year award. Dr. Esther Omam was honoured as Outstanding Peace Woman of the Year/Peace Champion, while Mrs. Nke Flora received the GBV Prevention Champion award.
In a surprise moment, Dr. Solange Swiri Tumassang herself received a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her sustained contribution to women’s leadership, empowerment, mentorship, peacebuilding and community transformation.
The recognition was particularly symbolic as NEWOLEC marked its fourth anniversary, having been founded by Dr. Tumassang in 2022 to bring women-led civil society organisations together under a common platform.
As the conference ended with singing, dancing and celebration, the organisers emphasised that the real test would begin after the Palais des Congrès emptied.
The message from the gathering was clear: 2026 is the year of commitment, while 2028 must be the year of accountability and results.
For NEWOLEC and the women-led organisations involved, the conference was therefore not an end in itself but the beginning of a broader movement for peace, economic empowerment, gender justice and stronger women’s leadership in Cameroon.
“One lesson. One action. One step closer to peace.” The work, organisers insist, begins now
@breakingnews.com
Nearly 500 Women of Substance Gather in Yaoundé, Sign Declaration for Peace, Empowerment and Gender Justice
