Women in Cameroon are not taking part in the political arena. They are not being chosen as representatives or appointed for any of the key government offices, they are rare also in local government. Even as voters, they are reluctant to participate, don't trust any candidates and feel the electoral game is not for them. In a scenario of crisis that is rapidly turning into violence, it is necessary to make female voices heard and get ready for the quadruple elections that will be held this year.
The Anglophone crisis which is still rife in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon has significantly contributed to voter's apathy within the regions. Moreover, women don't vote because they are set aback from poor governance don't trust the system and are tired of government actions. But moreover, they don't have a culture of democratic participation. Even if they want to vote, the registration process is cumbersome and can be expensive.
This project will engage Cameroonian women and youths to discuss with them the need for registration and of effective participation. To make them see the political process and their potential role in it. The project will also ensure registration for at least 10 women through the provision of national identification cards for registration on the voters' list. This will help them at many levels: not carrying an up to date ID limits mobility and makes women fall victim of corrupt practices.
A political system that better takes into account the feminine perspective will be a more peaceful one, more open to dialogue and better suited to face the tremendous challenges that Cameroon is facing this 2018 (Power succession, Anglophone crisis, Boko Haram). Approximately 500 women will vote because of this pilot project and will continue to vote in the coming years. Given the very low participation rates, this force can be enough to propel sensible change in their electoral district.