REPORT OF THE FIVE DAYS TRAINING SEMINAR ON HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ADULTS
ORGANISED BY APWCR ON THE 20TH TO 24TH NOVEMBER 2001 IN THE CONFERENCE
ROOM OF APWCR AT NEW MARKET ENTRANCE CHURCH STREET LIMBE.
INTRODUCTION
The Seminar which was estimated to train (50) fifty adults on Human Rights had the following topics
on human rights to be dwelled with:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
General introduction of the (UDHR) – Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
General introduction of (CEDAW) Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination
against Women.
Methods of combating torture.
Code of conduct for law enforcement officials
Basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials.
Body of principles for the protection of all persons under any form of detention or imprisonment.
Sexual exploitation of children.
Introduction of the convention on the rights of a child.
Declaration of Territorial Asylum
Declaration of Basic principles of Justice for victims of Crime and abuse of power.
Model Communication in terms of writing complains either nationally and internationally.
It’s further had the following conditions to participate as registration requirements:1)
Must be of good health and moral
2)
Photocopy of National Identity Card or resident permit.
3)
Registration fee of 3.000 FRS CFA.
4)
That the participant shall be responsible for their accommodation; all documents to be
deposited on or before the 15th November 2001 as the press release was signed on the
30th October 2001 by the General Commissioner of APWCR.
METHOD OF SENSITIZATION USED FOR THE SEMINAR
The press release was now officially sent to the station Manager of CRTV Buea and Mount Cameroon FM
respectively on the 30th Octobre 2001. None of the release was passed on the air as the two managers
termed it to be Commerical.
Then, on the 5th November 2001 the General Commissioner went and paid the sum of seven thousand
francs to CRTV Buea to announce the release on Luncheon date which was done and at such, creating a
national awareness concerning the seminar.
The same release was given to the following Churches in Limbe Sub Division to be read in their
congregations. The Rev. Father Catholic Church Bota, The Rev. Pastor Full Gospel Church Batoke, The
Rev. Pastor Apostolic Church Street Limbe, The Rev. Pastor Batist Church New Town. The Parish Priest
Catholic Church Gardens, The Rev. Pastor Presbyterian Church New Town, The Rev. Pastor Presbyterian
Church Batoke., The Rev. Pastor Brotherhood of the Cross and Star Bobende Presbyterian Church Middle
Farms. And some press releases were pasted in the front of the head office of APWCR located at New
Market Entrance Church Street Limbe.
NUMBER OF APPLICANTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Miss. Wirtum Carine Nsalav
Mr. Kouam Jean
Mr. Etonge Ausgustine Mongambe
Mr. Molua Eko Emmanuel
Mr. Mokube Abraham Sakwe
Mr. Gwanfogbe Maurice
Mr. Tarh David Nkwo
Mr. Ebua Andrew Molongwe
Mr. Johnson Ayuk Nkwo
Mr. Anga Stella Muma
Mrs. Adig Stella Muma
Mr.Ngumie Tamba Richard
Mr. Nyagang Augustine
Mr. Agbor Mboh John
Mr. Mbianke Rogar Djatou
Mr. Agbor George Enow
THE RESOURCE PERSONS WERE :
1. Mr. George Abang Tawoh ( General Commissioner/CEO of APWCR)
2. Mr. Anu Francis ( Coordinator HRDA Limbe)
Out of the sixteen applicants, only thirteen effectively covered the five days training Seminar after the
approval of the General Commissioner.
ARRANGEMENT MADE FOR THE OPENING CEREMONEY TILL THE END OF THE SEMINAR
The General Commissioner applied to the Sub Divisional Officer for Limbe on the 15th November 2001 for a
permit as respect for the National Law. The permit was given on the 19th November 2001. Then on the 19th
November 2001 a formal invitation was also written by the General Commissioner and given to the following
personalities for the opening ceremony on the 20th November 2001. The Sub Divisional Officer Limbe
Central, The State Counsel Limbe Central, The Divisional Delegate for women’s affairs Fako, Rev. Father
Francis Ngwachukwu of the Catholic Church New Town Limbe, The Rev. Pastor Apostolic Church, Church
Street Limbe. But on the 20th November 2001 only the Assistant Sub Divisional Officer for Limbe Central
respected the invitation in the person of Mr. Tubah Franklin.
Left to Right Mr. George A.Tawoh, Mr. Gwanfogbe Maurice & Mr. Tubah Franklin
Immediately at his arrival, singing of the National Anthem, then followed by an opening prayer, and followed
by an opening address presented by the General Commissioner and the founder of APWCR Mr. George
Abang Tawoh which is attached herewith and then followed by a counter speech by the Assistant Sub
Divisional officer who congratulated the 29 years George Abang Tawoh for courageously engaging in human
rights activities and also setting this organization “Association for the Protection of Women’s and Children’s
Rights ( APWCR).”
He further noted with general satisfaction for the interest Cameroonians have developed in Human Rights
issues and their quest to acquire knowledge and the means to protect their basic Human Right according to
him a thing which was rare in the past and could only be influenced externally. As he finally advised the
seminar participants not to abuse the Certificate that will be awarded to them at the ends of this seminar but to
serve as Ambassadors by widely spreading the knowledge they were going to acquire at the seminar in our
country, Cameroon and the world at large. After the Assistant Sub Divisional officer speech, all the participants
moved from the conference hall to the front head of APWCR for some snapshots and inside the office.
Mr. George A. Tawoh, Mr. Tubah Frankilin in black suits with seminar participants
Then followed by General introduction of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by George
Abang Tawoh, and closely folowed by General introduction of the convention on the elimination of
discrimination against women (CEDAW) by George Abang Tawoh. And after the CEDAW introduction, a
workshop was given on the « Violators of the implementation of CEDAW in our community and here comes
their resolution in two working groups.
That wife battery should be severely punished accordingly by a heavy fine to the husband.
A High level of sensitization on the right of the women be made mostly the NGOs working
in the field of Human Rights on forced marriage.
Sexual abuse of women by their husband should be punished with a fine.
Abusing the girl – child to Education by parent should be immediately taken to the social
affairs for Counseling or any competent human right activist.
This was followed by a plenary discussion.
Still on the 20th November 2001 then followed by introduction of the Code of Conduct. For law enforcement
officials by George Abang Tawoh which was then followed by a workshop on article seven of the code of
conduct which talks about corruption by Mr. Anu Francis, after the presentation of the workshop result
followed by the plenary discussion and here comes the resolution of the workshop to stamp out corruption in
our community.
We should stop the act of given or receiving bribe from people in our daily life.
If asked by any law enforcement official to give bribe we shouldn’t and always complain to
higher officers about the act either verbally or in writing.
The government should try hard that employees should be well paid and on time.
If guilty of corruption the persons should be punished by the law accordingly to the
understanding of the public.
The Government should try that even unemployed persons should be given some
allowance.
Then on the 21st November 2001, introduction on the basic principles for the use of force and firearms by law
enforcement officials by George Abang Tawoh, followed by General Discussions of wrongful use of fire arms
by law enforcement officials.
Then followed by workshop on solution to stamp out this wrongful use of force or firearms by law enforcement
officials after the presentation of workshop results by the various groups and followed by a plenary discussion.
And here comes the solution.
The law enforcement officials should always use but tear gas to disperse a crowd rather than using
guns to kill demonstrators.
That is. Tear gas is preferable because it only intoxicates the crowd for some time and has no side
effect in human life as to compare a bullet which kills immediately and as such, violating many
international instruments on human rights (the right to life by every one)
In the case of dispersing a crowd which is demonstrating on the street ; by law
enforcement officials Mass arrest is preferable then using Grinned which are harmful and
kill lives.
We generally condemn everything that kills or have human destruction.
On the 22nd November 2001, we also have General introduction of the method of combating torture by Mr.
Anu francis which he finally dished out sections of the penal code of Cameroon which sanction guilty person
of torture.
Then followed by lectures on body of principles for the protection of all persons under any form of detection or
imprisonment by Mr. George Abang Tawoh which creates an innocent awareness to the participants and
General introduction of Sexual exploitation of children by George Abang Tawoh and where child prostitution,
Child pornography were also dwelled on. Participants now found how sexual exploitation of children is also
and abuse of human rights all the lectures were taken from United Nation Centre for Human Rights Geneva
study series on Sexual exploitation of children by Vitit Muntarbhorn former Speical Rapporteur of the
Commission on Human Rights on the Sale of Children. Child prostitution and child pornography.
Participants receiving notes from the resource persons through lectures on the board
On the 23th November 2001 there was General introduction on the convention on the right of the child, where
participants had knowledge on the highlights of the convention on the rights of the child.
Closing followed by the Declaration of Territorial Asylum by George Abang Tawoh and lastly followed by
Declaration of basic principles of Justice from victims of crime and abuse of Power. After the lectures the
followed question were given to the participants to bring their answers on the closing date the 24th November
2001,
APWCR staff and volunteers in the mini library with over 1000 international legal instruments on
human rights
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What were your reasons to attend this seminar?
What have you learn?
What are you remarks on the lessons taught?
What would you have preferred to learn in addition?
How do you enjoy the resource person’s and code in particular?
What are your credits to APWCR? And
Give your general comments of this seminar in terms of the organization and what could you
propose for future seminars?
Finally, on the 24th November 2001, a lecture on Model Communication was also introduced to the
participants on how to write a communication nationally and internationally and the Certificates were
now issued to the participants by the General Commissioner /CEO of APWCR and the Seminar
ends.
Limbe the 24th November 2001
GEORGE ABANG TAWOH
GENERAL COMMISSIONER/CEO APWCR