H.E. Volkan Oskiper, the new Turkish Ambassador in Cameroon, had the ingenious idea of organizing an exchange session on discrimination against the woman in Cameroon and Turkiye as an activity to celebrate the International Day of the woman.
Panellists at the session that took place at the Lagon Club d’Affaires in Yaounde last Friday were himself, Cameroon’s minister of secondary education, Pauline Nalova Lyonga, and the Minister of Social Affairs, Prof. Marie Therese Abena Ondoa .
After a short documentary on discrimination against the woman which was condemned by the male beneficiary himself, the Turkish ambassador demonstrated how his country as early as 1930 when the state was created put in place structures to protect women against discrimination.
Then Minister Prof Marie Therese Abena Ondoa dwelt on the steps taken by the Cameroon government to check harmful cultural practices like discrimination and violence. She then cited efforts by her ministry to mobilise Cameroonians around actions that can enhance equality among the sexes. She also dwelt on strides made by her ministry in improving women’s participation in various spheres of life.
When Prof. Nalova Lyonga took the rostrum, she shocked the audience in declaring that discrimination should not exist. She then went on to cite the case in her family whereby the two girls had the privilege of studying to their highest level, thanks to the open-mindedness of her father who also resisted the harmful traditional practice of doing away with her Albino brother. She argued that the African woman was a strong woman not because she was competing with the man but because in her role as say a cook she is contributing to the survival of the family. She said humanity can become strong if the man and woman are strong in their own ways. Nalova Lyonga said she continued to cook for her husband in spite of attaining the glass ceiling. For her, women had so much to do for the growth of the family that they did not engage in distractions like the men sitting around the fire to tell stories. This did not detract from their strong character, though.
The event proceeded with a view of a 16-minute Turkish movie, titled YARA (The HURT) which is the sad story of a family broken by the birth of a child with disability. It culminated in a guided tour of portraits of great Turkish women like Jale Inan, Leman Bozhurk Altincekic, Semiha Berskov and Ozlem Tureci.
Speaking to reporters, the Turkish ambassador said he was particularly moved by the narrative of Minister Nalova Lyonga which portrayed the reality about life and reminded us that there are solutions to the problems we encounter in our daily lives.
