MEETING ON ELECTRONIC AND SOCIETAL VIOLENCE EXPERIENCED BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

An important meeting was organized this Wednesday, September 2nd in Yaounde by Civic Watch, in the presence of H.E. the Ambassador of Germany to Cameroon.

The meeting brought together several people representing different types of disabilities. Sign language translation was provided to ensure inclusion.

The National Association of Blind Persons of Cameroon (ANAC) was strongly represented, alongside The Voice of Persons with Disabilities and many other organizations such as CJARC, AFHAC…

Panelists included Dr. NGALLA, President of Civic Watch, Mrs. Nancy from Buea, Coco Mowa, Director General of the Club of Young Rehabilitated Blind Persons of Cameroon (CJARC), and Mrs. Ambe from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

Discussions focused on several crucial subjects:

  • The importance of the National Disability Card, valid for 5 years renewable. This duration is explained by the fact that the disability rate can evolve downward or upward.
  • Society’s perception of persons with disabilities: stigmatizing stories, hurtful terms, harmful beliefs. Society sees the disability and not the human being, as a “lunatic who must be changed at all costs”.
  • Accepting and self-acceptance: an essential process for resilience.
  • Multiform violence: online violence and cyberbullying, gender-based violence, road traffic violence.
  • Lack or insufficiency of infrastructure as a form of violence, accessibility problems in buildings, and the issue of compensation for transport difficulties.
  • The proliferation on social networks of charlatans claiming to cure certain diseases and harassing citizens.

The debate was frank, with many poignant testimonies about lived experiences: moral injuries, frustrations, injustices. Like that visually impaired lady whose disability worsened following frustrations and injustices suffered. Unorthodox practices by some members were also denounced.

In short, participants were not bored, on the contrary. The interludes by the resident artist brightened up this meeting to the point where we did not see time pass.

By Etienne Didier ONANA
ANAC – Directorate of Training, Press, Publishing, in charge of International Cooperation
Contact: 683148025 | anacnabc@gmail.com | http://www.anac-nabc.org