Representatives from some women’s associations that advocate for the promotion and protection of human rights are undergoing training in Yaounde organized by Transparency International-Cameroon on how they can actively be involved in the fight against corruption.

A two-day workshop opened yesterday September 25, 2014, at the TI-Cameroon Headquarters, Yaounde to challenge them to denounce corruption acts.

TI-Cameroon holds that women are shy and reluctant to denounce acts of corruption that demean and push the country’s economy to the wall. The international anti-corruption body challenged them to embrace and utilize its Advocacy and Legal Advisory Centre to stop corruption from spreading like cancer in the country.

Opening yesterday’s get-together, TI-Cameroon’s President, Barrister Charles Nguini, enjoined the women to relay to the various associations and communities the need to join national and international partners in winning the war on corruption by reporting cases for exposure.

They were reminded that TI-Cameroon’s Advocacy and Advisory Centre is ready to assists them structure their complaints, propose follow-up to their files, analyse data and conduct advocacy for policy changes as well as work in partnership with lawyers continuously registered with the Cameroon Bar Association; in order to provide free legal assistance to victims and witnesses of corruption.

TI-Cameroon reveals that out of 600 victims of corruption recorded in Cameroon recently, only 52 cases (about 8 per cent) are denounced by women. And given the preponderant role they play in the family and the education of the child, they should therefore be core actresses in the fight against corruption.

Reason why yesterday’s workshop that ends today September 26, 2014, is captioned: “Women and the Fight Against Corruption,” to sensitise them on the importance alongside mechanisms on waging a serious war against the scourge.