Civic Watch Cameroon: Advancing Peace and Inclusion through the National Action Plan for Youth, Peace, and Security

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On September 22, 2025, Cameroon unveiled its National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) 2025-2030. Resulting from wide-ranging consultation and active participation, the NAP on Youth, Peace and Security represents a concrete and innovative response aimed at fostering the active involvement of young people, youth organizations, and youth movements in conflict prevention and the sustainable consolidation of peace in Cameroon. 

This strategic instrument, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 and the Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security, reflects Cameroon’s commitment to granting its youth a central role in conflict management, promoting positive transformation, and fostering inclusive and lasting peace.

Cameroon, with a predominantly young population (65% under the age of 35), is positioning itself as a regional leader in Central Africa by recognizing the strategic role of its youth in building peace. The(NAP-YPS) 2025-2030 is the first of its kind in the CEMAC sub-region, and it is built upon the international frameworks of the United Nations (Resolutions 2250, 2419, 2535) and the African Union (Continental Framework on Youth, Peace, and Security). Cameroon’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace, and Security (2025-2030) is a significant step towards inclusive peacebuilding, aligning with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, 2535, and the African Union’s Continental Framework on YPS. This strategic effort recognizes that, with 65% of the population under 35, Cameroon’s youth are not only beneficiaries of peace, but also key actors in creating an inclusive, sustainable peace.

This Action Plan addresses the challenges that weaken young men and women, who are often victims of a violent system. Cameroon faces multiple crises: Boko Haram, the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions, and inter-community tensions. These situations have a direct impact on the youth, who face unemployment, insecurity, inequality, and violence, including gender-based violence. The (NAP-YPS) aims to transform this reality to reinforce the contribution of young people to the creation of a just and peaceful society. This plan is therefore the result of a vast participatory process that has consulted more than 4,500 young people, civil society organizations, and community leaders since 2017. 

This National Action Plan targets Cameroon’s wide range of problems, including the Boko Haram insurgency, the Anglophone conflict, refugee influx, and inter-communal conflicts, which adversely affect young people through unemployment, insecurity, inequality, and gender-based violence. Youth, who are frequently caught up in these violent spaces, are critical to transforming this situation. Since 2017, the Plan has been developed through an extensive participatory process that has involved over 4,500 young people and partners. Its goal is to turn youth from victims of a violent system into empowered contributors to a just, inclusive, and peaceful society.  It promotes youth participation, protection, prevention, partnerships, and reintegration, which is consistent with the African Union’s Continental Framework on Youth, Peace, and Security. 

Civic Watch’s Contribution to National Peacebuilding Efforts

Since 2020, Civic Watch has played a frontline role in conflict-affected zones by countering hate speech, preventing online and offline incitement to violence and violent extremism, and combating misinformation. Under the leadership of Ngala Desmond Ngala, who has been instrumental in contextualising prevention mechanisms and promoting bottom-up approaches to policy change, Civic Watch has emerged as a catalyst for inclusive peacebuilding in Cameroon. Through his guidance, the organization translates grassroots insights into actionable policy recommendations that reflect community realities.

Civic Watch has been a frontline actor in Cameroon’s conflict zones since 2020, putting the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda into action through targeted interventions. These interventions combat hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, and prevent incitement to violence and violent extremism. The organization’s unique strength lies in its community mobilization efforts that engage young people in dialogue, tolerance, and peacebuilding. Believing firmly in the transformative power of youth, Civic Watch serves as a platform to ensure that youth voices have a meaningful influence on peace processes. Civic Watch’s specialized programs and campaigns are useful instruments that directly enhance the five pillars of the YPS agenda:

Participation: Recognizing youth as critical agents of change, Civic Watch empowers young people by ensuring their voices are included in peace processes. The organization offers training in non-violent conflict resolution and equips young people with leadership skills, enabling them to engage actively and meaningfully in peacebuilding efforts. This emphasis on youth participation enhances the inclusiveness and sustainability of peace initiatives. This pillar emphasizes the meaningful involvement of young people in peace processes, ensuring their voices are included in the design and implementation of peace initiatives. Civic Watch’s role as a platform for youth inclusion, advocacy for government commitments to rebuild young people’s trust, and efforts to address challenges faced by women and girls in accessing public spaces all highlight empowerment and active participation. Programs such as PeaceWavers create networks of young peace ambassadors who foster inclusive dialogue and mutual understanding across communities, ensuring youth voices shape peace processes. Civic Watch also empowers young people with leadership skills and advocates for their inclusion in decision-making spaces.

Prevention: Through its youth engagement pillar, Civic Watch has been at the forefront of educating communities on conflict resolution and the dangers of hate speech, and by monitoring discourse, Civic Watch helps create peaceful environments. Programs designed by Civic Watch such as #Act4Peace and #PenNotGun promotes education and non-violence, directly tackling the root causes of conflict. Early warning and early response monitoring further enable timely interventions to prevent escalation.

Protection: Civic Watch contributes to the protection of communities by mitigating the spread of hate speech and xenophobia, factors that often exacerbate violence and insecurity. The #Media4Peace and the Africa Fact-Checking Fellowship (AFFC) program to combat misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, which are frequent triggers of conflict as well as protecting vulnerable and less connected communities from misinformation while promoting information integrity. By raising awareness about the dangers of inflammatory rhetoric, Civic Watch helps to safeguard vulnerable populations and reduce violence.

Through rigorous fact-checking and raising awareness on the harmful effects of inflammatory rhetoric, the association works to safeguard vulnerable populations from divisive and harmful influences. Their community monitoring and early warning activities further help to de-escalate tensions in crisis-prone zones, protecting citizens from potential violence and instability. 

Partnership

Believing in the power of collaboration to achieve common goals, Civic Watch works closely with government bodies such as MINJEC, the Bilingualism Commission, and youth councils, as well as with community and religious leaders. Alongside international partners like UNESCO MGIEP, these partnerships strengthen coordinated peacebuilding efforts and maximize resource sharing. By networking with community-based and youth-led groups, especially in conflict-affected regions like the North West and South West of Cameroon, Civic Watch fosters inclusive peace strategies that are community-driven and contextually relevant. These collaborative efforts enable broader outreach, resource mobilization, and unified responses to peace and security challenges across the country.

Conclusion

Cameroon, as an integral member of the International Community and the United Nations, recognizes the importance of not only adopting but also fully domesticating the principles of the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda through a National Action Plan (NAP). This NAP serves as a practical guide for Cameroonian youth, government, civil society, international partners, and all stakeholders to collaborate in creating inclusive policies that ensure the protection, participation, and empowerment of youth in peace and security.

Civic Watch Association stands as a pillar of hope and practical action within Cameroon’s NAP on Youth, Peace, and Security. Through innovative programs, dedicated community engagement, and strategic partnerships, Civic Watch addresses immediate peace and security challenges while fostering long-term resilience and inclusive governance. Their work exemplifies the vital role of youth-led organizations in building a peaceful, just, and inclusive Cameroon for future generations. By preventing conflict through education and monitoring, promoting youth participation, protecting communities from incitement, and building strong networks for collective action, Civic Watch substantially advances the nation’s YPS agenda. Their holistic approach not only meets urgent peace needs but also invests in sustainable community resilience and governance.

Certificate of Recognition awarded to the President of Civic Watch, Ngala Desmond Ngala PhD

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We are honored to announce that a Certificate of Recognition was awarded to the President of Civic Watch, Ngala Desmond Ngala PhD, by Youth Advocates for Peace and Community Empowerment Cameroon (YAPCEC).

Our sincere gratitude goes to Bochum Samuel Bache, Executive Director of YAPCEC, and his team for acknowledging and celebrating his contributions to Peacebuilding in #Cameroon. This recognition is a symbolic testament to his dedication, and we look forward to many more achievements in the future.

#PeaceBuilding #Act4Peace #defyhatenow #CivicWatch

Civic Watch and UNESCO MGIEP carry a two day training of trainers on media literacy.

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Association Civic Watch is pleased to partner with UNESCO MGIEP to train journalists and content creators in media literacy. This partnership began with a delegation from India that joined the Civic Watch team in Douala, Cameroon, to kick off their first onsite training session. The Civic Watch team, led by Ngala Desmond Ngala, welcomed Dr. Obijiofor Aginam, Director of UNESCO MGIEP, along with Richa Bansal, Associate National Project Officer for SEL Youth Projects, and Anurag Deep, Associate National Project Officer for Digital Pedagogy Design. Together, they trained 40 participants in media literacy.

The two-day training, held from October 4th to 5th, focused on the theme “Media Literacy Course: Fostering a Cognitive Approach.” This training is particularly timely as Cameroon approaches its election period in 2025, a time characterised by a surge in information that often includes misinformation, fake news, and hate speech.

The training aims to equip participants to become active digital citizens capable of evaluating the effects of online behaviour. They will learn to identify messages online, assess the credibility of information sources, and distinguish between false information and fake news. This program will foster an emotional approach that participants can apply in their communities.

Richa Bansal and Anurag Deep, the main trainers, shared the focus of the training. They trained the Young Master Trainers on topics such as Media Literacy, Misinformation, Disinformation, Fake News, Fact-checking, Source Credibility, Media Bias, Hate Speech, Perspective Talk, and Critical Inquiry.

Participants identified as Young Master Trainers in Media Literacy will become trainers in their communities after the workshop. This is a unique aspect of the training, which aims to empower youth to navigate the social media landscape effectively. Participants also went through a Social Emotional Course, which will assist them in their community training.

At the end of the workshop, participants will receive certificates. Additionally, the training will continue online, with participants able to undergo free online training that also includes a certificate upon completion. Feel free to check out this link to take a course. https://mgiep.unesco.org/media-literacy . You can also visit this link to take any course of your choice here https://mgiep.unesco.org/ .

An interview provided further insights into the training and the partnership between the two organizations.

While in Douala on October 4, 2024, Civic Watch, led by Ngala Desmond, visited the MTN Douala office with members of UNESCO Yaoundé, Hugues Ndih, and Serge Bayembe, alongside Richa Bansal from UNESCO MGIEP. This visit aimed to discuss how collaboration between these entities could help promote effective communication while implementing Media and Information Literacy (MIL).

During Dr. Obijiofor Aginam’s visit to Yaoundé, he had the opportunity to meet some of Civic Watch’s partners. He visited the UNESCO Yaoundé office and met with the Cameroon National Youth Council, the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism (NCPBM), the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education, the Pan African Institute, the Protestant University, and the Advanced School of Mass Communication (ASMAC). They discussed how Media Literacy, Peace Education, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) courses can be implemented in institutions, schools, and media organizations in Cameroon.  

These efforts are promising for the future of implementing MIL and SEL courses in #Cameroon, as these skills are essential for building peaceful communities and bridging divides among young people, communities, religions, and tribes. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a #HateFreeCameroon through collective efforts from the government, private sector, civil society organisations, educational institutions, and international bodies. Civic Watch is determined to collaborate with partners to bridge these divides and promote social cohesion. 

Reaction from participants.

1- Tanta Patience: “ The key messages I took home from the just ended training on media and information literacy are, the importance of critically evaluating the sources and credibility of information we see and share on social media platforms. In this digital age, understanding how we effectively navigate, analyze, and share reliable media content is crucial to becoming informed as creators of information. Also, being empowered to combat misinformation and engage meaningfully with diverse perspectives. Also, being able to understand what we see on social media before reacting is of utmost importance ”.

2- Abubakar Aliyu: “ My key take-home message from the recent Media Information Literacy (MIL) training is the profound impact that media literacy has on our communities. I have learned some vital aspects, including: 

 Hate Speech Undermines Social Cohesion: It’s crucial to recognize how harmful language can fracture our communities and promote division. Addressing hate speech is essential for fostering unity and understanding.

Taking Sight is Media Bias: Understanding media bias helps us critically analyze the information we consume, enabling us to distinguish between objective reporting and subjective viewpoints. 

Clear Communication and Mindfulness Enhance Understanding: Effective communication is not just about conveying messages but also about being mindful of how those messages are received. This awareness can significantly improve our interactions and comprehension. 

Check the Information and Source Credibility: I’ve learned the importance of verifying facts and assessing the credibility of sources. This skill is essential in navigating today’s information landscape, where misinformation can easily spread. Additionally, I have gained new knowledge and skills that empower me to contribute positively to my community. Networking with many individuals from diverse backgrounds has been invaluable. We are all united in our goal to enhance media information literacy and train others in our communities. Together, we can create a more informed society that values critical thinking and responsible media consumption. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned and to collaborate with others to scale up these essential skills”.

Civic Watch Cameroon and UNESCO MGIEP In Partnership for Sustainable Peace and Development

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In a move towards fostering peace, citizenship and sustainable development in Cameroon, Civic Watch Cameroon has taken a bold step ahead in a partnership with UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP). This collaboration aims to transform educational practices and cultivate a culture of peace and sustainability in Cameroon and beyond. The collaboration is geared at introducing Cameroonian youths to the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for Youth Waging Peace course. Thanks to its special focus on the role of education in addressing this challenge of the rise of extremist ideologies that can lead to violent extremism using a development and peacebuilding approach, youths will get a clearer understanding on peace building processes and how to handle different individuals with their different views and ideologies in their different communities. 

UNESCO MGIEP’ Vision

UNESCO MGIEP is known for its innovative approach to integrating peace, global citizenship, and sustainable development into educational frameworks. Their mission aligns closely with Civic Watch Cameroon’s goals of empowering communities and promoting civic engagement while addressing questions of incitement to violence, tolerance and peacebuilding in relation to social media. This partnership is set to leverage MGIEP’s expertise and resources to drive impactful change in Cameroon’s educational landscape and youths working in peacebuilding. 

Main Objectives of the Partnership

Some of the main objective of this partnership is: 

  1. Promoting Peace Education: Civic Watch Cameroon and MGIEP will work on encouraging youths and students to take this peace education course as it will  help them understand and practice non-violent conflict resolution and mutual respect. The Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for Youth Waging Peace course evokes in community leaders Wellbeing-Mental Health, Mindfulness, Empathy, Compassion, Critical Inquiry; Conflict Transformation, Peacebuilding, Prevention of Violent Extremism. These are traits that will help in addressing different issues encountered in different communities. Aside from building empathy,  the SEL course helps youths understand and manage their own emotions. By developing emotional awareness, young people will better handle conflicts and stress, which is beneficial for peaceful interactions. An example is Civic Watch carrying out peace activities in school and creating peace clubs in schools in Bamenda, Buea, Limbe, Moutengene, Douala, Yaounde, Bafoussam to educate students and pupils on the importance of creating peaceful environment in school and in their communities. 
  1. Improving Sustainable Development Goals : The partnership will focus on promoting SDGs in Cameroon and its training, this will ensure that participants are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to address global challenges like climate change, inequality, and resource management. The SEL course is important and beneficial because it will teach and equip you with conflict resolution and communication skills, which are essential for reducing violence and fostering peaceful interactions in your communities. The SEL encourages young people to understand and respect diverse perspectives, which is important for building inclusive communities. Through the training of Peace Weavers, Civic Watch has been able to train 50 community youth leaders who in turn go to their communities to share the importance of peace and resolving conflict through peaceful methods. 
  1. Fostering Global Citizenship: By emphasizing global citizenship, the collaboration aims to nurture a sense of responsibility and interconnectedness among Cameroonian youths, preparing them to contribute positively to a #HateFreeCameroon and a globalized world. It fosters a sense of responsibility towards others, including those from different countries and backgrounds, motivating young leaders to act in ways that benefit the entire community. This means that they have the interest of the community at heart. The beauty of this course is that it addresses the need to build a sustainable diverse and multicultural community which is the aim of Civic Watch Cameroon, building a #HateFreeCommunity. Just as Civic Watch entails, it calls on all citizens to be 
  1. Leveraging Technology for Education: MGIEP’s expertise in educational technology will be used to promote learning experiences, making learning more accessible and engaging through digital tools and innovative methods. This means that at the end of the course, young leaders will acquire communication skills that can be applied to digital platforms, such as video conferencing, collaborative documents, and discussion forums. This will help work effectively virtually  while navigating online interactions respectfully. Social Media Literacy is not left out. Given that social media is one of the channels where hate speech and incitement to violence is mostly propagated, the SEL course can improve the skills of peacebuilders on how to use social media responsibly and constructively, understanding the impact of their online behavior. As well as the dangerous effects if they use social media wrongly. Civic Watch uses technology to build peace. Through it’s recent #Tech4Peace fellowship, 15 youths are being trained how to use their technology skills to promote peace on social media and community. It also runs a Tech4Peace monthly series, #CyberSmart, where it shares with its online community the role digital technology can play in building peace and resolving conflict. 
  1. Promote Media Literacy: One of the advantages of the Social Emotional Learning course is that it fosters critical thinking skills that enable students, journalists, peace builders to question and analyze the credibility and reliability of information they encounter in the media. They we have the #defyhatenow #ThinkB4UClick attitude, and it will prevent them from sharing #FakeNews, #Misinformation, #Disinformation and #Malinformation which are all vices of inciting violent actions in a community or country. The course can help youths identify biases and aspects in media content, and it promotes a better understanding of news and information. It helps media professionals as well as peace builders to become more informed, thoughtful, and responsible consumers and producers of information. Through the #Meadi4Peace program and the Africa Factchecking Fellowship (AFFCameroon), journalists, content creators and bloggers are trained on how to report in time of conflict and verify information before communication to the public. 
  1. Help In Conflict Resolution: Conflict resolution is a process by which two or more parties use to find a peaceful solution to their dispute. Taking this course will help you acquire skills of resolving conflict peacefully. Thanks to the SEL course, peacebuilders will gain collaborative problem-solving skills. They will  work together to identify solutions that address the needs and concerns of all parties / communities involved. With collaborative and joint efforts, peacebuilders will find innovative ways to resolve conflicts. Civic Watch works with CSOs, Youth Lead Organizations that are trained with the #defyhatenow hate speech mitigation field Guide on how to resolve conflict via peaceful methods. 

Impact on Communities

For Civic Watch Cameroon, this partnership represents a unique opportunity to enhance their existing programs and initiatives. By integrating MGIEP’s courses and resources, they will be able to provide more effective training for community leaders, educators, youth leaders, students,  create engaging learning materials, and implement community-based projects that resonate with  the needs of communities.

The collaboration is also aimed at building capacity among community youth leaders , equipping them with the skills and knowledge to train / educate, sensitize in their communities as well as online on  peace and sustainability. This  will in turn contribute to a more informed and active Cameroonian youths capable of driving positive social change.

As Civic Watch Cameroon and UNESCO MGIEP embark on this exciting journey, the partnership promises to bring about meaningful progress in the realms of education and community development. Through collaborative efforts, they hope to set a precedent for how international cooperation can address local and global challenges through education.

Stay tuned for updates as this partnership unfolds and continues to make strides towards a more peaceful and sustainable future for Cameroon.

This is another action carried out by Civic Watch in response to mitigating Violent action and creating a portal for youths to impact their communities by bringing possible solutions to conflict situations and promoting social cohesion. 

Kindly fill this registration form to enroll for the course. Register Here

#Act4Peace: Mobilising Youth Leaders to Counter Hate Speech & Violence in Crisis Zones.

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The continued act of violence, and hate speech perpetrated in communities in thes North West and South West Regions in Cameroon gives Civic Watch Cameroon the need to take actions towards peace at community levels – #Act4Peace. As a means of mitigating hate speech, incitement to violence, violence extremism and educating these communities Association Civic Watch trains community youth leaders based in these affected communities with the aim of building #HateFreeCommunities across Cameroon. The Association believes that these youth leaders will be able to share and educate their communities on the dangers of hate speech, violence and violence extremism both online and offline. 

The North West and South West regions in Cameroon have been faced with socio-political turmoil, armed conflicts, internally displaced persons who are facing difficulties resettling in their host communities, cultural bias, hate speech, and other social tensions that are online and offline. As an EWER mechanism,  Civic Watch trained 30 community Youth leaders from different communities in the two regions affected by the crisis. These peace weavers were trained to be #defyhatenow’s peace ambassadors. The actions carried out in the communities will be easily monitored by Civic Watch through the peace weavers. The aim is to counter hate speech and violence using  a nonviolent approach.

After the training of the first cohort of peace weavers in 2023, Civic Watch is launching the second cohort of peace weavers. The second cohort of peace weavers will join the first cohort by leading actions on the field aimed to  reduce hate speech and violence in the affected zones and on social media. So far, social media space is being used by many as a platform to promote hate speech, incite violence, bullying and to share fake information. The peace weavers will have an online presence to sensitize and educate their audience what hate speech is, how to mitigate hate speech without insulting. 

The specific objectives during this training are; 

  • To encourage  intercultural mixing among young people, thereby promoting inter-community tolerance and acceptance of each other through 2 bootcamps;
  • To encourage cross-community and inter-religious dialogue between community and religious leaders to promote their commitment to combating hate speech and violence;
  • To implement awareness-raising and empowerment campaigns to meet local needs (Education – Health – Socio-professional integration)

A two-day training with the aim of enforcing additional 30 youth leaders on  capacity building, hate speech mitigation online and offline, and breaking cultural and religious barriers will be held in the month of August 2024. These youths hail from the affected crisis zones and master the realities of their communities. They are better placed to take actions in reducing these ills affecting their communities with the help of community leaders like Chiefs, Quarter Heads, Clergy, etc. The selected youth leaders will be trained on how to mitigate online hate speech, provocation and incitement to violence. In Addition to the training, they will have materials like the social media code of conduct that will help them in understanding the social media space, how hate speech can be spread online and how dangerous it can be. Peace Weavers will learn from the #defyhatenow hate speech mitigation field guide and will go through an online training UNESCO MGIEP Course that will be part of their capacity building. 

The training is all about changing the mindset of individuals and communities to understand the importance of living together in peace and working for the good of the community. Peace Weavers will be trained under the theme: Mobilising Youth Leaders to Counter Hate Speech and Conflict in Crisis Zones. Participants are coming from different communities with different religious, cultural, social and traditional backgrounds. This will be a perfect opportunity for them to understand the importance of diversity and social cohesion. That will help them understand how to resolve conflict in their communities and educate the community about the concept of tolerating one another and respecting the identity of one another. 

At the end of the training, Civic Watch Cameroon intends to impact these youths and obtain positive outcomes such as: 

  • Building sustainable and peaceful communities through social cohesion
  • Increasing understanding of the causes of the conflict and the importance of peacebuilding and reconciliation.
  • Improving inter-community relations and social cohesion.
  • Drawing up a roadmap containing the major actions and responsibilities to prevent and combat hate speech in the North West and South West regions.
  • Promoting social cohesion and sustainable development in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon.
  • The youth will also help to promote the importance of peacebuilding and reconciliation as a way to address these root causes and build a more peaceful future.
  • Understand the social media space and know how to iterate on social media spaces while promoting safe spaces online.
  • Change the mindset of communities in resolving conflict in nonviolent ways.
  •  Having these youths go back to their communities and do restitutions

Those who can apply for this training are:

  • Community Youth Leaders 
  • Religious leaders
  • CSOs

After the training, peace weavers are expected to pass it on, meaning they go to their communities and educate them on the importance of living in  peace and the need to tolerate one another. They will share with their communities to #Act4Peace, #StopBadMop, #StopHateSpeech and keep #SafeDigitalsSpaces  in order to build a #HateFreeCommunity, and a #HateFreeCameroon. 

 It is time to #defyhatenow!

Reactions from some cohort one Peace Weavers

Shalanyuy Banseka Mary “The peace weavers training is a turning point in my life..so much has changed in my life thanks to civic watch .the training has shape the way I interact on social media .i do not share information I’m not sure of, I no longer comment in a careless , even the write -ups I make.unlike before I was selected as a peace weavers ,my communication both online and offline. I volunteer with ZOZAC community.”

Yong Alfred  “ The after effects of the restitution carried out in Fundong were kind of positive. Expression of regret from community members who were using hate languages unconsciously. Consciousness of the population on common hates. Change of mentality in responding to people but still very timid.”

Mobilising Youth Leaders to Counter HateSpeech and Conflict in Crisis Zones

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The recent rise in the wave of socio-political turmoil, armed conflicts and other social tensions witnessed in Cameroon; as well as the affluence of ethnic hate, especially online poses real life risk of widespread violence and abuse. Civic Watch thus saw the need to have peace waivers in the communities of the North West and South West Regions to monitor  actions taken both online and offline which have the tendency to compromise peaceful co-existence. 

The Anglophone crisis, in addition to the inter-community and inter-religious conflicts, has for some years been exacerbating tensions between communities and the frustrations that perpetuate the cycle of hate and violence in these communities. To reduce hate speech and violence in these regions, our aim is to bring together young leaders so that they can be the weavers of peace and implement innovative strategies to reduce the level of frustration, tension and hate within their communities.

A three-day bootcamp shall be organized with the aim of enforcing 30 youth leaders’ capacities to raise awareness on the dangers of hate speech and violence both online and offline. These youths hail from the affected crisis zones and they master the realities of their communities. They will therefore be better placed to take actions to reduce the prominence of online and offline violence and hate speech. The selected youths will be trained on how to mitigate online hate speech, online provocation and online incitement to violence. The  social media code of conduct shared with them, will serve as a guide as they engage  online as well as  while working with individuals in their communities.  

The discussion during this training will be on  the crisis and its negative impact on social cohesion and community development in these conflict-hit regions. It will be under the theme: Mobilising Youth Leaders to Counter HateSpeech and Conflict in Crisis Zones. The youths coming from different cultural and religious backgrounds will help them discover the different cultures and be able to identify themselves in one another. The cross-cultural exchange and dialogue around conflict resolution will give them a wide scoop of how to tackle the different forms of hate speech and violent attacks they will have to resolve in their communities. 

The specific objectives during this training are; 

  • To encourage  intercultural mixing among young people, thereby promoting inter-community tolerance and acceptance of others (through 2 bootcamps)
  • To encourage  cross-community and inter-religious dialogue between community and religious leaders to promote their commitment to combating hate speech and violence.
  • To implement awareness-raising and empowerment campaigns to meet local needs (Education – Health – Socio-professional integration)

At the end of this bootcamp, Civic Watch Cameroon hopes to impact these youths and obtain positive outcomes such as: 

  • Building sustainable and peaceful communities through social cohesion
  •  Increasing understanding of the causes of the conflict and the importance of peacebuilding and reconciliation.
  • Improving inter-community relations and social cohesion.
  •  Drawing up a roadmap containing the major actions and responsibilities to prevent and combat hate speech in the North West and South West regions.
  •  Promoting social cohesion and sustainable development in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. The youth will also help to promote the importance of peacebuilding and reconciliation as a way to address these root causes and build a more peaceful future.
  •  Having these youths go back to their communities and do restitutions

After the training, these youth leaders will go to their communities and educate them on the importance of a peaceful coexistence and the need to tolerate one another’s differences in order to obtain a #HateFreeCommunity, and a #HateFreeCameroon. 

Back to school 2022-2023 : #HateFreeSchools in Cameroon

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Civic Watch in its implementation of the #defyhatenow initiative works to counter, mitigate #HateSpeech, violent extremism both online and offline in Cameroon. We equally work to empower youths to become peace building leaders in their school environment and communities.

This coming back to school 2022-2023 academic year, Civic Watch will accompany students with the aid of their teachers for a #HateFreeSchool. It is our aim to build these students with moral values, inculcate the habit of tolerance, a peaceful coexistence and living together. The past three years have recorded an increase of violence in school milieus. Reports of students stabbing peers and teachers, indulging in sexual immorality on campus and others involved in sharing nude videos online. In addition, the two English speaking regions of Cameroon have been timid with schooling in the past years due to the Anglophone conflict. Students fear they might become a target and lose their lives for going to school. Schools burnt down by unidentified men who threaten the lives of those who dare to go to school. Statistics published by Human Right Watch show that an estimated number of 700 000 children have been out of school between the year 2017 and 2021. This is one of the major reasons that Civic Watch Cameroon calls for an active and collective back to school campaign. 

depict the dire situation of children of school going age based in the conflict-struck regions

We will print out posters, print design pictures of peace and they will be posted in the school campuses, we will as well share with them the content of the #defyhatenow Hate Speech Mitigation Field Guide; like, the importance of peace, living together, tolerance and the dangers of violence, hate speech online and offline. In the end of this #HateFreeSchool Campaign, we will be sure of inculcating the spirit of building peace, importance of living together and giving them basic skills of mitigating hate speech in their schools and communities. We will want the students to realize that they need #PenNotGun to build a good and prosperous future for them and #HateFreeCameroon. This will help to fosters peace in #Cameroon and our society.

Civic Watch team will visit primary, secondary and university schools to have a talk with them. Other relay team members based in the North West and South West regions will visit schools there and have a talk with the students and pupils on the need of building a #HateFreeSchool for a brighter future. We begin from the primary level so that while growing they will know the importance of peace, acceptance and tolerance in their communities. They will learn that despite their difference in tribe, class, and religion, there is no difference between them. Their difference complements each one of them to make them stronger together. They will understand that without one of them they are weak. 

While going on the field to talk with the students, we will equally share with them online because we know that many students are online. The aim is to reach out to as many students as 1000. If many share, students will learn to be careful online. They will #ThinkB4TheyClick, the spread of hate speech will reduce and the rate of violence in our schools will reduce as well. This is to make students conscious and join the spreading love and mitigate hate in their classes and communities. That is why we urge you to defy hate NOW. 

Join the campaign of building hate free schools by using these hashtags on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc; 

#HateFreeSchools

#PenNotGun

#Youth4Peace

#Teens4Peace

#PeaceInMySchool

#NoToHateSpeech

Youths in Yaounde Share Perspectives on Civic Participation & Nation Building

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“YOUTH AND VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION IN THE MAJOR CHALLENGES OF CAMEROON” 

Civic Watch on February 10, 2022 had a talk with 20 youth based in Yaounde on the occasion of the Youth Day celebration in Cameroon. This year’s theme: “Youth & Voluntary Participation in the Major Challenges of Cameroon”, highlights youth’s involvement in development. Thus some youths drawn  from different works of life; journalists, teachers, bloggers, students, and civil society organisations were invited for the session. The aim was for them to talk about the difficulties the Cameroonian Youth is facing, the impact of their actions in their lives and society, and how to participate in the development and maintenance of peace…the peace of their community.  

The meeting started with a welcome speech from the president of the organisation Mr. Ngala Desmond who explained the mandate of Civic Watch; mobilisation of civic action, fighting online hate speech, violence, and violent extremism online and offline.  

The session, moderated by Kinang Derick,  started with a round of self introduction, as well as expectations by the participants. Delving into the first part of the programme, the topics; Youth Day celebration (Past and Present), expectations from Head of State’s speech, and 2022 youth day  theme: (Youth and voluntary participation) a way forward? 

The exchange went with the agreement that the youth day celebration of today is different from that of the past, the value has been lost because in the past people tried to understand what youth day was all about, but now, youths have different reasons for partaking. It was recognized that most Cameroonians do not know why youth day is celebrated. The Cameroon government did lay down the foundation of youth day. The idea of this day was a day of celebrating Cameroon’s history and handing it over to the younger generation. It was equally realised that the Anglophone crisis and CoronaVirus had contributed to the fall of the youth day celebration in Cameroon. As per the head of state’s message to the Youth, it was expected that president Paul Biya would create more job openings for youths, he would promote education by creating universities and Pavel-Aldo member of the Academic Campus Forum said he expected that the president made funds available for youth who have projects pending funding so that they could realise their dreams. Talking about the youth day theme, it was discussed that youths have become money-minded rather than wanting to gain knowledge and skills.  

 The second part of the discussion was about; Youth and civic participation, Youth and Peacebuilding/Peace process, and countering hate speech, violence in schools and communities. The youths recognized that they need to be an example in their immediate community to counter hate speech and violence. Participants agreed that there is a need for them to be self-disciplined, tolerant towards others, and sensitise other youth on ways and means they can contribute to nation building, in their own little way. Regarding ways to harness our differences to bring positive impact in the society, an example was the just ended  Africa Nations Cup #AFCON2021  hosted by Cameroon.  The football fiesta brought all Cameroonians together as one people, one nation and speaking with one voice;,  Participants stressed on excesses mostly displayed by social media users on different platforms, with the potential of spurring violence.. A typical example shared was the recurrent rise in [usually drug-induced] violence, witnessed in most secondary schools, believed to have been influenced by social media.Much work needed to be done to discipline students in school, which responsibility lies in the hands of . 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

 As for recommendations, the youths recommended that parents need to be sensitised to teach their kids at home moral education because the morals of the younger generation are degrading by the day. 

The youths need to work closely with kids, denounce some of the things happening in their environment, pen down the difficulties they face, and surmount courage to explain their problems in a peaceful way to government authorities.