The document is a youth statement calling on the government of Cameroon to prioritize youth and women's sexual and reproductive health rights in its post-2015 development agenda. It notes that while progress was made on the Millennium Development Goals, many promises were not fully met, as women and girls continue to face violence and discrimination. The statement argues that ensuring access to contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, and abortion services could significantly reduce maternal mortality. It calls on the government to improve access to reproductive healthcare, repeal restrictive laws, and meaningfully involve youth and women in decision-making around development policies.

1. YOUTH STATEMENTi
:
Speaking Up For Youth & Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

2. Executive Summary
It is 15 years since the groundbreaking Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
were established in 2000, with commitment made by 189 world leaders to pursue
the goals and see that by 2015 – there should be equality between men and women,
no individual or child should sleep hungry, or a woman should die while giving
birth. The eight global goals addressed the needs in ending & eradicating extreme
poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; realising gender
equality and women empowerment; reducing child mortality by two third;
improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; as
well as ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership
for development.
15 years have gone and not up to half of all the promises have been met. Women
and girls across most parts of the world continue to experience severe forms of
violence and discrimination. Everyday 39 000 of girls under 18years are dropped
out of school and forced into marriage against their will. In Cameroon, up to 70 per
cent of women experience violence in their lifetime. Research suggests that 61% of
women of reproductive age have unmet need for contraceptives and a range of
modern methods; at least 25.2% of girls under 18 years are either pregnant or
mothers (DHS Survey). Adolescent girls account for at least 90% of unsafe
abortion each year and this remains the leading cause to increasing maternal
mortality in Cameroonii
.
There is no doubt to the fact that maternal mortality could be reduced by one-third,
if the government simply repeal punitive laws, such as those criminalizing abortion
and expand access for all, women and adolescent girls to timely, high-quality and
comprehensive post-abortion care, without discrimination, intimidation or the
threat of prosecution. Women’s and girls health can also be improved if there is
increase access to contraceptives and comprehensive sexuality education and
information.

3. As world leaders assemble this 2015 to finalise discussions and adoption of the
next development agenda,
We, the undersigned representatives of youth-led networks, associations and
organisations call upon the government to take bold action and ensure that youth
and women issues particularly around their sexual and reproductive health rights,
is given the strongest support it deserves and be prioritised in this post-2015
development agenda.
While acknowledging the contributions from the government towards creating
facilities and services to empower the youth with technical and life skills that
would help them become self-reliant and productive in building a sustainable
future,
We believe that addressing youth and adolescents sexual and reproductive health
and rights (SRHR) is key to fostering sustainable development,
We therefore call for more meaningful action from the government to choose very
ambitious and inclusive goals that places youth issues and their health at the center
of the development agenda.
In this statement, we explain the crosscutting nature and links SRHR has with
advancing environmental sustainability, development, decision making and
education - all which remains key to attaining a sustainable future.
1. Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and Decision Making
Conscious of the fact that SRHR is a human right issue regardless of one’s race,
gender, sex, age, disability, social status, beliefs etc. Youth and women’s ability to
decide when to begin a family or when to get married, is critical and an essential
aspect of decision-making. By letting girls and young people feel confident in
deciding and designing their future in turn influences and increases their
productivity, effective participation and contributions towards development in our
society. It also fosters inclusiveness and equality within a country and across
nations.

4. We therefore call on the government to improve efforts towards delivery of sexual
and reproductive services and education, making them accessible, available and
affordable for all regardless of their status, ethnicity, orientation, age and gender.
We also want to reiterate our desire to see more commitment and effective
implementation of National and international instruments such as the Addis
declaration, Maputo protocol, Beijing declaration, Abuja Declaration, Cairo
Declaration, etc which our government has adhered to.
It is our sincere wish, your Excellency that the voices of women and youths be
heard and be part of any decision making bodies at all levels, since they constitute
the majority of the population in our country and are the most affected and exposed
to risk related to their lives.
As such If Cameroon must become an emergent economy by 2035 as well as
ensure realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals for the post2015 agenda,
there is need for more involvement and participation of youth and women in all
decision making processes and programs that is geared towards building this
sustainable future.
2. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Health
Millions of people in Cameroon, especially young people and adolescent girls, are
vulnerable to domestic, gender-based violence and discrimination. They continue
to lack adequate and reliable access to comprehensive sexuality information,
education and services. Many are exposed to various untreated sexual and
reproductive tract infections, which could be treated and/or prevented at early
stages.
Placing preventive and inclusive healthcare services and reliable information about
people’s sexuality at the core of the post2015 deliberation is critical in achieving
the sustainable future. This would in turn help curb the increasing numbers of
unsafe abortion, limited availability to contraceptives, including modern
contraception. It would also ease young people’s access to sexuality education in
living a healthy and pleasurable live and, thus healthy contributions towards
advancing the realisation of Cameroon’s Vision 2035 and post2015 agenda.

5. 3. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Environment
Due to increased urbanisation, and increased demand for natural resources, land
becomes scared, women and girls access to land and rights to inherit and own land
becomes more restrictive and elusive.
Changing environment and climate affects women more than men. It impedes on
their full rights to healthy living and life. More women are forced to walk miles
and long distances to fetch clean water and food. One of which often exposes them
to various forms of risk and exploitation, particularly sexual violence.
It is therefore worth noting that to ensure environmental sustainability, women
must be actively involved in local council decision making processes on addressing
environmental challenges; this in turn would help prevent adverse climate change,
improve livelihoods, security, reduce poverty and promote healthier communities
and environment for all.
4. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Development
and Security
SRHR remains a central aspect in fostering development. There is no development
without full respect of people’s human rights which constitutes their right to health
care services and facilities, information and education to make free and
independent choices without pressure or coercion. For example, when women and
girls are denied the rights to freely choose or decide about their future, it somewhat
impedes their contribution in the development of the nation. It also limits their
potential to thrive as human beings.

6. Recommendations
We call on the government to:
➢Create and improve quality health standards for all, particularly women and
girls
➢Advance youth and women’s access to sexual and reproductive health
services, free from all forms of discrimination, violence and coercion
➢Ensure women and girls at war zone to have access to a comprehensive
health care package, these includes access to contraceptives, emergency
health care services, non-judgmental counseling and safe abortion care and
services
➢Repeal all punitive laws and policies that continues to deprive women and
girls from accessing valuable information, education and services about their
sexual and reproductive health and rights
➢ Charge perpetrators guilty of rape and sexual offences and ensure they
receive the maximum penalties and punitive sanctions.
➢Promote, protect and provide the highest standards of living and health to
displaced persons, including persons with disabilities and refugee women and
girls so that they can live to their full potentials
➢Provide and make necessary provisions to ensure the full safety and security
of everyone, especially women and girls who are often exposed and
vulnerable to security threats and risk.
➢Create an enabling environment and gender friendly policies favourable for
the girls and other youths who want to get into business
➢Adopt and encourage comprehensive sexual education in and out of schools
➢Eradicate and eliminate by 2030 all harmful traditional and cultural practices
such as child, early and forced marriages, Female genital mutilation and
cutting, breast Ironing and harmful widowhood rites
➢Expand access for all women and adolescent girls to timely, high-quality and
comprehensive post-abortion care, without discrimination, intimidation or the
threat of prosecution,
➢Dedicate and allocate specific budgets at least 10% of national budget to
finance the SDGs agenda and ensure its full realisation by 2030.

7. Signatories:
No
NAMES ORGANISATION
1 SAKAH BERNARD NSAI BONET
2 CHONGWAIN CHRISTELLE BAY HOFNA, Cameroon
3 ZONEZIWOH MBONDGULO WONDIEH WFAC
4 DIBOTO THOMAS ACTION/2015
5 AKOMBI LEMBRIS ACTION/2015
6 ABANE TABE ELVIS A. ACTION/2015
7 AKESOM PRIDE E. ACTION/2015
8 ENOW A. GEOORGES GYCC
9 MICHEL NGNINKEU STRATTIMES FZE
10 MOVGANG LEVIS CHENGA
11 SILACHOM FRANCOIS M.
12 BUL AMOS WUNG EYDA
13 ATEMKENG ANDRE NDAH BONET
14 JOUEGO AUDRELLE CAROLE PRESS JEUNE Dvpt
15 NTUI-OBEN OBI-A. COMMONWEALTH
16 YONGA NELLY SHELLA RUDEC, Buea
17 GILBERT TAMBETAKAW REACHOUT, Cameroon
18 AGUH TERENCE TANUE BONET
19 ATANGE ANYI LOUIS HYCARE FOUNDATION
20 FELIX FORZEH GIFI

8. 21 TIEH GERALDINE ACTION/2015
22 MAH SHANTAL ACTION/2015
23 FORTECHA DERICK ACTION/2015
24 ASIRAKE A. SONITA ACTION/2015
25 METIEGE ANITA MAH ACTION/2015
26 ENOW ARREY YVETTE P. RUDEC, Buea
27 AKWEN LOVERT NGU RUWDEC, Buea
28 DESMOND FONATE PASS/CYN
30 DESMOND NJI A. PASS/CYN
31 MBAH HARRY HARPER ADAMS UNI, UNITED
KINDOM (U.K)
32 KEJU NKEMTAJI COWEC
33 HILDA BIH CRTV B’DA
35 NDABOMBIH EMMANUEL M. ACTION/2015
36 Mr ABESSOLO CALICE Director, MINPROFF
37 NANCY MAKEOH M. WFAC
38 NGWALEM BERLYNE WFAC
39 TAMBE AYUK ACTION/2015
40 NELSON GHA ACHUO COWEC

9. References:
[1] “Why Invest in Reproductive Health in Cameroon”, UNFPA (2012)
www.prb.org/Reports/2012/statusreportyouth.
[2]International Labor Organisation’s 2013 report
[3] Afri-Dev.Info (2013)
[4] MINPROF CSW Statement 2013
i
This statement was prepared by some 45 youth leaders and activists who gathered together for a two day
Intergenerational Dialogue on a Youth Friendly Post-2015, held in Buea, Cameroon on March 23-24, 2015.
The dialogue was initiated as an effort to ensure that everyone, every voice – particularly young people from
Cameroon have their voice added in this next 15 year of building a sustainable future for all. The Intergenerational
Dialogue on a Youth Friendly Post2015 Agenda was therefore initiated by Women for a Change, Cameroon
(WFAC), in collaboration with four Mandela Washington Fellows, Cameroon and Hope for the Needy, Cameroon).
The aim is to cease the moment around post-2015 deliberations to raise awareness about the post-2015
progresses, mobilise and work with young people, men and women to build momentum and strategies to engage
and gain government’s support in positioning and prioritizing youth and women’s issues, particularly their sexual
and reproductive health rights in the post2015 development agenda.
Specific objectives:
I. To deliberate on best ways young people and adolescent girls can make valuable contributions and influence the
national agenda on post2015 sustainable development agenda
II. To provide young people with adequate knowledge, information and skills on how to access and seek justice
III. To share experiences and best practices of different types of work in relation to intergenerational solidarity
towards advancing gender equality and justice.
About Women for a Change, Cameroon: It is a young women-led feminist organisation working for women and
girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), Leadership and Development.
For over 20 months, Women for a Change, Cameroon (WFAC) has been an active participant in most important
national and global events on the post-2015 deliberations particularly around advancing women and girls’ sexual
and reproductive health and rights, education and empowerment. Our goal is to ensure that the post-2015 agenda
leaves no one behind; represents the aspirations and needs of every young Cameroonian including the
prioritization and positioning of their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Contact: wfacbuea@ymail.com | P.O BOX 149, Buea – Cameroon | Tel: (2376) 96009179 / 77150924
About Hope for the Needy, Cameroon: HOFNA Cameroon is a youth-led, not-for-profit, Non-governmental
Organization dedicated to supporting the most unprivileged and marginalized youths in Cameroon to achieve
lasting positive changes in their lives.
Contact: hofnacameroon@yahoo.com | PO BOX 5144 FONCHA STREET, Bamenda - Cameroon
Tel: (2376) 7581 94 33 / 9711 90 83
About the Mandela Washington Fellows, Cameroon: Alumina / Alumnus of the Young African Leadership Initiative
and Mandela Washington Fellowship.
ii
Why Invest in Reproductive Health in Cameroon?, UNFPA,2012