2006 Archives
The Yaounde Embassy joins in International women day celebration with a book discussion on gender issues and film screening on Rosa Parks and Boycott
PAS/IRC celebrated International women day with an ARS book discussion on the impact of gender on a sustainable economic development and with a film screening on Rosa Parks and Boycott in Douala, on March 9, 2006. The discussion around ARS Nouveaux Horizons World Bank Report entitled “Genre et développement économique: vers l’égalité des sexes dans les droits, les ressources et la participation” brought together some 50 women activists, men, business leaders, journalists, lawyers and government representatives to assess and to scrutinize the need of taking into account the role of women for the well being of the Cameroonian society. The discussion was followed by a film screening on “Mighty Times: the legacy of Rosa Parks”. The CAO Noelle Wright-Young gave an insight of the film and explained to the 70 people present the impact a woman of influence, Rosa Parks, had over the United States and how her example could be followed by Cameroonian women at all levels of the society. The debate was followed by the screening of “Boycott”. A Rosa Parks paper show was displayed for the event, and Info USA CD-ROMs, Nouveaux Horizons calendars distributed. The event took place at the American Language Center in Douala.
The result was wonderful. “I have learned so much in two seconds!” exclaimed a participant. The International women day is becoming a big event in Cameroon. But gender issues are wrongly perceived by the society and less effort is put on informing and sensitizing on the impact of taking into consideration the role of women for a sustainable economic development. Such a forum of discussion was much welcomed by the participants who hailed the Yaounde Embassy for making it possible and for doing it out the capital Yaounde. “Rosa Parks is just the right example for us Cameroonian women” said a participant.