CISPAV: To ensure the right of indigenous peoples to citizenship.
The Minister of Social Affairs, Pauline Irène NGUENE chaired the 11th session of the Intersectoral Committee for the Monitoring of Projects and Programmes involving Vulnerable Indigenous Peoples (CISPAV). It focused on
initiatives implemented by all the actors to ensure indigenous peoples' right to citizenship.
The CISPAV is a joint body created by Order No. 022/A/MINAS/SG/DSN of August 6, 2013. Within this framework and through their representatives, indigenous peoples ensure that the aim of actions initiated by public authorities and their partners is to provide a prior, effective and sustainable answer to their specific development needs.
A National Development Plan for Indigenous Peoples (NDPIP) was validated in 2020 to serve as the main compass to ensure the efficient implementation of these actions and to contribute to their monitoring and sustainability. This Plan is operational since 2021.
At the end of the meeting attended by statutory members, public administrations, civil society organisations, public companies, coordination units for programmes and projects involving indigenous people and development partners, the following recommendations were made:
- Set up a permanent mechanism for the registration of civil status events other than births in indigenous communities;
- Use the toll-free number of the National Bilingualism Commission to report all cases of discrimination based on language or culture;
- Make it easier for Indigenous Peoples to take part in professional examinations by bringing them closer to the relevant administrations;
- Provide the Technical Secretariat with detailed reports on activities implemented in favour of Indigenous Peoples from August 2022 to July 2023;
- Draft a report outline to guide the presentation of the results of activities carried out by CISPAV stakeholders.
It should be noted that the meeting on July 25, 2023 served as a springboard for the activities marking the commemorationof the 29th International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (IDIP) on August 9, under the theme: "Education for citizenship as a strategy for the social inclusion of indigenous peoples" and the 15th edition in Cameroon under the theme: "Indigenous youth as agents of change for empowerment"
