Celebration of the 29th edition of the International Day of World’s Indigenous Population in Cameroon
Cameroon joined the rest of the globe to celebrate the 29th edition of the International Day of World’s under the theme:
“Citizenship education as a strategy for social inclusion of Indigenous Peoples”. Presided over by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs Mrs. Panje Beryl ITOH, personal representative of the Minister of Social Affairs, this event was celebrated through a strategic meeting on the participation of Indigenous Peoples in inclusive sustainable development which brought together various actors and stakeholders like the government, development partners, Civil Society as well as Indigenous Peoples and Local Populations.
Presentation of this strategic meeting revolved around the problem of social inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in Cameroon, the participation of Indigenous Peoples in sustainable development and the Convention on Biological Diversity, Access to benefit sharing from genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated to these resources, the role of Indigenous Peoples and Local communities in the protection and conservation of the environment: case of the Pastoralists, the contributions of the Forest Peoples of Cameroon in the sustainable management of forest ecosystem. All of these presentation highlighted the legal framework on environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and the key role Indigenous Peoples play in the conservation of biodiversity through their traditional knowledge and practices as well as the need to valorize this knowledge in order to better protect and conserve biodiversity.
In the celebration speech, Mrs. Panje Beryl Itoh highlighted the importance of involving Indigenous Peoples in decision making because their representation and participation is essential for auto-determination and respect of their collective and individual rights, equality, the promotion of peace and social cohesion. She equally emphasized on their access to civil status document, participation in political life as well as their key role in the protection and conservation of biodiversity. She brought to light some actions carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs on the protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Cameroon as well as the need to be inclusive to ensure that no one is left behind as we march towards emergence in 2035.
