| dc.description.abstract | Cameroon with it diverse cultural background, is still seen as the African miniature in terms of
the daily activities of people in that nation. Women in Cameroon influence the fundamental
part and activities of that society. The Catholic Women Association (CWA) has been a central
force, in putting the community to enforce certain rights of its community dwellers.
This study considers the role of women in conflict resolutions and the contributions they make
with their traditional methods to ignite peace in the community in Cameroon. The study entails
developing a gender perspective of peace building policies and projects at the local level. Thus
embarking on the contribution of African women on the best practices of peace building and
mediation techniques, as well as adopting the agenda for the culture of peace in Africa.
The CWA has showcased some of the conflicts witnessed in the community with both the
husband and the wife in marital issues, boys and girls in assaults, children left on their own
with no parental care. These cases have been tried in the ‘’local court room’’ of the CWA and
fines labeled on those who were found guilty. They administered cases in their courtroom could
have gone civil courts but because it was quenched down and settled by the CWA,it did not go
further. Thus the intervention helped to adopt a restoration justice approach in preventing and
solving conflicts in the community. They either used the punitive methods which was for
defaulters to pay some little amount of money or local consumer food stuff like ‘’palm oil’’etc.
The data from this thesis was gathered during my field work based in Buea municipality which
covers the villages like Maumu, Bova, Bonakanda and Buea central etc. The participant
observation done in the branches of the CWA and oral interview given to head women and
selected women in each of the branches. From the data being uncovered, it is clear that in the
community of Buea, CWA has formed an integral part for resolving peace and bringing order
in the community. Playing an important role in harmonizing broken families, peace Centre.
In conclusion, the with my observation The Catholic Women Association(CWA) has been able
to show some changes that has taken place for the voices and decisions of women to be heard
and seen by the African men in the milieu of African culture and philosophy. | nb_NO |
