Sensitization Campaign in an IDP Community in Yaoundé 6 (ACBARSS Project)

As part of the Survivor Voices Against Rape (SUVAR 2024) initiative led by Rescue Women Cameroon, Safe Haven Cameroon will be launching a pilot phase community-based advocacy campaign aimed at combating rape and other forms of sexual violence within Yaoundé 6. This initiative is rooted in the urgent need to create awareness and strengthen community responses to rape, especially in conflict-affected zones and urban settlements hosting displaced populations.

This project will focus on a combination of advocacy, education, and psychosocial support, with activities specifically tailored for schools, churches, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and community groups such as bike riders. These interventions are designed to break the silence surrounding rape, challenge the harmful cultural narratives that normalize it, and empower survivors with the tools to seek justice and healing.

Sensitization Campaign in an IDP Community in Yaoundé 6

Given the impact of the Anglophone Crisis, internally displaced persons (IDPs) especially women and girls are among the most vulnerable to rape and other forms of gender-based violence. Safe Haven will carry out a targeted sensitization campaign in one IDP community located in Yaoundé 6, where many displaced families currently reside under precarious conditions.

The campaign will be organized in collaboration with community leaders and IDP network representatives, ensuring cultural sensitivity and accessibility. The session will focus on:

• Defining rape and debunking myths that may discourage survivors from speaking out;

• Explaining the legal rights of survivors under Cameroonian law;

• Sharing local resources, including health centers, hotlines, and NGOs offering support;

• Encouraging community-based protection strategies, such as forming support circles and watch groups.

Given the high levels of trauma and instability that IDPs face, this session will also include a psychosocial component, where a trained counsellor will facilitate healing conversations and provide individual support to participants who need it.

The overall objective is to empower displaced women and families to recognize the signs of sexual violence, know how to respond, and build informal networks of solidarity and protection within their temporary communities.

This project stems from powerful statistics and testimonies shared during the SUVAR 2024 session in Limbe, where survivors revealed alarming patterns of abuse—ranging from familial rape to violations by clergy and strangers. The Safe Haven team aims to use this data to guide and inform the campaign’s message across communities in Yaoundé.

Through these actions, Safe Haven Cameroon hopes to build a collective, community-led movement that stands against rape and sexual violence, supports survivors, and transforms public attitudes from silence and shame to empathy, justice, and healing.