Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Conflict Zones: A Holistic Approach to Supporting Survivors in Cameroon

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a global issue, manifesting in various forms such as physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic abuse. In the crisis-ridden Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon, the ongoing Anglophone Crisis has significantly worsened the situation. Deep-rooted cultural norms and the breakdown of social structures have amplified the risks faced by women and girls, exposing them to heightened levels of violence from both their communities and armed groups. With limited access to protection and justice, they are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and discrimination, further endangering their safety, dignity, and well-being in these volatile regions.

GBV can be perpetrated against any gender, male or female, but it disproportionately affects women and girls, especially in African societies where cultural norms often perpetuate violence against them. Gender-Based Violence refers to any harmful act directed at an individual or group based on their gender. Though men also experience GBV, it predominantly targets women and girls due to deeply rooted societal beliefs and power imbalances.

Our programs aimed at supporting adolescent girls and women have been able to address GBV through prevention, response, and survivor support initiatives. To date, our organization has successfully reached and provided direct support through case management and economic empowerment to over 350 survivors, while more than 600 adolescent girls have benefitted from our dignity kits distribution in communities we operate in across the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon.

Generally speaking, TeenAlive has provided essential services to GBV survivors, including mental health and psychosocial support (through adolescent girls’ safe spaces, individual and group counselling) through our safe shelter, counselling, legal help through referrals and follow-up, and medical assistance where needed. For teenage mothers, this assistance is extended to their children through child protection initiatives.

In addition, TeenAlive offers specialized GBV services for child survivors of sexual violence, providing them with trauma-informed care and support. Our team also engages in community-level awareness-raising and sensitization campaigns to prevent GBV, targeting harmful practices and educating communities on gender equality. Recognizing the importance of including all members of society in the fight against GBV, TeenAlive actively engages men and boys to promote positive masculinity and reduce violence against women and girls.

We also provide safe spaces and economic empowerment through our Vocational Training Center, offering skills like traditional embroidery and bead design to help survivors gain independence, and looking forward to expand the skills. These survivors are provided with startup materials upon completing the training. Over the years, more than 150 women, including teenage mothers have benefitted from our livelihood services, ranging from provision of agricultural inputs (improved seeds and fertilisers), inputs for egg production and cash for protection needs.

TeenAlive’s intervention in establishing civil documents for teenage mothers has facilitated the empowerment of survivors of GBV, through which they have been able to regain their legal identity and access to essential services. The program helps teenage mothers obtain birth certificates for their children and identification cards/birth certificates for themselves, enabling access to healthcare, education, legal support, and social welfare. By securing these documents, TeenAlive reduces barriers to justice and enhances their ability to seek protection, report crimes, and rebuild their lives with dignity and autonomy.

To ensure proper sustainability of our services, we have supported in strengthening the capacity of Education cluster partners on GBViE mainstreaming, training GBV Area of Responsibility members on GBV referrals, and teachers on mainstreaming GBV in schools.

In the fight against Gender-Based Violence, TeenAlive stands as a beacon of hope, transforming the lives of survivors through mental health and psychosocial support, economic empowerment, and life-lasting skills training for adolescent girls and women. TeenAlive strives to create an environment free of Gender-Based Violence while reminding communities that change is possible when we unite to protect, uplift, and empower the most vulnerable.