This paper is about the role of NGOs in the resolution of the Anglophane conflict. The gruesome and perpetual violation of human rights in Cameroon is alarming and a call for concern especially from 2016 to 2021 during the ongoing Anglophone conflict. The government has tried to curb human rights violation in the country but its measures seem ineffective. This has caused the researcher to investigate the role played by Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the resolution of the ongoing conflict. A detailed study and interviews done on the activities of some selected NGOs who have been very active in monitoring, documenting and reporting issues of the conflict was carried out.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Legal Justification for NGO’s to Resolve Conflict.
The Role of NGOs in Conflict Resolution.
Protection
Monitoring and Early Warning
Advocacy and Public Communication
Socialization
Social Cohesion
Intermediation and Facilitation
The Role of NGOs in the Anglophone Conflict
The Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) and the resolution of the Anglophone Conflict
Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) and the Resolution of the Anglophone conflict
The Role of the Church
The International Community
Conclusion
Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This study investigates the pivotal role played by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in addressing the socio-political challenges and human rights violations arising from the Anglophone conflict in Cameroon between 2016 and 2021. The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of NGO interventions in conflict resolution, identify the operational hurdles these organizations face, and provide policy recommendations to enhance their contributions to sustainable peace.
- The impact of NGOs on monitoring and reporting human rights abuses during the Anglophone crisis.
- The legal and practical framework for NGO involvement in peacebuilding and conflict mediation.
- Comparative analysis of the strategies employed by local entities like CHRDA and the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC).
- The influence of the international community and religious institutions on the peace process in Cameroon.
Excerpt from the Book
The Role of NGOs in Conflict Resolution.
Wars leave societies destroyed and post-conflict recovery requires a lot of financial resources. Currently, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, nearly 60 countries are in conflict or have recently come out of conflict; for the most part, these countries are the poorest on the planet. Helping these states in their reconstruction processes is one of the most complex challenges that the international community faces.
The majority of these conflicts and the eventual reconstruction processes take place in fragile states, which do not have the necessary resources and require external financial assistance in order to get through this phase. States fail when they cannot provide political goods to their society and lose legitimacy in the face of their citizens. Approximately half of the states of the world are in a weakening process, that is, they are becoming fragile. Some like Somalia have reached collapse. The governments of most of these states confront armed revolts, with long-term violence (like in Angola, Burundi, Sudan and Cameroon), directed towards the government and justified by demands for political or geographical autonomy, discrepancies between different communities for ethnic, religious or other reasons, and/or the attempt to control the scarce resources available.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the prevalence of conflict in Africa and establishes the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon as the focal point of the study.
The Legal Justification for NGO’s to Resolve Conflict.: Examines the international legal framework, including the UN Charter, that validates the role of non-state actors in human rights protection and conflict mediation.
The Role of NGOs in Conflict Resolution.: Discusses the overarching functions of NGOs in post-conflict recovery and the management of fragile states.
Protection: Details how NGOs support the primary state duty of safeguarding citizens by providing monitoring watchdogs and international accompaniment.
Monitoring and Early Warning: Explores the systematic tracking of state performance and human rights abuses to provide early warning of violence.
Advocacy and Public Communication: Analyzes the methods used by NGOs to influence public agendas and apply pressure on negotiating parties.
Socialization: Explains how NGOs promote a culture of peace through education, dialogue projects, and attitude change initiatives.
Social Cohesion: Focuses on restoring social capital and building cross-group ties in ethnically divided societies.
Intermediation and Facilitation: Describes the mediator role of NGOs in bringing parties to the negotiation table and delivering services in conflict zones.
The Role of NGOs in the Anglophone Conflict: Analyzes the specific growth and activities of NGOs in the Cameroonian context since 1990.
The Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) and the resolution of the Anglophone Conflict: Highlights the specific interventions, campaigns, and advocacy efforts of CHRDA.
Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) and the Resolution of the Anglophone conflict: Summarizes the faith-based approaches and local support programs initiated by the JPC in the Archdiocese of Bamenda.
The Role of the Church: Discusses the involvement of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon in calling for dialogue and mediation.
The International Community: Evaluates the diplomatic pressure and strategic stances taken by various nations and the UN regarding the Anglophone crisis.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings and notes the ongoing difficulty in balancing the critical role of NGOs with state governance.
Keywords
Anglophone conflict, Cameroon, NGOs, human rights, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, advocacy, civil society, CHRDA, Justice and Peace Commission, humanitarian aid, monitoring, democracy, mediation, political liberalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The work examines the role, effectiveness, and challenges of Non-Governmental Organizations in managing and resolving the Anglophone conflict in Cameroon between 2016 and 2021.
What are the central themes discussed in the book?
The themes include the legal justification for NGO intervention, the systematic monitoring of human rights violations, strategies for social cohesion, and the role of international and religious stakeholders.
What is the core objective of the researcher?
The primary goal is to assess how NGOs act as "watchdogs" and mediators, and to provide policy recommendations for better conflict management in the Anglophone regions.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The research relies on a detailed study of activities, document analysis, and interviews with key personnel from selected NGOs actively involved in the conflict zone.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It covers functional areas of NGOs like protection, advocacy, socialization, and intermediation, followed by specific case studies on organizations like CHRDA and the JPC.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include Anglophone conflict, human rights, peacebuilding, advocacy, civil society, and conflict resolution.
How does the CHRDA contribute to the resolution of the conflict?
CHRDA functions as a principal stakeholder by documenting human rights violations, conducting sensitization campaigns against hate speech, and providing support to internally displaced persons.
What role has the Catholic Church played in the Anglophone crisis?
The National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon has served as a credible voice, calling for dialogue and offering to mediate, despite the government's initial resistance.
How does the international community perceive the Anglophone conflict?
While there is no uniform view, international actors generally pressure the Cameroonian government to pursue dialogue and investigate human rights abuses, with varying approaches from countries like the U.S., France, and Switzerland.
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- Pippie Hugues (Autor:in), 2021, The Role of NGOs in the Resolution of the Anglophone Conflict from 2016 to 2021, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1150807
