GIDICom Intensifies #Act4Peace237 Campaign

GIDICom Intensifies #Act4Peace237 Campaign

GIDICOM, a Bamenda based digital rights organization seeking to bridge the globally existing digital divide by advocating for an inclusive and safe online content development and sharing plus equal access to the internet has intensified its recently launched online campaign dubbed #Act4Peace237

The campaign seeks to caution internet users to think twice about the impact before they like, comment or share a post on social media and same before they also post anything. To GIDICom, any post that will likely be harmful to others, violate their privacy, their rights and disturb community tranquility mustn't be published or disseminated.  

The Global Initiative for Digital Inclusion and Communication (GIDICom) launched the campaign in mid January 2020 and has also been carrying out physical activities in Bamenda to further pass on the message. On the 19th of January 2020, the organisation held a press conference with media persons in Bamenda as part of the activities for the #Acts4peace237 campaign which is a #DefyHateNow initiative geared at creating a #HateFree online and offline space. This was later followed by a fireside chat with women particularly those with special abilities to tell their stories.

Fireside Talk with Women

Madam Akah Roseline Obah, GIDICom's Communication and Gender expert says "Humanitarian agencies as well need to think of extending a hand to them as a special group of persons going through untold challenges as a result of the current crisis." The effects of the Anglophone crisis has buried so much hatred and pain in the minds of many and women are not exempted from this. Such pain and hatred has been manifested online and offline in hate speeches and violent attacks. Women have sometimes been the oppressor or the oppressed.

While moderating the session, she called on the women to engage in the discussions. She also urged them to begin by advocating peace in their small spheres of influence by solving little misunderstandings around their communities.  

Women during the chat shared their pain most of which included losing loved ones, property, teenage pregnancies, lack of home comfort, lack of assistance and  inability for persons living with disabilities to run when there is a shoot out. Women with special abilities frowned at all organizations carrying out humanitarian assistance and government for no one has done assessment needs for them and most explained that they have registered, struggled to even reach some of the distribution sites but collected no item. They live with this bitterness but thanked GIDICom for listening to them and as such they shall go back relieved.

Press Conference

At the end of the chat session Madam Pedmia Shatu, GIDICom's Executive Director applauded the efforts made by the women to come particularly at a time when there is insecurity.  She echoed that 15 women was a good number to have started with to monitor impact. "Their stories simply tell me and my team that we don't need to sleep but work double to see that we impact lives because these are just a few of such women going through trauma but I believe with God on our side, we shall hold on firm and bring the desired impact" Madam Shatu added.

The women left happy to have had a shoulder to lean on which is GIDICom through its #Act4Peace237 campaign under the banner of #DefyHateNow and promised to take small significant moves to do so in their various communities.