Context
The 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be celebrated next December 10, 2009. This event has been placed under the theme “Embrace diversity, End discrimination”. On this occasion, the United Nations High commissioner for Human Rights has emphasized the need to stand up and say no to all forms of discrimination. Commemorative activities will hold across the world to show solidarity for the human rights course and to encourage more peaceful co-existence between peoples, tribes and nations of the world.

Justification
From April 20-24 2009, the Durban review conference which aimed at examining the path covered after the 2001 conference on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and associated intolerance, held in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference came out with strong recommendations towards ending all forms of discrimination. (Available online at: http://www.un.org/french/durbanreview2009/resolutions.shtml).

Within the framework of this important outcome of Durban 2, the United Nations decided to focus attention during this year’s Human Rights Day Celebrations on discrimination thus the theme “Embrace diversity, End discrimination”. Within the local environment, the message on discrimination needs to be taken to the communities especially those that have witnessed conflict situations. The communities of Bali, Bawock, Oku and Mbessa in the North West region of Cameroon fall within this group. Considering efforts being made by the government to ease tensions between these communities and to promote peace and harmony, the Centre has decided to support such efforts by sensitizing the different communities through their traditional rulers (fons) and elite on the need to avoid all actions that will be seen as discriminatory against one another and to learn to solve their differences through cordial exchanges and dialogue. Far from getting into the roots of conflict, this sensitization tour essentially intends to support the efforts of the local authorities and will therefore be lead by them (Divisional Officers under the patronage of the Governor). It is also an opportunity to inform the local communities of their obligations to help government live up to its international obligations.

Methodology
The mission will carry on for four days. The Regional Secretary of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms will contact the different communities and liaise with local authorities to organize the meetings which will take place as follows:

All these activities will take the form of sensitization meetings and will bring together the fons and elite of the different communities. Local administrative authorities will also be present to oversee the meetings from the official and security perspective.

On Thursday the 10th of December, the delegation will meet with journalists in a one day workshop on media strategies to combat discrimination. This workshop will equip journalists with adequate skills to report complex conflict situations without compromising their positions as objective and independent players who have a duty to uphold human rights standards through the reports they present.

Objective of the mission
Sensitize the local traditional authorities and the elite of the different communities on discrimination, the need to respect human rights and promote peaceful co-existence amongst their villages and their inhabitants.

Expected Outcome
It is expected that at the end of the mission, the efforts of local administrative authorities to bring understanding and promote peace between these communities will be enhanced through proper sensitization messages on human rights and discrimination.

Mission dates :
The mission will take place from the 7th to the 11th of December 2009.

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