HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2009
«Embrace diversity, end discrimination»

Report on the Centre’s activities

Introduction
The human rights day 09 was celebrated on the theme «embrace diversity, end discrimination». This year, in an attempt to step aside from the routine official ceremonies, the Centre took a very innovative approach which consisted of a series of activities including a field mission to convey the messages of respect for diversity and non discrimination in a conflict-prone environment at the community level, a workshop to sensitize the media professionals on their role in combating discrimination and an open door day to deliver the message of the High Commissioner.

1- Field visits to the conflict-prone communities of Bali/ Bawock and Oku Mbessa.
In February 2006, a land conflict broke out between Bali and Bawock, two neighboring villages in Bali sub division of Mezam division. The ensuing battle caused important material losses on both sides. Inhabitants of Bawock suffered most from the skirmishes and several of them lost their homes thus took refuge in Bamenda and Pinyin. On 12 February 2007, the villages of Oku in Bui division and Mbessa in Boyo Division entered into disagreement over a portion of fertile land and a forest area. The violent disputes resulted in houses destroyed, plantations burnt down, displacement of 500 people and four deaths (1 Mbessan and 3 Okus).
Nowadays, the local administrative authorities are making efforts to return seized farmland to landless Bawock women while in Oku and Mbessa, tensions are yet to calm. Mbessans hardly pass through Oku and have equally banned any Oku indigene passing through Mbessa. This situation motivated the decision of the Centre to conduct the four staff field mission to sensitize these communities (Bali, Bawock, Oku and Mbessa) on the need to embrace diversity and end discrimination in a bid to maintain peaceful co-existence. 
During the mission, the delegation of the Centre (Franklin Kiven Fonyuy, Communication and Advocacy Associate, Taiyou Ndjende, Programme Assistant, Rodrique Djonkou, IT Assistant and Doctor Epinge Mathias, Driver-Messenger) accompanied by the representative of the national commission for human rights and freedoms and the community leaders met with the fons and elites of the said communities. In Oku, the delegation participated in a session of the local council where the Senior Divisional Officer for Bui, the Divisional Officer for Oku, the Mayor, some parliamentarians, councilors and elite were in attendance. The delegation used this opportunity to send its message and to expose the different audiences to the international legal binding instruments on respect for diversity and non-discrimination. During the interactive dialogue, the community members requested for more of such visits and opportunities to learn more about human rights and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

At the end of the mission, it was made clear that this initiative was long awaited by the various communities, who showed much appreciation for it, and who were now more hopeful for a peaceful outcome of their dispute. They also sought the Centre’s help in influencing the administrative authorities to pursue a just and fair settlement of their disputes. The mission has reached the following concrete results:
- The Centre understands more the conflicts between Bali/Bawock and Oku/Mbessa and witnessed the importance of human rights education at the community level ; 
- Contacts with local administrative and traditional authorities were made and could eventually ease the organization of any follow up activity ;
- More people are aware of the human rights instruments and standards on respect for diversity and non-discrimination as well as of the role and the activities of the Centre. 

2- Workshop on the role of the media to combat discrimination
On 10 December, the delegation conducted a workshop for journalists from 20 media organs in the North West Region to strengthen the capacities of the media professionals on their role in combating discrimination. During this workshop, the message of the High Commissioner for human rights was delivered before debates on the various kinds of discrimination in light of the international human rights instruments. During the discussions, the role of the media in inciting discriminatory sentiments that have led to gross violations (i.e. in Rwanda and South Africa) was reminded. The media practitioners were also reminded about their responsibility to respect professional ethics in their way of reporting. Finally, they were encouraged to treat information in an objective and unbiased manner and to foster respect, fulfillment and protection of human rights in all circumstances.

3- Open door day at the Centre
On 10 December, the message of the High Commissioner was delivered at the Centre by Abdoulaye Traoré, Officer-In-Charge, to about 90 persons representing the government, the diplomatic corps and development cooperation partners, the civil society and media.
The delivery of the message was followed by a presentation on the Centre’s realizations in fighting discrimination and promoting respect for diversity. The questions and answers session was used by the audience to outline the challenges of ending discrimination in modern societies and explore possible solutions through effective human rights promotion and protection.
At the end of the event, a number of outreach materials including the UDHR 61st anniversary folders, T-shirts and relevant documentation were disseminated among the participants.