CUAPWD Takes Leadership Role in Pioneering Disability Inclusion Initiative in Cameroon
Yaoundé became the venue of transformative change from March 20-22, 2024, as CBM Cameroon and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) united for a groundbreaking workshop. Under the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) Phase 3 project, this gathering marked a pivotal moment in Cameroon’s journey towards inclusive humanitarian action, and CUAPWD emerged as a driving force in this movement.
Forging a Path to Inclusion
For three days, disability advocates, humanitarian actors, and policy experts engaged in intensive strategy sessions. Their mission? To dismantle barriers and ensure that persons with disabilities are no longer an afterthought in Cameroon’s emergency response and development programs. The workshop’s crowning achievement was the establishment of a Disability Inclusion Working Group – a dedicated team of experts tasked with embedding disability perspectives across all humanitarian interventions.
CUAPWD’s General Coordinator Elected to Lead
In a testament to CUAPWD’s expertise and credibility, our General Coordinator, Chick Sama, was unanimously elected as the Pioneer Coordinator of this vital working group. His election recognizes:
✔ Two decades of frontline advocacy for disability rights
✔ Proven leadership in inclusive policy development
✔ Deep understanding of intersectional barriers in humanitarian contexts
Over the next two years, Mr. Sama will steer the group’s efforts to:
• Develop national guidelines for disability-inclusive humanitarian action
• Train Persons with Disabilities, NGOs, and government agencies on accessible emergency preparedness
• Establish accountability mechanisms to ensure compliance with disability rights conventions
Why This Matters
While disasters and crises affect everyone, persons with disabilities face double marginalization – from both the emergency itself and relief systems not designed for their needs.
As Chick Sama reminded participants:
“True inclusion isn’t about creating special programs, it’s about making every program accessible from the start.”
