Esther Omam

Last updated
Esther Omam Njomo
Born
Douala
CitizenshipCameroon
Awards

Esther Omam Njomo [2] is a Cameroonian human rights activist and the Executive director of Reach Out Cameroon, an NGO that promotes women's and children's rights in conflict-affected areas and ensures women's participation in the process of peacebuilding. [3] [4] [5] She is the winner of the 2023 Global Centre for Pluralism Award, and the 2023 German Africa Prize. [6]

Contents

Early life

Born in Douala, Cameroon, Omam was forced out of school to get married at a young age. [7]

Career

Omam is a mediator of peace who belongs to the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth (MWC) network and became a member of the Women's Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) in 2020. [8] [9]

In 1996, Omam created Reach Out Cameroon as a small initiative which got legally permitted in 2000 alongside a group of medical doctors, gender specialists, social workers, nurses, community relay agents and agronomists in response to HIV epidemic outbreak in Fako District, Cameroon. [10]

In 2018, she proposed the creation of South West and North West Women's Task Force (SNWOT), bringing together women's civil society organizations from across the two regions of Cameroon and beyond. [11] [12]

In 2021, she played an important role in organizing the first ever National Women's Peace Convention in Cameroon, an event that brought over 1200 women together from across the country demanding an end to violence and calling for peace. [13]

In 2023, she was awarded the German Africa Prize alongside Marthe Wandou and Sally Mboumien for organizing the first National Women's Convention for Peace in Cameroon. [14] [15]

In 2024, she won the Africa Women's Award in the Woman of Impact and Exception for the Promotion of Peace's Category for her contributions to ensuring peacebuilding in Cameroon and beyond. [16]

Awards and recognition

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References

  1. ↑ Nua, Doh Bertrand (16 Nov 2023). "Esther Omam dedicates int'l award to conflict victims, community peace champions…". Esther Omam dedicates int’l award to conflict victims, community peace champions…. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  2. ↑ "Women human rights defenders' role as builders of sustainable peace must be valued and protected". ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF - PRESIDENTIAL CENTER FOR WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT. 27 Nov 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "2023 Global Pluralism Award Winner: Esther Oman". Reach Out NGO. 17 Dec 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Visit of the German Delegation to CHRDA – Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa". 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  5. ↑ "These Powerful Women". Cameroon News Agency. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  6. ↑ "Celebrating Our Female Human Rights Defenders In Africa". Friedrich Naumann Foundation. 29 Nov 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "2021 Women Building Peace Award Finalists". United States Institute of Peace. 1 Dec 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Mellows, Lauren (27 Jan 2021). ""Let us go where the guns are loud": How Esther Omam Builds Peace in Cameroon". International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) -. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "Esther Omam". Women Mediators across the Commonwealth. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  10. ↑ Chronicles, Atlantic (2023-08-20). "Reach Out Cameroon Wins Outstanding Humanitarian Organisation Award". Atlantic Chronicles. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  11. ↑ "Esther Oman". International Mediation Campus. 9 Nov 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "Esther Omam puts Cameroon on global spotlight again". Cameroon News Agency. 27 Oct 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "Previous Women Building Peace Award Recipients and Finalists". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  14. ↑ Mwakideu, Chrispin (6 Jun 2023). "Cameroonian women win German Africa Prize for peace efforts – DW – 06/06/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "WINNERS OF THE GERMAN PRIZE FOR AFRICA 2023 – Cameroon Embassy Berlin | Ambassade du Cameroun Berlin". 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  16. ↑ Nua, Doh Bertrand (5 May 2024). "Esther Omam clinches another int'l peace promoter award". Esther Omam clinches another int’l peace promoter award. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "AWARD CEREMONY FOR THE GERMAN AFRICA PRIZE AT THE FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WOMEN FOR PEACE IN CAMEROON – Cameroon Embassy Berlin". Ambassade du Cameroun Berlin. 11 Dec 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "At presentation of award: Esther Omam pledges to continue building peace bridges". News Upfront. 2023-12-30. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  19. ↑ Eucharia, Nkengafack (2022-08-02). "Esther Omam Joins African Women Hall of Fame". Reach Out NGO. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
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