Gender-Based Violence (Gbv): Its Effects on Development and the Society, Initıatives in Place Focus on the Women and Young Girls of the Far North Region Cameroon

Abstract

Gbv is a complex social problem and also a major barrier to development and affects all level of society , the study will focus on the far north region of Cameroon where these practices are done under the umbrella of culture religion or tradition ,a number of initiatives have been created to fight against these types of violence but it still prevails despite all these efforts .Violence against women has been called “the most pervasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world.” The far north region in Cameroon has a population of three and a half million majority of whom are women but it is a patriarchal and conservative society, and is one of the poorest and underdeveloped regions in the country, right from birth male children are given priorities and privileges while female children are believed to move to their husbands family sooner or later so anything done for them is seen as a waste of resources .The male children have more opportunities, some parents believe sending female children to school may affect her negatively even though primary education is free parents are still reluctant to send them. Some of these girls who stay at home finally are sent to forced or early marriages and find themselves at the mercy of these men where she is relegated to the role of housewife, without resources and without skills which makes it difficult for them to secure jobs and are therefore dependent .if girls are given the same opportunities as boys they could exploit their potentials by not only being autonomous but will also contribute to the society through skills, input and ideas . The violence may sometimes not be seen but its impact is felt on development and within the society, communities and the country as a whole.