Physical violence exerted by men on women in most parts of Cameroon is seen as a show of love or masculinity. In some parts of the North West region, the men believe that you must beat your wife to keep her under control. This was the life style of Chief Pascal sub chief of Benahundu before he attended the stakeholders’ capacity building training organized by BIHAPH in partnership with UNHCR in Benakuma in July 2021. The project titled “strengthening community response against gender based violence and the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse in some communities in Menchum Division” turned things around for Chief Pascal. At the end of the training, Chief Pascal testified “from what I have learnt here today, I promise never to beat my wife again. I have made up my mind to educate all my children both boys and girls. I won’t treat the girls as properties any
longer. A month later, the community mobilizers visited his home and Chief Pascal welcomed them with a lot of excitement and told them that his life had changed; he further beckoned on them to come and organize such trainings again in his community”. In confirmation to what he was saying his wife said “my husband has really changed, he no longer beats me. He bought all the school needs of my daughters this year”. In Chief Pascal’s words, “I am going to give my daughters the best education has to offer, I will no longer discriminate. Thank you so much UNHCR for the change you have brought to my life and that of my community”. He said in excitement, a clear indication that he but acted his words and kept to his promise after the training.