Adah Mbah Muyang
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Strengthening the Protection and Psychosocial Support of Young IDPs in Response to Human Trafficking in the Northwest Region of Cameroon Cameroon
Adah Mbah Muyang is a peace mediator, human rights activist and youth leader. She is a recognized women’s human rights expert and peace leader and has been instrumental in advocating on peace and security issues in Cameroon. Adah currently leads the Women’s Peace Builders Network in Cameroon's Northwest Region. She is the executive director and founder of Mother of Hope Cameroon, a non-governmental organization that advocates for women's and youths' rights, for peace education, and against gender-based violence in schools and communities. Adah is experienced in mediation and peace-building; conflict prevention and resolution; electoral processes; policy-making and project management. She also has in-depth knowledge of the African Union and the United Nations.
IVLP Impact Award Project: Strengthening the Protection and Psychosocial Support of Young IDPs in Response to Human Trafficking in the Northwest Region of Cameroon
The crisis in the Northwest Region of Cameroon is characterized by the recurrence of human rights violations by both the non-state actor groups and the regular army for the past six years. Women and children, particularly girls, are the primary victims of human trafficking. They suffer from forced labor, gender-based violence, sexual abuse and psychological distress. Human trafficking remains a major problem in the context of the crisis. More than 266,000 children are in need of psychosocial support. Child labor, human slavery, rape, sexual and gender-based violence and child marriage are all increasing.
The project increased awareness on human rights and the risks of human trafficking, provided socio-economic and livelihood support for vulnerable populations, and trained internally displaced persons on their rights and protection mechanisms. The project also empowered 100 internally displaced persons aged 15-35 with life skills and resources for income-generating activities such as commercial gardening, food processing, sewing and basic computing. In total, these activities reached 1,500 women and children, indirectly and directly.
"Today I feel relief to have attended this training to understand that there are laws protecting victims of human trafficking. I received some basic skills which I can use to start up a petite business even though I do not have startup capital. I wish to immensely thank the organizers and funders for this wonderful opportunity." - Project participant
IVLP Exchange Experience
Adah participated in the IVLP Project Resilience and Psychosocial Support for Human Rights Defenders and Humanitarian Actors in 2021, organized by the U.S. Department of State and CRDF Global, in partnership with WorldBoston, World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City and San Diego Diplomacy Council.
Her exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "Every experience in your life is orchestrated to teach you something that you need to know in order to move forward. IVLP was one of those experiences."
U.S. Communities Visited Virtually
San Diego, CA; Washington, DC; Louisville, KY; Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Philadelphia, PA