Delegation from Represented

by
Republic of Cameroon Syracuse University-Maxwell School

Position Paper for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

The topics before the United Nations (UN) Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
are: Empowering Vulnerable Groups through Access to Information and Communications Technology;
Sport for Peace and Development; and Safeguarding World Heritage. The Republic of Cameroon urges
this body to cooperate and negotiate in the interest of progress and the preservation of our domestic and
international cultures.

I. Empowering Vulnerable Groups through Access to Information and Communications Technology

The Republic of Cameroon recognizes the role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in
reducing poverty, particularly among vulnerable populations. Access to ICT improves as quantity, quality,
and affordability increases. We support providing these services through investment in infrastructure,
maintained by regional cooperation, as well as both public-private and North-South partnerships. Our
president, H.E. Paul Biya, identifies the ICT sector as helping to strengthen the unity of our people and
to fight against inequalities by enabling many persons to have access to knowledge[and] put the
country in the best conditions to face the third millennium. Since the arrival of the Internet and mobile
phones in Cameroon, we have decreased the economic disparity between urban and rural areas.
Cameroon promotes partnerships between both the public-private sectors and North-South nations (to do
what? Maybe combine this sentences intention with the next one). As a developing economy, we rely on
contributions from the private sector and other nations to help fund these programs and modernize our
society. These external funds (such as) provide the opportunity to implement training programs, install
ICT facilities, and institute distance-learning opportunities. This project allows for higher quality access
to ICTs and therefore, requires less money and time on the part of our citizens to use these services. We
have already benefitted from these partnerships through the implementation of the Central African
Backbone (CAB) project, a fiber optic infrastructure. We call upon the private sector to cooperate with
and support public ICT projects. Cameroon hosted the 2016 award-winning 2016 Centre for Community
Regeneration and Development (CCREAD), which . This civil society organization (CSO) created an
institute in Cameroon to train teachers and administrators. As a partner country to ICT-Africa, we
encourage innovation, knowledge sharing, and entrepreneurship in this industry and our geographic
position bridging West and Central Africa allows us to act as a sub-regional hub for ICTs. (add a transition
to the next topic component here) Cameroon recognizes the importance of investing in youth, as they are
our future. Our The Cameroonian government donated laptop computers to many university students in
an effort to promote access for all students. We urge the international community to focus on this up-and-
coming (idk find a better descriptive word to clarify which population you mean) population in our
investments and initiatives. Cameroon proposes a 3-prong strategy of constructing and modernizing the
legal, regulatory, and institutional framework, increasing quantity, quality, and affordability of services,
and enhancing ICT enterprises. Cameroon encourages accomplishing this strategy through the
establishment of political and physical infrastructure, as well as incentives to bring ICT investments to
developing nations. Promoting access to ICTs for vulnerable groups can be achieved by focusing on
prosperous partnerships, a clear 3-prong approach, and youth.

II. Sport for Peace and Development

As the 2017 champions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Cameroon emphasizes the necessity of
sport in achieving peace and development goals. We recommend the expansion of an international
collaboration of for training programs, focusing on participation in sport and support for sporting
activities. . (Maybe highlight an example of a successful one here) Participation in sport empowers
marginalized populations and individuals and gives them the opportunity to be involved in the global
community. Cameroon urges this body to focus on peace and equality amongst genders in sport (moved
this here). Former Prime Minister and current Minister of Tourism and Leisure in Cameroon, Bello Bouba
Maigari, drew attention to the need to remove all discriminatory practices in sports and ensure equality
between male and female footballers. Cameroon urges this body to focus on peace and equality amongst
genders in sport. We recognize the importance of empowering women by By hosting the Female African
Nations Cup in 2016, Cameroon displayed its commitment to gender equality in sports at even the highest
levels. Through Using the publicity and media attention of surrounding this tournament, we launched a
campaign to end child marriage (insert title here if available). UN Women Cameroon also moderated a
conference on Women (in?) Ssports and Tourism at the request of our Prime Minister, Philemon Yang.
Calling attention to the use of equipment in sporting events and activities, Cameroon encourages a local
outlook in acquiring this necessity. Cameroon urges Member States to involve their local communities
and resources in the manufacturing of sporting equipment.*see below* Through this effort we can
support the development of local communities, including unemployment, social implications
underdevelopment brings to local children, and sustainable practices. In an effort to unify our national
sports and in compliance with Rule 28.2.2 of the Olympic Charter, we have created the Cameroon
National Olympic & Sports Committee (CNOSC). Among other efforts, this organization is committed to
upholding the World Anti-Doping Code through the National Anti-Doping Agency of Cameroon (ANAC).
The Sport and Active Society, a specialized commission of CNOSC, promotes sport to youth. This body
aims to show that sport is an activity for everyone and an alternative to other harmful or unfavorable
activities. (Cameroon proposes a global network of training programs to engage youth and women, not
only in the participation of sport, but also in the manufacturinge of equipment and the construction of
sporting facilities. --- You kind of already said this last sentence, I think, where I put the *

III. Safeguarding World Heritage

Cameroon highlights the importance of preserving our cultures and histories, particularly intangible
culture. We support national frameworks for the education of youth, the and cultivation of intangible
heritage through national events, as well asand urge Member States to domestically promote awareness of
foreign cultures. In addition to acquiring the nickname Africa in Miniature in part to account for the
plethora of cultures represented in Cameroon, we are home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the
Dja Reserve and part of the Sangha Trinational. Joining these two internationally recognized sites are a
variety of nationally important sites that we work domestically to promote and protect. Restoration and
rehabilitation of these sites encompass one of the flagship projects of Program 183, which aims to
rediscover our collective memory through intangible cultural heritage. This project also entailed
reopening the National Museum to the public, offering wider access to the education of our national
culture. The second flagship project of Program 183 focuses has reached over 600 on school-aged
children and includeincluded s training sessions, data collection, and education on traditional arts, ideals,
and storiesn of cultural practices. We highlight the importance of cultural education for young children
because they represent the future generations who will carry on our culture and ensure its longevity.
Through this initiative, we have reached over six hundred school children and educated them about
traditional arts, ideals, and stories. Cameroon also continues to hold a National Festival of Arts and
Culture (FENAC). This festival began in 1991 with Presidential Decree No. 91/193 and serves as a way
for our people to celebrate and remember our culture through a showcase via a variety of mediums. To
maintain the spirit of FENAC throughout the rest of the year, we We have constructed a monument in the
capital city of Yaound to maintain the spirit of FENAC throughout the rest of the year. Cameroon
recently hosted a meeting under Prime Minister Philmon Yang for the Ministers of Culture of the
Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in Yaound. This meeting targeted the cultures
of Central African nations on a sub-regional level. One ECCAS Minister noted culture is an element of
development that allows the Central Africans to see themselves through a single mirror. Recognizing not
only our national heritages, but regional ones as well, is particularly important within Africa due to our
common ancestors and histories that reach beyond border constraints. Cameroon urges Member States to
make an effort not only to preserve their domestic heritage, but also to promote education of other
nations cultures. Recognizing not only our national heritages, but regional ones as well, are particularly
important within Africa due to our similar ancestors and histories. Cameroon urges Member States to
make an effort not only to preserve their domestic heritage, but also to promote education of other
nations cultures. Cameroons National Ballet toured three countries and we assisted in organizing a
concert to support the fight against Boko Haram, all crossing national boundaries. (This is a good fact
tie in more about security of landmarks against terrorism here, maybe there is a UN resolution that
condemns such a thing?) Although acknowledging the need and importance of physical heritage sites,
Cameroon advocates for attention to be placed on the preservation of intangible culture and creativity
through education programs for young children, national events and celebrations, and an international
focus.

_--- For Topic 3, you found a ton of great national examples. I might recommend briefly adding a
message about security of national heritage sites/important cultural centers, protecting them against the
threats of terrorist attacks (Boko Haram I just keep thinking of all the Syrian landmarks and historical
sites that were destroyed by ISIS and I think Cameroon would be concerned about this too).