Meet lady Bibiana for the first time and you will go away with a compelling story of the “Mother of Humanity”. On first impression, some have described her as a spirit filled woman. Still, those who call her Queen of Hearts, clearly got it right.
But as a girl child, Mih Bibiana MBEI Dighambong, as may call her, had a difficult life. Hers were long years of pains and sufferings from childhood through her teenage, to womanhood. And the typical patriarchal society she grew up in prepared her for her future services that would require passion for humanity, the drive to bring relief to those in distress and crisis.
“Her noble and humble background formed and shaped her vision and passion for humanity” said an acquaintance of hers to The Voice newspaper. “She learned the values of humility, compassion, care and love in her own adversity.”
Yet Bibiana, a graduate of the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, IRIC had a topflight and comfortable public service career in teaching and administration. But it was not totally fulfilling. She craved to do things that would touch lives directly. Raised by her old grandmother in a poor rural setting has given her the lamp light, vision and passion for vulnerable and abused women, girls and children in poor rural communities. More than anything in the world, she wishes to be an ambassador for the suffering, destitute, vulnerable children, those affected by negative cultural practices, social injustices, conflict and wars.
She is devoted and committed to bring peace, hope, change and a difference to the desperate and hopeless persons. It’s a yearning and motivation she has nursed from childhood. Bibiana works to add value and dignity to the lives of those around her and even beyond. As she put it, her “Humanitarian organization is named after my grandmother in honor and remembrance of her simplicity, extra ordinary kindness, love and respect for human dignity.”
WARNING: If you don’t want your energy level to be elevated by the writings and words of unconditional love and forgiveness Bibiana radiates everywhere she goes, then avoid her.
Bibiana has always been moved by the sufferings of rural people, abused women, marginalized girls, and victims of conflict. To be effective in this field, she chose to go back to school to study conflict management and humanitarian action. Her Humanitarian Foundation supports vulnerable women, girls, youths and children in poor rural communities with health, education, basic needs, and shelter, enhancing their capacity to live their full potentials.
Perhaps the conflict in Anglophone Cameroon has made Bibiana’s work even more relevant to her community. Hear her. “We have far too much violence and conflict, and that is why we have more people who are hungry and in need of assistance. I call on the people in power, the people with guns, to stop the fighting now. I have seen people’s wounds with my own eyes and I heard their stories with my own ears. They were frightened, hungry and malnourished after enduring a nightmare that most people cannot even imagine. If we are truly going to end hunger, famines and wars, we must stop this kind of inhumanity.”
She adds, “the vicious cycle of conflict and hunger must be broken if we are to achieve a world where everyone has enough to eat. Conflict forces millions of people to abandon their land, homes and jobs — putting them at risk of hunger or even famine. At the same time, hunger may contribute to conflict when coupled with poverty, unemployment or economic hardship.
Bibiana and her team of volunteers go into the poorest communities in villages whose existence is not even known to many Cameroonians. Even in the heat of conflict, these brave souls risk their lives to bring aid to people in desperate need. So don’t be surprised when you see her on a commercial bike, an overloaded car or on foot heading into the hinterland. As you will see in one of the pictures in this story, Bibiana has been involved in a car accident on the slippery, hilly and rocky tracks called roads in Menchum Division. The vehicle she was travelling in tumbled but she was unhurt.
Bibiana has transformed the lives of thousands of people in poor rural communities, in the domains of Peace-Building and Reconciliation, gender equality, poverty alleviation, defense and promotion of the rights of vulnerable persons, upholding children’s rights, Social, economic and community development, Prevention of teenage pregnancy, promotion of education of the girl child and promotion of the health and agricultural sectors for sustainable human growth.
She equally imparted her community by organizing conferences, seminars and talks on conflict prevention, gender equality, human rights, non-violence, peacebuilding, justice, reconciliation and forgiveness for a sustainable peace and development.
It is a mission that has taken her to several conferences and seminars on conflict and peace building at local and national level.
Bibiana’s passion and drive is to engage with thought leaders and high-ranking decision makers in international Humanitarian policy. She dreams and yearns to work towards building bridges of love, compassion and human empathy. She longs to build a world free of hatred, division, violence, conflict and wars. She invites those with a passion for humanity to challenge her, converse with her, and slog through the mud with her. As a researcher, independent and international consultant in humanitarian issues, reconciliation and peace building, will not rest in her quest to mitigate the high cost of humanitarian crisis, unthinkable human suffering that erupts from human rights violation during armed conflict. She would seek strategies towards prevention of mass human atrocities. With a Masters in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, she is on the ground and in the trenches working to bring greater autonomy and dignity to the people of the developing world.
Bibiana has an admirable stock of qualities: High school teacher, motivational speaker, wife, mother of three. She is full of acts of random kindnesses. In fact, when next you meet Bibiana, take out your check list for her character traits including the following: compassion, humility, simplicity, generosity, trustworthiness, loyal to her community, assiduity, and tactfulness in her dealings. Check out if these qualities have earned her the admiration of many in her community and around the globe.
Bibiana holds the following qualifications: Professional Higher Teachers’ Training Diploma (DIPES I) from ENS Annex Bambili, Professional Higher Teachers’ Training Diploma (DIPES II) from ENS Yaoundé, Bachelor’s Degree in English Language/Literature from the University of Yaoundé I, and a Masters in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Action for Sustainable Development (CA2D) from IRIC Yaoundé.
Among many international experiences, Bibiana is a Hive Global Leader. She is an author of a most cherished book by policy makers titled. “RWANDA-Horrors of Genocide: Prevention is possible in our world today”. This book gained international recognition upon publication in 2018.
The Peace Builder/Crusader
Mih Bibiana Mbei Dighambong is an Expert in Peace, Conflict Prevention and Humanitarian Action. She holds a BA in Social Science, Higher Diploma in Education and a Masters in International Relations with specialty in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Action. She is the CEO/Founder of Bihndumlem Humanitarian Association of Peace and Hope (BIHAPH).
She is a writer and author of two books RWANDA-HORRORS OF GENOCIDE: PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE IN OUR WORLD TODAY and A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MITIGATING POST-GENOCIDE CHALLENGES.
MIH BIBIANA had this burning passion for serving and saving humanity, which since her youth, has been her driving force to create BIHAPH so as to reach out to the down-trodden and less privileged. Her deep research on wars and genocide with case study of the Rwandan Genocide during her writings brought her face to face with even more degrading realities of the inhumane treatment meted oh humans of all races by fellow humans and this, coupled with her inborn passion to make humanity a safe haven, prompted her to decry these human right abuses, injustices and boosted her quest for human right protection, equality, justice and peace.
As a passionate Humanitarian, Human right activist, who stands at the forefront of Peace Building through Inclusiveness, Equality, Justice, Reconciliation and Reconstruction, she partnered with other organizations to form the South West/North West Women’s Task Force (SNWOT), a women’s led group in Cameroon that has as duty to fight against all forms of violence and promote peace especially in the restive South West and North West Regions of the country.
MIH Bibiana is equally a founding and active member of the Cameroon Women’s Peace Movement (CAWOPEM), an assembly of women from all ten regions of Cameroon and the Diaspora, aimed at advocating for the right of women to participate in decision-making at all levels. She remains one of the pillars of this movement as her contributions to peace-related issues and activities of the movement are primordial.
Mih Bibiana is a consultant, and an expert in conflict prevention in Cameroon with a commendable moral probity as demonstrated in her humanitarian and intellectual works including her book titled “Rwanda-Horror of Genocide: Prevention is Possible in our World Today” wherein she traced the root cause of Rwanda genocide from an ideology of hatred, divisionism, meticulous planning, economic hardship, deeply rooted in colonialism and recommended conflict prevention strategies and policies. It should be noted that the situation
expounded by Bibiana in her book falls on all folds with what is happening in the North and South West regions of Cameroon. Through her organization, she regularly organizes conferences, seminars and talks on conflict prevention, Gender Equality, Human Rights, Non-violence, Peace-building, Justice, Reconciliation and Forgiveness for a Sustainable Peace and Development. She is currently a prominent figure in the struggle to find a lasting solution to the armed conflict that has devastated Anglophone Regions of Cameroon since the end of 2016. Although she often finds herself in the cross-fires of government forces and Non state armed groups because of her passion and drive to defend the rights of marginalized and oppressed people, she places her passion for humanity over her very own life.
In 2019, she intervened in the Aghem-Mbororo crisis in Wum, assisted the survivors and mitigated for peace. In September 2019, she successfully trained 50 youths in ICT in partnership with the Public Investment Budget (PIB) and graduated them as Peace Ambassadors later in February 2020. These youths now serve as torch-bearers of peace in the community. In February 2020 she organized an Inter-Community Peace Dialogue in Wum during the Aghem-Mbororo insurgence, where she brought resilience through humanitarian assistance, peace speeches, social cohesion, forgiveness and reconciliation and this brought about peace in Wum right up till date.
In March 2020, Bibiana also represented civil society on the Ngarbuh massacre independent investigation alongside Bishop of Kumbo George Nkou and Mr. Chemutah Divine Banda, President of the National Commission on Human rights and Freedom of blessed memory. She selflessly participated as a member of this fact-finding commission of inquiry set up by the Head of State to investigate the massacre Since March 2020, she is actively involved in the promotion of peace through dialogues with members of the said commission to prevent another Ngarbuh incident.
From 8-10th October She organized a three-day training on community mobilization towards conflict prevention and transformation, crisis management, peace building, humanitarian assistance, trauma healing and rehabilitation: SHAPING PEACE TOGETHER. This training empowered 16 councilors across 13 different councils in community peace building at grass roots.
Furthermore, Bibiana is one of the few grassroots peacebuilding actors who has understood and mainstreamed an economic empowerment through income generating livelihood activities in her actions for social cohesion. She has among other things brought the women in her community together to start a honey farm which enables them to realize many other peacebuilding initiatives, stop the women from fleeing and rather amplify their voices against attacks and threats from both government and non-state armed forces. A good, peaceful, human-centric and nonviolent leader can only instill such qualities in her collaborators.
In July 2020, she trained 300 Grass-Roots women in Bafmeng, Fungom Sub-Division-Menchum on their role as women in building peace in their community through their potentials as women. She then trained them in laundry-soap, bathing soap, and body lotion production for Economic Empowerment and to reduce the rate of Gender-Based-Violence where women are usually the most affected specially to rebuild livelihoods that have been destroyed by the conflict.
Trained and empowered most affected and vulnerable populations in poor rural communities as Project coordinator with UNHCR in partnership with local initiatives on strengthening community response against Gender-based violence in WAR affected rural communities in Cameroon
Trained and empowered 1500 community leaders as Project coordinator with SWISS Embassy Yaounde-Cameroon on Providing space for an increased citizen participation and civic engagement as major tools for conflict transformation (CT) and Peace Building (PB) in shattered communities by the crisis in the NWR, Cameroon.
Guest speaker at the first ever NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WOMEN FOR PEACE IN CAMEROON on "The normative framework for women's participation in peace processes in Cameroon". "What legal and administrative options exist for enhancing women's participation in peace processes in Cameroon?" organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's office in Cameroon and Central Africa, in partnership with networks of women's associations and organizations in Cameroon, under the patronage of the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family.
Almost on a daily basis, Mih Bibiana sends out peace building messages as a way of sensitizing the public through her social media handles. She writes statements condemning every act of violence, human rights abuses meted on people irrespective of their race, sex or affiliations. Through her sensitization campaigns, she is able to transform many lives and bring peace to those areas where possible.
Mih Bibian Mbei Dighambong is indeed a frontline Peace Builder/Crusader who takes all the risk with her team and works during dangerous/ difficult circumstances especially in the most remote and disadvantaged communities and conflict affected zones where no one can go.
Award Winner
Two laureates of the Irwin Cotler award were handed certificates for their valuable contribution to the promotion of human rights in Cameroon on December 10, 2021.
The Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Richard Bale on December 10, 2021 awarded certificates of recognition to two human rights defenders as an acknowledgement to their works in promoting social justice, equity and humanitarian actions. The two laureates are Mih Bibiana Mbei epse Dighambong, founder of the Bihndulem Humanitarian Association of the North West Region and Mohamadou Bachirou Salé, founder of Cercle des éducateurs solidaires des quartiers réunis de Maroua (CESOQUAR) of the Far North Region.
Richard Bale said for the past eight years, the High Commission has within the framework of the International Human Rights Day commemorated every December 10, given out awards to human rights defenders who are working to promote a socially inclusive society. On the criteria of selection, he said brave achievements is what the High Commission sets out to recognise. “There are two sets of criteria, one is specific to the individual and their achievement. We look for human rights defenders who have distinguished themselves in their courageousness and effectiveness. We seek a balance in the selection since we have two awards and typically, we will look for one man and a woman. In each case, we believe that it is important to encourage these individuals who work in a difficult context,” he explained.
Receiving her award, Bibiana Dighambong said the recognition is an indication that everyone carries a sit of humanity. “This award is very significant as it is an acknowledgement that there is a problem and we need to find a lasting solution to it. It is also a recognition of local leadership and the role played by women in building our communities. It is a sign that we all share in the common problem of humanity,” she stated, adding that she is motivated by the values of respect, community building and compassion.
WOMEN OF OUR TIME
MIH Bibiana MBEI DIGHAMBONG:
The Peace Builder/Crusader & A Phenomenal woman! A Bundle of Joy and Hope to so many
Meet lady Bibiana for the first time and you will go away with a compelling story of the “Mother of Humanity”. On first impression, some have described her as a spirit filled woman. Still, those who call her Queen of Hearts, clearly got it right.
But as a girl child, Mih Bibiana MBEI Dighambong, as may call her, had a difficult life. Hers were long years of pains and sufferings from childhood through her teenage, to womanhood. And the typical patriarchal society she grew up in prepared her for her future services that would require passion for humanity, the drive to bring relief to those in distress and crisis.
“Her noble and humble background formed and shaped her vision and passion for humanity” said an acquaintance of hers to The Voice newspaper. “She learned the values of humility, compassion, care and love in her own adversity.”
Yet Bibiana, a graduate of the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, IRIC had a topflight and comfortable public service career in teaching and administration. But it was not totally fulfilling. She craved to do things that would touch lives directly. Raised by her old grandmother in a poor rural setting has given her the lamp light, vision and passion for vulnerable and abused women, girls and children in poor rural communities. More than anything in the world, she wishes to be an ambassador for the suffering, destitute, vulnerable children, those affected by negative cultural practices, social injustices, conflict and wars.
She is devoted and committed to bring peace, hope, change and a difference to the desperate and hopeless persons. It’s a yearning and motivation she has nursed from childhood. Bibiana works to add value and dignity to the lives of those around her and even beyond. As she put it, her “Humanitarian organization is named after my grandmother in honor and remembrance of her simplicity, extra ordinary kindness, love and respect for human dignity.”
WARNING: If you don’t want your energy level to be elevated by the writings and words of unconditional love and forgiveness Bibiana radiates everywhere she goes, then avoid her.
Bibiana has always been moved by the sufferings of rural people, abused women, marginalized girls, and victims of conflict. To be effective in this field, she chose to go back to school to study conflict management and humanitarian action. Her Humanitarian Foundation supports vulnerable women, girls, youths and children in poor rural communities with health, education, basic needs, and shelter, enhancing their capacity to live their full potentials.
Perhaps the conflict in Anglophone Cameroon has made Bibiana’s work even more relevant to her community. Hear her. “We have far too much violence and conflict, and that is why we have more people who are hungry and in need of assistance. I call on the people in power, the people with guns, to stop the fighting now. I have seen people’s wounds with my own eyes and I heard their stories with my own ears. They were frightened, hungry and malnourished after enduring a nightmare that most people cannot even imagine. If we are truly going to end hunger, famines and wars, we must stop this kind of inhumanity.”
She adds, “the vicious cycle of conflict and hunger must be broken if we are to achieve a world where everyone has enough to eat. Conflict forces millions of people to abandon their land, homes and jobs — putting them at risk of hunger or even famine. At the same time, hunger may contribute to conflict when coupled with poverty, unemployment or economic hardship.
Bibiana and her team of volunteers go into the poorest communities in villages whose existence is not even known to many Cameroonians. Even in the heat of conflict, these brave souls risk their lives to bring aid to people in desperate need. So don’t be surprised when you see her on a commercial bike, an overloaded car or on foot heading into the hinterland. As you will see in one of the pictures in this story, Bibiana has been involved in a car accident on the slippery, hilly and rocky tracks called roads in Menchum Division. The vehicle she was travelling in tumbled but she was unhurt.
Bibiana has transformed the lives of thousands of people in poor rural communities, in the domains of Peace-Building and Reconciliation, gender equality, poverty alleviation, defense and promotion of the rights of vulnerable persons, upholding children’s rights, Social, economic and community development, Prevention of teenage pregnancy, promotion of education of the girl child and promotion of the health and agricultural sectors for sustainable human growth.
She equally imparted her community by organizing conferences, seminars and talks on conflict prevention, gender equality, human rights, non-violence, peacebuilding, justice, reconciliation and forgiveness for a sustainable peace and development.
It is a mission that has taken her to several conferences and seminars on conflict and peace building at local and national level.
Bibiana’s passion and drive is to engage with thought leaders and high-ranking decision makers in international Humanitarian policy. She dreams and yearns to work towards building bridges of love, compassion and human empathy. She longs to build a world free of hatred, division, violence, conflict and wars. She invites those with a passion for humanity to challenge her, converse with her, and slog through the mud with her. As a researcher, independent and international consultant in humanitarian issues, reconciliation and peace building, will not rest in her quest to mitigate the high cost of humanitarian crisis, unthinkable human suffering that erupts from human rights violation during armed conflict. She would seek strategies towards prevention of mass human atrocities. With a Masters in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, she is on the ground and in the trenches working to bring greater autonomy and dignity to the people of the developing world.
Bibiana has an admirable stock of qualities: High school teacher, motivational speaker, wife, mother of three. She is full of acts of random kindnesses. In fact, when next you meet Bibiana, take out your check list for her character traits including the following: compassion, humility, simplicity, generosity, trustworthiness, loyal to her community, assiduity, and tactfulness in her dealings. Check out if these qualities have earned her the admiration of many in her community and around the globe.
Bibiana holds the following qualifications: Professional Higher Teachers’ Training Diploma (DIPES I) from ENS Annex Bambili, Professional Higher Teachers’ Training Diploma (DIPES II) from ENS Yaoundé, Bachelor’s Degree in English Language/Literature from the University of Yaoundé I, and a Masters in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Action for Sustainable Development (CA2D) from IRIC Yaoundé.
Among many international experiences, Bibiana is a Hive Global Leader. She is an author of a most cherished book by policy makers titled. “RWANDA-Horrors of Genocide: Prevention is possible in our world today”. This book gained international recognition upon publication in 2018.
The Peace Builder/Crusader
Mih Bibiana Mbei Dighambong is an Expert in Peace, Conflict Prevention and Humanitarian Action. She holds a BA in Social Science, Higher Diploma in Education and a Masters in International Relations with specialty in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Action. She is the CEO/Founder of Bihndumlem Humanitarian Association of Peace and Hope (BIHAPH).
She is a writer and author of two books RWANDA-HORRORS OF GENOCIDE: PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE IN OUR WORLD TODAY and A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MITIGATING POST-GENOCIDE CHALLENGES.
MIH BIBIANA had this burning passion for serving and saving humanity, which since her youth, has been her driving force to create BIHAPH so as to reach out to the down-trodden and less privileged. Her deep research on wars and genocide with case study of the Rwandan Genocide during her writings brought her face to face with even more degrading realities of the inhumane treatment meted oh humans of all races by fellow humans and this, coupled with her inborn passion to make humanity a safe haven, prompted her to decry these human right abuses, injustices and boosted her quest for human right protection, equality, justice and peace.
As a passionate Humanitarian, Human right activist, who stands at the forefront of Peace Building through Inclusiveness, Equality, Justice, Reconciliation and Reconstruction, she partnered with other organizations to form the South West/North West Women’s Task Force (SNWOT), a women’s led group in Cameroon that has as duty to fight against all forms of violence and promote peace especially in the restive South West and North West Regions of the country.
MIH Bibiana is equally a founding and active member of the Cameroon Women’s Peace Movement (CAWOPEM), an assembly of women from all ten regions of Cameroon and the Diaspora, aimed at advocating for the right of women to participate in decision-making at all levels. She remains one of the pillars of this movement as her contributions to peace-related issues and activities of the movement are primordial.
Mih Bibiana is a consultant, and an expert in conflict prevention in Cameroon with a commendable moral probity as demonstrated in her humanitarian and intellectual works including her book titled “Rwanda-Horror of Genocide: Prevention is Possible in our World Today” wherein she traced the root cause of Rwanda genocide from an ideology of hatred, divisionism, meticulous planning, economic hardship, deeply rooted in colonialism and recommended conflict prevention strategies and policies. It should be noted that the situation
expounded by Bibiana in her book falls on all folds with what is happening in the North and South West regions of Cameroon. Through her organization, she regularly organizes conferences, seminars and talks on conflict prevention, Gender Equality, Human Rights, Non-violence, Peace-building, Justice, Reconciliation and Forgiveness for a Sustainable Peace and Development. She is currently a prominent figure in the struggle to find a lasting solution to the armed conflict that has devastated Anglophone Regions of Cameroon since the end of 2016. Although she often finds herself in the cross-fires of government forces and Non state armed groups because of her passion and drive to defend the rights of marginalized and oppressed people, she places her passion for humanity over her very own life.
In 2019, she intervened in the Aghem-Mbororo crisis in Wum, assisted the survivors and mitigated for peace. In September 2019, she successfully trained 50 youths in ICT in partnership with the Public Investment Budget (PIB) and graduated them as Peace Ambassadors later in February 2020. These youths now serve as torch-bearers of peace in the community. In February 2020 she organized an Inter-Community Peace Dialogue in Wum during the Aghem-Mbororo insurgence, where she brought resilience through humanitarian assistance, peace speeches, social cohesion, forgiveness and reconciliation and this brought about peace in Wum right up till date.
In March 2020, Bibiana also represented civil society on the Ngarbuh massacre independent investigation alongside Bishop of Kumbo George Nkou and Mr. Chemutah Divine Banda, President of the National Commission on Human rights and Freedom of blessed memory. She selflessly participated as a member of this fact-finding commission of inquiry set up by the Head of State to investigate the massacre Since March 2020, she is actively involved in the promotion of peace through dialogues with members of the said commission to prevent another Ngarbuh incident.
From 8-10th October She organized a three-day training on community mobilization towards conflict prevention and transformation, crisis management, peace building, humanitarian assistance, trauma healing and rehabilitation: SHAPING PEACE TOGETHER. This training empowered 16 councilors across 13 different councils in community peace building at grass roots.
Furthermore, Bibiana is one of the few grassroots peacebuilding actors who has understood and mainstreamed an economic empowerment through income generating livelihood activities in her actions for social cohesion. She has among other things brought the women in her community together to start a honey farm which enables them to realize many other peacebuilding initiatives, stop the women from fleeing and rather amplify their voices against attacks and threats from both government and non-state armed forces. A good, peaceful, human-centric and nonviolent leader can only instill such qualities in her collaborators.
In July 2020, she trained 300 Grass-Roots women in Bafmeng, Fungom Sub-Division-Menchum on their role as women in building peace in their community through their potentials as women. She then trained them in laundry-soap, bathing soap, and body lotion production for Economic Empowerment and to reduce the rate of Gender-Based-Violence where women are usually the most affected specially to rebuild livelihoods that have been destroyed by the conflict.
Trained and empowered most affected and vulnerable populations in poor rural communities as Project coordinator with UNHCR in partnership with local initiatives on strengthening community response against Gender-based violence in WAR affected rural communities in Cameroon
Trained and empowered 1500 community leaders as Project coordinator with SWISS Embassy Yaounde-Cameroon on Providing space for an increased citizen participation and civic engagement as major tools for conflict transformation (CT) and Peace Building (PB) in shattered communities by the crisis in the NWR, Cameroon.
Guest speaker at the first ever NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WOMEN FOR PEACE IN CAMEROON on "The normative framework for women's participation in peace processes in Cameroon". "What legal and administrative options exist for enhancing women's participation in peace processes in Cameroon?" organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's office in Cameroon and Central Africa, in partnership with networks of women's associations and organizations in Cameroon, under the patronage of the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family.
Almost on a daily basis, Mih Bibiana sends out peace building messages as a way of sensitizing the public through her social media handles. She writes statements condemning every act of violence, human rights abuses meted on people irrespective of their race, sex or affiliations. Through her sensitization campaigns, she is able to transform many lives and bring peace to those areas where possible.
Mih Bibian Mbei Dighambong is indeed a frontline Peace Builder/Crusader who takes all the risk with her team and works during dangerous/ difficult circumstances especially in the most remote and disadvantaged communities and conflict affected zones where no one can go.
Award Winner
Two laureates of the Irwin Cotler award were handed certificates for their valuable contribution to the promotion of human rights in Cameroon on December 10, 2021.
The Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Richard Bale on December 10, 2021 awarded certificates of recognition to two human rights defenders as an acknowledgement to their works in promoting social justice, equity and humanitarian actions. The two laureates are Mih Bibiana Mbei epse Dighambong, founder of the Bihndulem Humanitarian Association of the North West Region and Mohamadou Bachirou Salé, founder of Cercle des éducateurs solidaires des quartiers réunis de Maroua (CESOQUAR) of the Far North Region.
Richard Bale said for the past eight years, the High Commission has within the framework of the International Human Rights Day commemorated every December 10, given out awards to human rights defenders who are working to promote a socially inclusive society. On the criteria of selection, he said brave achievements is what the High Commission sets out to recognise. “There are two sets of criteria, one is specific to the individual and their achievement. We look for human rights defenders who have distinguished themselves in their courageousness and effectiveness. We seek a balance in the selection since we have two awards and typically, we will look for one man and a woman. In each case, we believe that it is important to encourage these individuals who work in a difficult context,” he explained.
Receiving her award, Bibiana Dighambong said the recognition is an indication that everyone carries a sit of humanity. “This award is very significant as it is an acknowledgement that there is a problem and we need to find a lasting solution to it. It is also a recognition of local leadership and the role played by women in building our communities. It is a sign that we all share in the common problem of humanity,” she stated, adding that she is motivated by the values of respect, community building and compassion.