Existing Intervention Agencies
​RENATA
RENATA is an NGO (non-governmental Organization) that is the main organization in Cameroon trying to educate young girls and mothers on how breast ironing has tremendous effects (Tapscott, 2012). RENATA (Reseau National Des Associations des Tantines) stands for National association of Aunties in Cameroon. RENATA’s slogan is "Do not iron breast, they are a gift of god". RENATA recruits young women who have been through breast ironing and helps educate young girls. RENATA is a nonprofit and is located in Yaounde, Cameroon (Ortiz). Today there are more than 200 associations with 10,000 people being trained as aunties (RENATA).
A video about women who are in RENATA, and go around to educate young girls (MyJoyOnlineTV, 2010).
Gender Danger
Another group is called Gender Danger, which is trying to eliminate breast ironing in Cameroon. The campaign kicked off in 2012, with working first with the western end of the country and slowly hitting other regions (Gender Danger). This group is going to different women’s association to get educate that breast ironing is bad for the woman and the health risks associated with breast ironing (Nakinti, 2012). Although most women don’t directly see breast ironing happening, it is happening behind the scenes in homes. Most women who have been ironed, do not feel comfortable in their own skin and affected their sexual life.
A woman who has had her breasts ironed, educates young women against this practice continuing (Gender Danger, 2012).
Gender Empowerment and Development (GeED)
Gender Empowerment and Development (GeED) is a Cameroon-based intervention group that was established in 1996 (Bawe, 2011.) GeED is currently undertaking a “capacity building project on the elimination of discrimination against women in 3 regions of Cameroon (North, Center and South Region)" (Bawe, 2011). The mission of GeED is to improve the lives of women and children and to help empower them with education and training for economic success. GeED has identified violence against women in Cameroon and has established three objectives; to enhance the public understanding of gender violence and assure that victims receive access to rehabilitation, to inform women and children of their Human Rights and educate them on how to stand up for them, and to document women rights violations and discrimination to build a foundation of data for research (Bawe, 2011).
The GeED logo (Bawe, 2011)
GIZ provides services worldwide in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. One of their primary goals is to advocate respect for human rights, equal opportunities and integrity (Deutsche, 2015). It was the first to bring attention to the international community as a result of a 2005 nationwide quantitative study conducted by the Cameroonian NGO Réseau National des Associations des Tantines (RENATA) and supported by GIZ under the leadership of Dr. Flavien Ndonko, head of GIZ’s German-Cameroon Health and AIDS Program, with the assistance of Dr. Germaine Ngo’o (Deutsche, 2015).
GIz: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
(German Society for International Cooperation)
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The GIZ study interviewed 5,661 girls and women between the ages of 10 and 82 about the topics of “breast ironing,” rape, and incest in all 10 regions of Cameroon. The research remains unpublished, and to date, it is the only quantitative study that has been conducted on the practice (Tapscott, 2012). GIZ remains a leader in the campaign to educate mothers and daughters about the dangers involved, and the better ways to prevent teen pregnancy (Bawe, 2011).
Attendees of the contact meeting of GIZ in Cameroon in 2014 (BMN, 2014)
The GIZ logo (BMN, 2014)
Feinstein International Center: Research Project
The most helpful and relevant resource for developing the content of this website was written by Rebecca Tapscott from the Feinstein International Center. Tapscott went to Cameroon and reported on breast ironing by conducting studies with Cameroonian villages, teachers, religious officials, and families, and breast ironing victims (Tapscott, 2012). Her findings were very helpful, and provided additional resources to explore related to the unknown topic of breast ironing. The link to the right will bring you to Tapscott's paper if you are interested in reading more about this project.