Mandate a UN HRC Fact Finding Mission
Gather the facts on the ground to pave the way for peace
SPEAKER BIOS
Dr. Bernadette Ateghang
Founder and Chair of the Ambazonia International Policy Commission
Dr. Bernadette Ateghang is Founder and Chair of the Ambazonia International Policy Commission (AIPC). AIPC mission is to use systematic and targeted diplomacy through the power of argument to free the oppressed people of Southern Cameroons / Ambazonia and other oppressed People of the world. Dr. Ateghang has been participating actively within the Human Right Bodies in Geneva over the last 2 years to create awareness towards the crisis in Southern Cameroons.
Dr. Bernadette Ateghang is also Founding Member and Vice Chair of Southern Cameroons Congress of the People (SCCOP), a revolutionary movement that brings together Southern Cameroonians committed to liberate the people of the Former British Southern Cameroons from colonialism and the existential threat of the eradication of its identity. SCCOP advocates a vision of a Southern Cameroons where her people shall be treated with respect, dignity and have the opportunity to compete globally. SCCOP takes lessons from the notion that “Freedom is not given. It is taken! And that true freedom must belong to the people”.
Dr. Ateghang is one of the Leading women within the Southern Cameroons / Ambazonia decolonisation quest and served as Secretary for Strategy and Coordination within the Southern Cameroons Governing Council and later on as Director of Protocols and International Relations at the Presidency of the Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.
Dr. Ateghang has been on diplomatic mission to the United Nations in Geneva, European Union and the African Union.
DABNEY YERIMA
Southern Cameroons National Council and Ambazonia International Policy Commission
Dabney Yerima is an advocate of self determination for unrepresented peoples, a human rights and peace crusader. He is a passionate political activist and a philanthropists. This passion originated from his close relationship with his grandfather who was the Chairman of the Cameroon Anglophone Movement. When he was a little boy, his grandfather told him about the true history of Ambazonia ( Southern Cameroons), which was not taught entirely in the schools of the Republic of Cameroon. He urged him to always fight for justice and equal opportunities for all when he became a man. He has grown up to become the Interim National Secretary General of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) and the Under Secretary of Home Affairs and Resource Mobilization of the Interim Government (IG) of Ambazonia. The IG in which the SCNC is one of the stakeholders is fighting for the total restoration of the statehood of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.
Besides this, Dabney is the Chairman of the board of Reach In Charitable Organization (RICO). RICO is, and has been changing the lives of orphans and widows in the North West region of Cameroon. He is a theologian and his messages on self and spiritual development and part of RICO are being aired on some radio stations in the North West region of Cameroon. These messages have recently earned RICO the North West Team Gold award.
Maximilienne C. Ngo MBE
Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa (REDHAC)
The Director of the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa, REDHAC, elected since 2010 in Congo Brazaville, Maximilienne Ngo MBE, is a household name on issues of human rights. She started her advocacy for respect of human and people’s rights in 1990.
Since then, she has held several positions in different right groups; Deputy Secretary General, PRODHOP, Secretary in charge of advocating for the creation of REDHAC in Kigali Rwanda, Member of the coalition for the creation of an African human rights court, worked towards obtaining an observer’s status in the African Commission of Human and Peoples Rights.
The Award-winning human rights defender through REDHAC has since 2012 been working with UN mechanisms. REDHAC has been able to partner with the Geneva based Centre for Civil and Political Rights, working together to end arbitrary arrests and detention among others.
She is a member of a plethora of international organizations, an Amnesty International trainer on techniques of monitoring and reporting rights abuses in Africa, winner of several awards.
Julius Nde
Southern Cameroon Community Germany (SCCG) and Sam Soya Center for Democracy and Human Rights – Europe
Hailing from Mankon, Bamenda, Southern Cameroon, Julius Nde is a social justice and equality revolutionalist and activist in the fight for the freedom and liberation of the people of southern Cameroon/Ambazonia. He has over 15 years of experience in international development, working to support the disadvantaged people of Africa, Europe, USA, South America and China. He currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Southern Cameroon Community Germany (SCCG) in Hamburg and the Acting Director of the Sam Soya Center for Democracy and Human Rights, Europe office.
Julius holds a Bachelor’s degree in History/Education and Political Science from Bayero University, Kano; a Master of Business Administration from the University of Professional Education, The Hague; a Professional Diploma of Development Instructor from kwa-Zulu Natal Experimental College, Durban; a micro-MBA in Business Management from the Business Place in Johannesburg; a Master Class certificate in EU fundraising from EADI in Bonn; and a Master of Law and Business (MLB) from Bucerius Law School in Hamburg.
As an advocate for human rights and freedom for the Southern Cameroons, Julius has been actively engaged in conferences, summits and demonstrations in Europe, as well as in fundraising campaigns to humanitarian projects organised by the Southern Cameroonian community in Germany and the Sam Soya Center for Democracy and Human Rights – Europe.
Derek Brett
International Fellowship Of Reconciliation
Derek Brett has a long history of anti war organizing and is a world leader in efforts to pass international treaties via the UN bodies to protect the right to conscientious objection to military service. As the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)’s main representative to the UN at Geneva for close to a decade, Brett has made numerous written and oral submissions at multiple UN institutions including UNESCO, the UN General Assembly, and various UN Human Rights Council Sessions in defense of the rights of conscientious objectors in various countries including the UK,Germany, Ukraine, Israel and Slovenia.
Ms. Magdalene Moonnsamy
Women’s Justice Foundation
Ms. Magdalene Moonnsamy is a former member of the South African Parliament, an International Human Rights lawyer and the founder of Women’s Justice Foundation. A life-long champion for social justice and human rights, Magdalene is an advocate in the Solidarity Forum for the oppressed people of Western Sahara and Palestine. She has held multiple leadership roles including as the ANC Youth League’s (ANCYL) spokesperson and Treasurer General of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). In 2016, she resigned from her role in the EFF and the parliament to go into private legal practice at Magdalene Moonnsamy Attorneys which has as its top legal service the defense of women’s rights. In 2017, she received the award for best female politician from the South African Politicians Awards.
Johan Viljoen
Denis Hurley Peace Institute
Johan Viljoen is the Director of the Denis Hurley Peace Institute, of the SA Catholic Bishops’ Conference. He previously served as SA Country Director of Jesuit Refugee Service, and was Program Manager for the Catholic Church’s HIV/AIDS ARV treatment program for 15 years.
Gillian Ayong
Norwegian People’s Aid and Sam Soya Center for Democracy and Human Rights
Gillian is a human rights activist who currently works as the manager for Norwegian People’s Aid in South Africa. She is a board member for Sam Soya Center for Democracy and Human Rights fighting to protect the rights of “Ambazonians” at home and abroad. She is also a member of Southern Cameroons Congress of the People (SCCOP) and a core member of its women’s caucus leadership. Her experience spans 15 years in the development and human rights field where she worked for media freedom with Panos Institute South Africa, Children’s Rights with Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, conflict transformation with Action for Conflict Transformation, Women’s Rights with Dynamic Ladyz. She is also part of the African Union election observer mission and have been an election observer in several African countries. Her expertise spans along human rights, democracy, governance, project management as well monitoring and evaluation. As an advocate for human rights she engages at all levels including SADC, African Union and United Nations.
Patrick Ayuk
Sam Soya Center for Democracy and Human Rights
Mr. Patrick Ayuk is a human rights activist, a development practitioner, the director of the Sam Soya Center for Democracy and Human Rights, and the founder of the Global Leadership and Development Nexus. Patrick is also a doctoral research fellow with research foci on management and leadership development especially in building inclusiveness in highly diverse organizations, through inclusive leadership, at the University of North West. He previously worked as an expert for culture and education, international tutor, and facilitator in Management and leadership development, and corporate governance at higher institutions of learning in China, Finland, and South Africa respectively.
Joseph Dube
International Action Network on Small Arms
Mr Joseph Dube is the Africa Coordinator of IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms). A South African activist for social justice, he started working on preventing gun violence in 1994, becoming involved with Gun Free South Africa at an early stage. Confronting the reasons people wanted guns in one of the world’s most violent societies, Joseph persuaded communities of 40,000 people to find alternatives to violence by declaring gun-free zones, enabling them to reclaim spaces such as schools, health facilities and shops. During the campaign for a tough new gun law, Joseph bridged the gap between communities and parliament, empowering people from marginalised communities to understand how Parliament works, and how to make a submission or presentation. The highlight was an unprecedented situation where the whole parliament applauded Samuel Kobela, who spoke no English, for his speech on the need for the gun law. After leaving Gun Free South Africa in May 2004, Joseph joined Amnesty International in South Africa to coordinate campaigns including Stop Violence Against Women, Refugees and MSP (Control Arms) in South Africa, Sudan and Swaziland. He joined the IANSA secretariat in February 2005.
Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson
International Fellowship of Reconciliation
The Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson is the current Executive Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA (FOR-USA), the oldest interfaith peace group in U.S. history. She assumed this distinguished post in September 2018, becoming the 26th Executive Director for FOR-USA. In her new role, Rev. Dr. Jordan-Simpson will continue to build on a legacy of faith and commitment to justice to advance FOR-USA’s mission. She brings a great deal of experience in nonprofit leadership, board management, fund development and program management. Her professional experience includes more than 20 years of executive leadership in the social services sector
More recently, Rev. Dr. Jordan-Simpson served for 6 years as Executive Pastor at Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, New York. She received her ordainment from the Church in 1989 and served as Associate Pastor from 1995-2012.
Previously, as Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund–New York from 2007-2012, Rev. Dr. Jordan-Simpson advocated to address New York’s cradle-to-prison pipeline crisis, close abusive youth prisons, and redirect resources to invest in youth and their communities.
From 1999-2004 she served as Executive Director of Girls Incorporated of New York City, leading the expansion of the urban Girls Inc. model program, partnering with youth agencies in all five boroughs to expand gender equity training and quality gender specific programming. Prior to this, Rev. Dr. Jordan-Simpson served as Executive Vice President at the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, where she facilitated the creation of the first SCORE @ Restoration Plaza, revitalized community arts and cultural institutions and created after school education and youth leadership programs.
Rev. Dr. Jordan-Simpson currently serves on the boards of a community foundation and several nonprofit organizations. She has completed board service in higher education, and received a Certificate in Not for Profit Management, Executive Level from Columbia Business School Institute (for Not for Profit Management). Rev. Dr. Jordan-Simpson earned a Doctor of Ministry with distinction from Drew Theological Seminary, a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary (NYC), and a B.A. from Fisk University.
Professor Matt Meyer
International Peace Research Association
Matt Meyer is an internationally noted historian, educator, author and organizer, elected in 2018 as Secretary-General of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA, the world’s leading consortium of university-based professors, scholars, students, and community leaders). Meyer is the Senior Research Scholar of the University of Massachusetts/Amherst’s Resistance Studies Initiative, a position he has held since retiring from 30+ years as tenured educator and teacher-trainer for the New York City Department of Education. He is also active with the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) and the War Resisters’ International (WRI), serving as Chair of IFOR’s Financial Advisory Committee, Co-chair of FOR-USA’s National Council, and Africa Support Network Coordinator for WRI.
Meyer’s life-long pursuit of bridging gaps between academics and activists has included service as Chairman of the Consortium on Peace Research, Education, and Development (COPRED) and Founding Chair of the Peace and Justice Studies Association (PJSA), both main North American affiliates of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA). Before becoming IPRA’s Secretary-General, a post he proudly shares with Kenyan scholar Christine Atieno, Meyer served as an IPRA Executive Council member and as IPRA’s Main United Nations Representative. Meyer was also National Chair of the US-based War Resisters League, making him second only to A.J. Muste— “dean of the US peace movement” —in serving as elected leader of both WRL and FOR-USA, the historic peace organizations spanning over one hundred years of consistent struggle. He also serves as a Board member of the A.J. Muste Memorial Institute.
Meyer is author or editor of over a dozen books and one hundred chapters and articles, including the newly-released Connecting Contemporary African-Asian Peacemaking: From Satyagraha to Ujamma (2018), co-edited with India scholar Vidya Jain; and White Lives Matter Most and other “little” white lies (2018), with a Foreword by Sonia Sanchez. He was senior editor of the two-volume series Seeds of New Hope: Pan African Peace Studies for the 21st Century (2008, 2010) and his first book, Guns and Gandhi in Africa (2000, co-authored with Pan-African pacifist Bill Sutherland), included a Foreword by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu noting that Sutherland and Meyer “have looked beyond the short-term strategies and tactics which too often divide progressive peoples…They have begun to develop a language which looks at the roots of our humanness.”
Fellow Nobel Peace laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel of Argentina, in his Introduction to Meyer’s encyclopedic anthology Let Freedom Ring (2008) on contemporary movements to free political prisoners, noted that “Meyer is a coalition-builder,” one who “provides tools for today’s activists” in his writings and his work. Meyer has also co-edited and authored major works on contemporary movement-building, including Look for Me in the Whirlwind: From the Panther 21 to 21st Century Revolutions (2017), co-edited with dequi kioni-sadiki; and Oscar Lopez Rivera’s Between Torture and Resistance (2013), in partnership with Luis Nieves Falcon.
Meyer is an Editorial Board member of the juried professional journal Peace and Change and the popular web-based news-site Waging Nonviolence. He is part of the local anti-imperialist collective Resistance in Brooklyn and works closely with both Africa World/Red Sea Press and PM Press.
Eben Egbe
Spokesperson for the Global Initiative to end the Cameroons Colonial Conflict
Eben Egbe is the main spokesperson for the emerging Global Initiative to end the Cameroons Colonial Conflict. He has been an active participant in the movement against neocolonial control of Ambazonia (Southern Cameroons) since the 1990s when he was a leader in the Ambazonian student movement. Because of the crackdown against student leaders, he had to go into exile in 1998. Since then he has done human rights work with folks from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), the Iranian Socialist Party (Jonbesh), Zapatista solidarity networks, and the global indymedia movement. In 2004, he helped launched the Indymedia Africa Working Group, which has organized six independent media convergences around Africa. He has also helped to shape The Way Forward Network and the Ambazonia Prisoners of Conscience Support Network. Eben is currently is a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Scientific Computation in the College of Science & Engineering, where his research is focused on open science tools for software engineering.
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Dr. Bernadette Ateghang
+49 176 8655 4127
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Patrick Ayuk:
+27787216316
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Eben Egbe:
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