NGO condemns Cross Generational Sex

Blasius Charles NJI, Bamenda, Cameroon

Ten traditional rulers, ten Muslims rulers, over a dozen journalists, principals of secondary schools and parents, in Bamenda, capital of the North west province of Cameroon have condemned what they called Cross Generational Sex (CGS) and have called on parents and opinion leaders to educate their daughters on responsible behaviour in the society and practice abstinence as the best way to fights the killer disease called HIV/AIDS. Most of the causes were identified as immoral dressing by young girls, heavy alcohol by men that leads them to be tipsy, nagging housewives, and poverty.

Cross Generational Sex (CGS) is a sexual relationship between an old man of more than fifty years who is dating a young girl of less than twenty years or when an old woman of more than fifty years is dating a young boy of less than 20 years. This last for a short period of about one year and there is no element of love in such relationships. Most young girls in Cameroon do this because they want to obtain sexual gratification, regain youth vigour, seek comfort, gain social recognition from peers. Other reasons include the need for money and gifts, social status, pressure from peers and parents, sexual pleasure, desire to marry, social norms and male dominance, lack of self esteem, unemployment opportunities

The risks include unwanted pregnancies, abandonment by older partners, brutality from older partners, disintegration of families, too many economic demands, lose of dignity, and public embarrassment by younger partners

The one day phase II of the campaign workshop was organised by the regional coordinator the Cameroon Association of Social Marketing (ACMS), led by Tanteh Vitalis under the auspices of the assistant director of ACMS, Hyndricks Bille from Yaounde, capital of Cameroon, and with the assistance of the coordinator of the North west Provincial Technical Group (PTG) of the National Aids Control Committee (NACC), Dr Madeleine Mayer.

Cross Generational Sex is practiced and promoted by men who are above fifty years dating young girls of less than 20 years. According to the Cameroon 2004 Demographic and Health Survey, the national HIV prevalence in Cameroon was 5.5% compared to only 0.5% in 1987. Out of ten cases of HIV in Cameroon are acquired through heterosexual transmission, and the highest rate is between the 30-39 age range with 8.6% in women and 7.8% in men. Young girls of 15-19 years are 2.2% and boys are 0.6%


Former newspaper editor, NJI Blasius Charles, is the executive coordinator of Charmers Media and Communication Consults (CHAMECC) and the managing editor of a weekly 12 page newspaper called The Pilot, based in Bamenda. CHAMECC is a non governmental organisation (NGO) working in the area of media and communication, and focussing on HIV/AIDS awarness.