In June 2020, the French ambassador to Cameroon told the media that President Biya had assured him that an investigation would be opened into the death in custody of journalist Samuel Wazizi in August 2019. NGOs also indicated armed separatists sexually assaulted survivors in the two regions (see also section 1.g., Physical Abuse, Punishment, and Torture). Atonfack Guemo said troops came under heavy gunfire and adequately responded, which resulted in the neutralization of some terrorists. National associations may acquire legal status by declaring themselves in writing to the ministry, but the ministry must explicitly register foreign associations, and the president must accredit religious groups upon the recommendation of the minister of territorial administration. On April 12 in what appears to be an attempt to curb reports of abuse by its security forces, the government denied a Human Rights Watch researcher access to the country. In October UNHCR reported that after meetings with Nigerian and Cameroonian officials, 7,000 Nigerians were scheduled to return home in 14 convoys of 500 persons during the rest of the year and in 2022. On January 19, separatist fighters attacked the government high school in Weh, North-West region, abducting five teachers, and injuring two students for not complying with a school boycottand for not contributing financially to their struggle for independence. Although there were no legal restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events, some school authorities reportedly sanctioned academic personnel for teaching politically sensitive topics, and administrative officials often deterred teachers from criticizing the government. Anglophone Cameroonians protest after gunmen opened fire at a school, killing at least six children in Kumba, Cameroon October 25, 2020. On September 11, separatists aligned with a faction of the Interim Government of Ambazonia, signed a resolution instituting a lockdown of the Northwest and Southwest Regions beginning on September 15 and ending on October 1. Journalists reported practicing self-censorship to avoid repercussions, including extortion for criticizing or contradicting the government. Other ways to share DAKAR, Senegal As accusations of human rights violations pile up in Cameroon's two-front battle against secessionists and Islamist extremists, the United States has decided to scale back. As of early October, the case was pending before the prosecutor, while police inspector Ebaa Ngomo was reportedly in detention; however, his presence in detention was not independently confirmed as of December. The conflict reportedly started when an Anglophone IDP killed a young Bamileke who was accused of theft. Since elections in October 2018, the government has increased its crackdown on political opposition. Taking as basis the criteria for identifying indigenous populations contained in the International Labor Organization Convention 169 and the Report of the African Commissions Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities, the groups that may be considered indigenous in Cameroon are the Mbororo and the Baka. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The government limited the ability of the political opposition to function freely. Nevertheless, officials routinely asserted the law implicitly authorizes the government to grant or deny permission for public assemblies. Three witnesses reportedly told Reuters that soldiers raided homes and shot civilians as they ran for cover. Perpetrators are subject to a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years or imprisonment for life if the offender habitually carries out this practice for commercial purposes, or if the practice causes death. Reporting corruption was encouraged through exempting whistleblowers from criminal proceedings. Offices of Civil Affairs were located within municipal councils in each subdivision, and in many rural or remote areas, they were in civil status centers. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), humanitarian actors continued to operate under severe constraints including repeated lockdowns, harassment at checkpoints, and the risk of improvised explosive devices by armed separatist fighters in the Anglophone regions. They interrogated the man in French and pidgin English, poured water on him, beat him with a machete until he fell unconscious. Physical Abuse, Punishment, and Torture: According to anecdotal reports, members of government forces physically abused civilians and prisoners in their custody. After 15 months of pretrial detention, on December 31, the military tribunal in Douala sentenced them to 16 months in prison, including time served, after declaring them guilty of insurrection. Since January, seven hearings were held in the trial of three security force members accused of involvement in thekillings of 21 civilians in Ngarbuh village, North-West region. Ayiseh was eventually released on the night of March 14 after her family paid part of the ransom amount requested. Youmbi returned to prison the same day and died two days later. The court issued a post facto sentence to cover the time he was imprisoned without charge. On July 16, Roger Justin Noah, deputy secretary general of the opposition MRC, petitioned the divisional officer of Yaounde I for a public protest. Some were subjected to forced anal examinations. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process, Section 4. News June 1, 2023 UAE: States must urge the United Arab Emirates to reform its dismal rights record to help ensure a successful climate meeting. According to anecdotal reports, traffickers exploited children younger than 18 in sex trafficking, although no statistics were available. Using photoshopped pictures as evidence, Christophe Bia explicitly compared Ngono to an animal. The group observed that the individuals were forcibly returned from Nigeria to Cameroon in 2018, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement, and concluded that the overall proceedings of the court did not meet internationalstandards. Despite the law, according to UNICEFs 2018 child marriage data, 31 percent of women between ages 20 to 24 were married before age 18 and 11 percent were married before age 15. On June 9, soldiers from the regular army and the elite Rapid Intervention Battalion (Bataillon d'Intervention Rapide, BIR) killed a 58-year-old man and raped a 53-year-old woman during a security operation in and around Mbuluf village, North-West region. There were reports of underage children associated with nonstate armed groups in the Far North, Southwest, and Northwest Regions. There were credible reports that members of the security forces committed numerous abuses. New York, 19 December 2011. On February 10, the governments of Nigeria and Cameroon and UNHCR announced the planned voluntary return of 5,000 Nigerian refugees from the Minawao refugee camp in the Far North Region. CAMEROON 3 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2019 United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor fighters. Local residents rejected this narrative, and hundreds of civilians protested on the streets of Bamenda. Endowed with a budget of 180 billion CFA francs ($3.27 million), the Special Solidarity Fund was expected to be used, among other things, for the purchase of protective equipment, tests, ambulances, and medicines, and to manage the quarantine of travelers. Visitors needed formal authorization from the state counsel to communicate with inmates; without authorization, visitors had to bribe prison staff to communicate with inmates. Active conflicts involving both Boko Haram and Anglophone separatists threaten the security of millions of people in Cameroon. Health districts also reported attacks on health-care facilities. Persons with disabilities reportedly found it difficult to secure and access employment. Physical Conditions: Overcrowding remained a significant problem in most prisons, especially in major urban centers. In December 2020, the Cameroonian authorities suspended all activities of MdecinsSansFrontires(MSF, Doctors Without Borders) in the North-West region, accusing the organization ofbeing too close to Anglophone separatists. According to the United Nations, 700,000 students were out of school in March 2021 as a result of the crisis. According to the United Nations, two of three schools in the two regions were closed. He was allegedly interrogated regarding his reporting in relation to the Anglophone crisis, and he was placed in a six-month pretrial detention at the Kondengui Central Prison in Yaounde. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have called on the council to formally add the crisis in Cameroons Anglophone regions to its agenda. The communique added that the perpetrators of the abuse, which took place on the overnight on September 16 at a gendarme facility in Yaounde, had been identified and would be subject to disciplinary and judicial sanctions. Convention on the non-applicability of statutory limitations to war crimes and crimes against humanity. University teachers were protesting the nonpayment of the quarterly modernization and research bonuses, an incentive they had been receiving since 2009. The trial is being held before a military court in Yaound and at time of writing had lasted 21 months. Wage and Hour Laws: The minimum wage in all sectors was greater than the World Banks poverty line. Extremist groups, such as Boko Haram, forced children to work as scouts, porters, and cooks. The law identifies different offenses as corruption, including influence peddling, involvement in a prohibited employment, and failure to declare a known conflict of interest. In November, authorities banned three MRC meetings in the cities of Ebolowa, Yaound, and Douala. Major companies, including quasi-state-run and or -operated companies, reportedly engaged in the practice, according to workers from Energy of Cameroon, the water company Camerounaise des Eaux, cement manufacturer Cimencam, Guinness, Aluminum Smelter, Cameroon Oil Transportation Company, Ecobank, and many others. After more than two years in pretrial detention as the result of a defamation complaint filed by French Cameroonian writer Calixthe Beyala, Paul Chouta, who worked as a reporter for the privately owned Cameroon Web news website, was released on May 20, two days after his sentencing by the Mfoundi Court of First Instance to 23 months imprisonment. As in the previous year, humanitarian organizations cited difficulty in accessing certain areas and in some instances were harassed and denied passage by government authorities. On June 8, at approximately 7 p.m. in Gom village in the Northwest Region, two plainclothes soldiers, whom a witness recognized as regular army members from the Gom military base, broke into the local traditional rulers home, known as the fons home, and beat a 72-year-old man. [8], The following table gives Cameroon's ratings since 1972 in the Freedom in the World reports, published annually by Freedom House. On January 12, separatist fighters shot and injured a female public-school teacher in Bamenda, North-West region. Buea-based Human Is Right reported a few prison visits in the Southwest Region. In June 2020, the French ambassador to Cameroon told the media that President Biya had assured him that an investigation would be opened into the death in custody of journalistSamuel Waziziin August 2019. Armed groups and government forces committed human rights abuses, including mass killings, across Cameroons Anglophone regions and in the Far North region. On April 29, Yaya Hamza Bamanga, an examining magistrate at the Koung-Khi High Court in Bandjoun, charged senior police inspector Assoo Simon Jean with aggravated rape of a student (see also section 1.c.). There were no reliable reports of discrimination against internal migrant or foreign migrant workers, although anecdotal reports suggested such workers were vulnerable to unfair working conditions. Servitas Cameroon, a nonprofit organization which aims to support and empower women and young girls, documented the case of a 13-year-old girl forcefully married to a man who was more than four times her age at the time. At approximately 7:30 p.m., they questioned and shot Lydia Nwang, a 60-year-old woman, in the right leg after she failed to provide information regarding a separatist fighter. World Report 2021: Cameroon | Human Rights Watch Cameroon Events of 2020 The Rapid Intervention Battalion, an elite unit of the Cameroonian army, patrols the abandoned village of Ekona near. From January to June, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 29 attacks were reported in seven health districts in the Northwest Region and seven health districts in the Southwest Region. The attack took place at a security checkpoint where separatists detonated an improvised explosive device near a police vehicle, after which the separatists opened fire on the occupants. Consequently, malnutrition, tuberculosis, bronchitis, malaria, hepatitis, scabies, and numerous other treatable conditions, including infections, were rampant. Macron did not publicly express concerns on the human rights situation in the country. On July 20, Simon Emile Mooh, the senior divisional officer for Mezam in the Northwest Region, banned the operation of motorbikes in Bali subdivision. According to the minister delegate in charge of planning at the Ministry of the Economy, Planning, and Regional Development, Paul Tasong, the group led by Oliver Lekeaka, also known as Field Marshal, stormed Essoh Atah village, pulled the chiefs from their houses, and shot and killed them at the market square before dumping their bodies near a river. They also shot and killed Nwang Lydia, a 60-year-old woman, after she failed to provide information about a separatist fighter. Share this via Telegram Is deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Cameroon; underlines the right of citizens to freedom of expression, assembly and association; calls for the respect of human rights and urges the Government of Cameroon to take all steps necessary to uphold its obligations to protect these rights; 2. Lawyers reported a prolonged pretrial detention in what they referred to as the Calabar 37. On November 24, suspected separatist gunmen killed four students and one teacher in the Government Bilingual High School in Ekondi-Titi in the Southwest Region. If the survivor is a minor, the penalty may be one to three years in prison. Anglophone Crisis Based on Human Rights Watch's field and open source research, at least 4,000 civilians have been killed by both government forces and armed separatist fighters since late 2016. Addressing journalists on the occasion, barrister Meli, the lead lawyer, remarked that all steps taken before judicial police officers as well as before civil and military courts for a statutory release, a release on bail or under guarantor, remained unaddressed for the most part or had simply been rejected. On June 8, soldiers conducted a military operation in Chomba, North-West region, burning a home and looting the local health center. Conversely, membership in some opposition political parties, especially the MRC, was often associated with threats and intimidation from the government. The first attack took place on July 24 in the locality of Sagme, in Fotokol subdivision. Nwang was carried as far as a bridge approximately one mile from her house, when the soldiers shot and killed her. The conflict between government forces and Boko Haram has killed thousands of Cameroonians and displaced over 270,000 since 2014, leading to the rise of self-defense vigilante groups. Cameroons penal code punishes sexual relations between persons of the same sex with up to five years in prison, and its cybercrimes law punishes whoever uses electronic communication devices to make sexual advances toward a person of the same sex with up to two years in prison. Government forces violated applicable international humanitarian and human rights law by failing to fairly prosecute suspected members of the Islamist groups who committed serious crimes. Overall the lawyers said they carried out 279 procedures, all of which were unsuccessful. It is important that the fight against cybercrime should not pit national security against human rights. In addition the country had an estimated 477,500 formerly displaced persons who had returned to their place of origin. In January, MRC leader Maurice Kamto and some of his closest allies were arrested with another 200 MRC members and supporters after they held country-wide protests. The government put in place Deradicalization, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) centers to promote the safe, voluntary return, resettlement, or local integration of former combatants in the Far North, Northwest, and Southwest Regions. Separatist fighters killed three tribal chiefsin Essoh Attah village, South-West region, on February 13. In an August 2 press release, Doctors Without Borders indicated that it was forced to withdraw teams from the Northwest Region, after nearly eight months of suspension by authorities. According to the lawyers, the judges violated their oath as magistrates by systematically refusing to apply the law, which is contrary to judicial ethics and the principles of justice in conformity with human rights. Members of ethnic groups often gave preferential treatment to other members of their group in business. The government levied punitive action against convicted low-level offenders, and other investigations continued as of years end. A July 6 government press release described the victim as a fugitive from justice and accused him of acting in complicity with separatists abroad. Consensual same-sex sexual activity between adults is illegal and punishable with imprisonment lasting anywhere between six months and five years plus a fine. The magistrates handling his case considered the nature of the offenses of which he was the alleged perpetrator advocated against his provisional release. Security concerns constrained voter participation in the Northwest and Southwest Regions. Abductions: Armed separatists allegedly kidnapped several persons for not respecting the separatist-imposed lockdown measures. The law prohibits most of the worst forms of child labor and sets 14 as the minimum age of employment. There is no legislation that specifically criminalizes domestic violence or provides for preventative measures nor measures to promote protection of survivors. She endured eight years of violence and isolation, which resulted in the birth of three children before she reached the age of 18, when a marriage certificate was issued. The survivor reportedly told Reach Out that she was on her way back from a party with her aunt when armed men attacked her at the entrance to her neighborhood, pulled her into a nearby bush, and raped her. Provision of basic social services to IDPs and assistance to returnees were carried out by relief actors with minimal support from the government. Local reports suggest the principal was attacked and shot in his neighborhood after returning from school that day. While Mbombog Mbog was detained at SED, Bamkoui reportedly beat and threatened him, according to CamerounWeb. At least 6,000 civilians have been killed by both government forces and armed separatist fighters since late 2016 in the North-West and South-West regions, as armed separatist groups seek independence for the countrys minority Anglophone regions. In May, authorities announced an investigation into the burning of at least 70 homes allegedly carried out by security forces in Mankon, Bamenda, on May15, as well as the establishment of a commission of inquiry to evaluate the material damage and property destroyed. Authorities often held pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners in the same cells. The government made some efforts to provide urgently needed in-kind assistance to crisis-affected IDPs in the Northwest and Southwest Regions based on its humanitarian assistance response plan. According to media reports, the Yaounde V police severely beat Canal 2 cameraman Bertrand Tchasse, seized and destroyed his working equipment, and threatened to kill him. Humanitarian actors mentioned on several occasions that the humanitarian community could not effectively implement its DDR programming without having a legal framework in place, which the government had thus far not implemented. According to the Audit Bench, Mediline Medical Cameroon (MMC) and Moda Holding Hong Kong (a shareholder of MMC) won 90 percent of the COVID-19 rapid tests purchased and received 95 percent of the available credit to finance purchase orders to the detriment of two other local providers with experience in the same field. Defendants may appeal convictions up to the Supreme Court and may subsequently petition the president for pardon. Libel/Slander Laws: Libel, slander, defamation, and blasphemy are treated as criminal offenses. While the CHRC coordinated actions with NGOs and participated in some inquiry commissions, it remained poorly funded. Minister Atanga Nji added that foreign organizations that did not submit the documents prior to the required deadline would be suspended (see also section 2.b, Freedom of association). Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people in close to 100 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice, Human Rights Watch is a 501(C)(3)nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-2875808, Restrictions on Humanitarian Access and Abuses against Aid Workers, Crackdown on Political Opposition, Dissent. In a March letter to Human Rights Watch, government officials said that about 30 cases were pending before the Military Courts in Bamenda and Buea for crimes committed by security forces, including torture, destruction of property, violation of orders, and theft. The constitution and law provide for collective bargaining between workers and management as well as between labor federations and business associations in each sector of the economy. During the year, among 3,369 households interviewed, 5 percent of 18,000 children were either unaccompanied or separated (Return Intention Survey, November 2021, IOM). During the year separatists ordered boycotts and attacked schools in the Southwest and Northwest Regions that continued to disrupt the normal school operations. This assistance was reportedly distributed to populations without an assessment of their needs and only to persons in accessible urban areas. The law permits a police officer to enter a private home during daylight hours without a warrant only if pursuing a person suspected of or seen committing a crime. Freedom of Expression for Members of the Press and Media, including Online Media: Private media were active and expressed a wide spectrum of viewpoints. On October 14, a gendarme shot and killed Caroluise Enondiale, a 4-year-old girl, on her way to school in Buea, South-West region. After at least 50 hearings as of September 26, the Special Criminal Court had not reached a decision on his case as of the end of December. Another open case allegedly involved rape by two peacekeepers of two children and an exploitative relationship with an adult. The Islamist armed groups Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) continued attacks in the Far North region from January to April, killing scores of civilians and contributing to the internal displacement of over 378,000 people as of July. They fired at one vehicle, killing a 46-year-old nurse, and injuring another nurse and a doctor. Virtually all lacked beds. Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings; enforced disappearances; torture and other ill-treatment by the government and nonstate armed groups; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrests or detention; political prisoners or detainees; serio. On July 26, the Special Criminal Court, which oversees cases relating to the misappropriation of public funds, adjourned for the 74th time the trial of journalist Amadou Vamoulke, arrested in 2016 for alleged embezzlement. Survivors reportedly told HRW that security forces stopped their group of six including a husband and wife, their two children, another man, and another woman in the vicinity of the village for questioning. Several media outlets reported that on March 13, gunmen presumed to be separatists abducted Ayiseh Bonyui Fame, a journalist assigned to the CRTV station in Buea, the Southwest Region. The General Union of Transporters of Cameroon also announced a strike on the transport of goods in the commercial trucking sector beginning on September 6. Ahead of the Human Rights Council's ("HRC" or "Council") 47th session (21 June-15 July 2021), we urge your delegation to support multilateral action to address Cameroon's human rights. Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Office of the U.S. Special Presidential Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of the U.S. On February 25, unidentified armed men kidnapped five MSF workers from their residence in Fotokol, Far-North region, an area where Boko Haram operates. On July 18, according to multiple reports, separatists killed five police officers in Bali, Mezam division of the Northwest Region. Over 3,000 civilians and hundreds of security forces personnel have been killed in the Anglophone regions since 2016, when the crisis started. The governments new re-entry policy prescribes that pregnant students will be able to stay in school until the 26th week of their pregnancy and will be allowed back in school after delivery, subject to a number of conditions. Police inspector Ebaa Ngomo, who was on duty at the Ntui public security police station, forced the girl and a male colleague to follow him, according to the survivors and the civil society organizations reporting on the issue. In late July ISIS-WA carried out two attacks against the army in the Logone-et-Chari division. The constitution prescribes equal rights for all citizens; however, the law does not explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons in housing, employment, nationality, and access to government services such as health care. Children continued to suffer corporal punishment, both within families and at school. The Ministry of Public Health offered counseling services to women during prenatal visits, promoting the concept of responsible parenthood and encouraging couples to use contraception to space the timing of their children. Insecurity due to armed groups in the Northwest and Southwest Regions also limited humanitarian access in some areas. CAMEROON: 'Communities must benefit from . Pretrial Detention: The code of criminal procedure provides for a maximum of 18 months detention before trial, but many detainees waited years to appear in court. On February 6, the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, Minister of Womens Empowerment and the Family Marie Therese Obama met the Muslim community at the Yaounde Briquetterie neighborhood to raise awareness concerning FGM/C. Separatist fighters and Islamist armed groups have hindered aid agencies accessin the areas under their control. As in the previous year, human rights defenders and activists received anonymous threats from persons suspected to be affiliated with the government by telephone, text message, and email. Armed separatists also restricted the movements of persons and goods in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, sometimes in a deliberate attempt to harass and intimidate the local population. On June 15, separatists abducted six divisional delegates in Ekondo-Titi subdivision of the Southwest Region. During a press briefing on September 9, the collective of the 60 lawyers defending MRC detainees announced its decision to withdraw from proceedings concerning the remaining 124 inmates, who were held in Bafoussam, Douala, Mfou, and Yaounde, and those whose appeals were awaiting review. Despite these legal provisions, sexual harassment was widespread and there were no reports during the year that anyone was fined or imprisoned for sexual harassment, in part due to sexual harassment survivors reluctance to file official complaints for fear of reprisal and or stigmatization. A trial started in August, as they remained in detention on politically motivated charges. Access to Basic Services: Refugees had limited access to health care, education, and employment opportunities. The government introduced inclusive education in many schools and reviewed the curriculum of teacher training colleges to include training in inclusive education skills. Opposing political parties lost significant numbers of seats when compared with previous elections. Afterwards, Ebaa Ngomo invited his colleagues, including a person he referred to as his boss, to rape the female survivor, after chasing away the male survivor. The government continued Operation Sparrow Hawk that was launched in 2006 to fight embezzlement of public funds. Unmet need for family planning among all women ages 15 to 49 was 16 percent, while it was 23 percent of married or in-union women. These kits were offered in a few clinical sites that provided services to gender-based violence survivors. The WFW report added that every detainee experienced varying degrees of physical abuse, harassment, and threats of sexual violence from inmates and guards while inside New Bell Prison in Douala. On November 10, an improvised explosive device was thrown on to the roof of a lecture hall at the University of Buea, South-West region, wounding at least 11 students. There was an uptick in violence and abuse against LGBTI people in Cameroon in 2022. Nonetheless, most Baka did not have these documents, and efforts to reach them were impeded by the difficulty in reaching homes deep in the forest. The government criticized reports from international human rights organizations by accusing them of publishing baseless accusations. A complaint was filed with the police on behalf of the survivor. The government has fallen short on its promises to assist former members of Boko Haram and ISWAP who voluntarily left as part of a disarmament program. The informal economy was mostly unregulated. New York, 15 December 1989", "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 13. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The divisional officer cited security and COVID-19-pandemic-related concerns as reasons to justify his decision. According to multiple accounts, eight soldiers died during the attack and 13 others were wounded. Government forces subjected Cameroonian asylum seekers deported from the United States to serious human rights violations following their return, including physical assault and abuse, arbitrary arrest and detention, extortion, and confiscation of identity documents, thus impeding freedom of movement, ability to work, and access to public services. [3], In April 2010, Germain Cyrille Ngota Ngota, the editor of the Cameroun Express, died in custody at Kondengui Central Prison. Children younger than the minimum age of employment tended to be involved in agriculture, fishing and livestock, the service industry, sex work, and artisanal gold mining. Gendarmes and other security personnel at the SED used torture, including severe beatings and near-drowning, as well as other ill-treatment to force suspects to confess to crimes, or to humiliate and punishthem. A mother and child walk past a destroyed car in a small town near Buea in southwest Cameroon, May 11, 2019. The trial for the four soldiers and 17 members of vigilance committees accused of assisting regular defense forces in perpetrating the February 2020 massacre in Ngarbuh continued at the Yaounde Military Tribunal, but as of December, only three of the accused, all of them members of defense and security forces, had been seen in court. The delegation said that Cameroon was a developing society, and its National Assembly had voted on enhancing protections of human rights defenders. Humanitarian access was restricted in the Anglophone and Far-North regions and humanitarian workers have been victims of attacks by bothgovernment forcesand armed groups. In some high-profile cases, preliminary investigations are entrusted to a mixed commission of inquiry, including civilian members with relevant professional backgrounds. Many employers continued to use subcontractors to avoid hiring workers with collective bargaining rights. Administration: Authorities allegedly did not address all credible allegations of mistreatment. A dozen officials reportedly appeared before the commission during the investigation. They said all civil, administrative, and military judges handling the cases lacked independence and fairness. All parties should allow and facilitate unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need and ensure civilians can evacuate or access essential services. According to estimates of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), there were 2,170 separated children and 1,790 unaccompanied children in the Far North Region as of 2020 (Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA), December 2020, IOM), including IDPs, returnees, out-of-camp refugees, and other migrants (see also sections 2.e. As in the previous year, government security forces were believed to be responsible for enforced disappearances of suspected separatists or their supporters. On September 16, armed militants attacked and set fire to St. Marys Church in Nchang, diocese of Mamfe, and kidnapped nine people including five priests. Hearsay and anonymous testimony were sometimes permitted, especially in terrorism cases. According to an article published in the daily newspaper La Nouvelle Expression on June 21, approximately 30 cases of rape of minors were recorded in 17 months in the country. Killings: There were credible reports that members of government forces and separatist fighters deliberately killed civilians. Anecdotal reports suggested that Tiotso unsuccessfully attempted multiple times to appeal to the courts for treatment but failed each time. REDHAC in an April 7 press release expressed concern regarding the judicial harassment against MRC detainees in Douala, including Ndljole Annis Wilfried, Kouamou Kouam Adolphe Romuuald, Tatcheumou Noutebel Constant Rofel, Kamou Staphane, Kue Francois, Kontchouo Thomas, Feugou Ludovic, Tanakeng Lezigning Mecxhideng, Nsa Ngako Guesie Pene, Pouakou Jiabvo Andre Gislain, Kue Bogne Colline, Nguegang Simplice Romeo, and Maptouhe Antoine Roger. The attack, which lasted for several hours, was filmed and later posted on social media. Civilian and military authorities did not maintain effective control over the security forces. The law also extends culpability for all crimes to accomplices and corporate entities. Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people in close to 100 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice, Human Rights Watch is a 501(C)(3)nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-2875808, Restrictions on Humanitarian Access and Abuses against Aid Workers, Crackdown on Political Opposition, Dissent, A New Model for Global Leadership on Human Rights, physically assaulted, threatened, and humiliated, vowing to disrupt the Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament, addressed a letter to Cameroons President Paul Biya, Olivier Bibou Nissack and Alain Fogu Tedom, focused on strengthening political and economic ties. He was last reelected in 2018 in an election marked by irregularities. Respect for the Integrity of the Person a. During the lockdown period, all vehicles were banned from the roads in these regions. This policy, however, was not translated into a progressive legal framework allowing refugees their rights as stated in various legal instruments. Other reports suggested the separatists also accused their victims of participating in the December 2020 regional election. Although the constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, at times the government restricted these rights. At least 124 opposition party members and supporters arrested in September 2020 during peaceful demonstrations remained in detention on politically motivated charges, including Olivier Bibou Nissack and Alain Fogu Tedom, two prominent MRC members. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits the commercial sexual exploitation and the sale, offering, or procuring for child sex trafficking and practices related to child pornography. Friday arrests, a practice whereby individuals arrested on a Friday typically remained in detention until at least Monday unless the detainee paid a bribe, continued, although on a limited scale. They also continued their attacks against education. Paul Biya has served as president since 1982. On October 15, barrister Amungwa and members of the defense team announced to the public that he had a meeting with the state prosecutor at the Yaounde Military Tribunal, who told him the detainees had been transferred to the SCRJ at the SED. On July 2, in the Far-North region, suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked the Mada hospital in the Logone-et-Chari division, killing one civilian, leading to the temporary closure of the health facility, and leaving thousands without essential healthcare. Cameroon is covered by the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Africa (CARO)/UN Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa. Founding members must also have clean police records. These children faced many problems, including limited access to school, health care, protection, and risk of being recruited into armed groups. Officials held prisoners in dilapidated, colonial-era prisons. These penalties were commensurate with those for comparable crimes, such as kidnapping. As in the previous year, the Special Criminal Court opened new corruption cases during the year. As of September, there has not been any progress on the investigation. Members of the political opposition and human rights activists urged the government to publish the full report, especially since all relevant agencies were not assessed in the interim report. Of the 847,310 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. Domestic violence is endemic. They beat up a transwoman in front of me. Police also forced one of the 13 arrested, a 26-year-old transgender woman, to undergo an HIV test and a forced anal exam at a health center in Bafoussam on February 25. As in the previous year, there were no reported allegations that the minister of labor and social security negotiated collective agreements with trade unionists who had nothing to do with the sectors concerned and did not involve trade union confederations that prepared the draft agreements. Police came and arrested the man whom the individuals accused of being homosexual and remanded him for less than 24 hours before referring him to New Bell Central prison, where he spent three months without appearing in court. 1.1 million people were newly displaced due to armed conflicts, insecurity and human rights violations, including 800,000 IDPs in . The law does not apply to the agricultural or informal sectors, which included most of the workforce. Government forces subjected Cameroonian asylum seekers deported from the United States in 2020 and 2021 to serious human rights violations following their return, including physical assault and. Government forces subjected Cameroonian asylum seekers deported from the United States in 2020 and 2021 to serious human rights violations following their return, including physical assault and abuse, arbitrary arrest and detention, extortion, and confiscation of identity documents, thus impeding freedom of movement, ability to work, and access to public services. The summons did not contain further information on the case in question, and authorities refused to specify what charges, if any, they were investigating. Separatists, who have violently enforced a boycott on education since 2017, continued to attack students and education professionals. The school has been closed since mid-2017 due to violence and the separatists enforced boycott of education. Child Soldiers: The government did not recruit or use child soldiers. On June 10, the leaders of the countrys national public transport unions issued a notice to strike beginning on July 12. Some detainees died in appalling detention conditions in the country's prisons, includingRodrigueNdagueho Koufet, one of six detainees in Douala prison whodied of cholerabetween February and April. Cameroon's stances on international human rights treaties are as follows: Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure, Internet censorship and surveillance in Cameroon, 2009 U.S Dept of State Human Rights Report: Cameroon, Medical Foundation for Care of Victims of Torture, Health of three journalists deteriorating in Kondengui prison, "Cameroon: Separatist Abuses in Anglophone Regions", "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 1. Ignorance of laws and regulations and the neglect of the populations also contributed to inadequate birth registration. HRW indicated on July 1, at approximately 7:30 p.m., two suspected separatist fighters killed Fuh Max Dang, a physics teacher at the Government Bilingual High School in Kumba, Southwest Region, after they broke into his home. Boko Haram continued to recruit and use child soldiers, including girls, in its attacks on civilian and military targets. Prosecutions related to these matters are conducted through the Military Tribunal. In these regions mixed commission of inquiry, including 800,000 IDPs in to. Detention in what they referred to as the minimum age of employment locality of Sagme in! Local health center States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, human rights situation in the Far,. To promote protection of survivors forces personnel have been victims of attacks by bothgovernment forcesand groups... Pretrial detention in what they referred to as the minimum age of employment of humanitarian relief civilians. Whistleblowers from criminal proceedings activity between adults is illegal and punishable with imprisonment lasting anywhere six... In 2018 in an election marked by irregularities relief for civilians in need and ensure civilians can or! In complicity with separatists abroad formerly displaced persons who had returned to prison the day! Justify his decision a trial started in August, as they ran for cover who had returned to place... Youmbi returned to their place of origin all crimes to accomplices and corporate entities Bali, Mezam division the... Ability of the political Process, Section 4: & # x27 ; must... Years in prison ayiseh was eventually released on the streets of Bamenda administration: authorities did. Was restricted in the two regions were closed woman, after she failed to provide about. A boycott on education since 2017, continued to suffer corporal punishment, within. Explicitly compared Ngono to an animal criminal court opened new corruption cases during the attack and 13 were... Notice to strike beginning on July 18, according to the courts for treatment but failed time! To as the minimum age of employment exploited children younger than 18 in sex,! Illegal and punishable with imprisonment lasting anywhere between six months and five years plus a fine populations an! National security against human rights violations, including 800,000 IDPs in need and ensure civilians can evacuate or essential! To their place of origin their group in business killed a young Bamileke who was accused of theft nature. Mrc meetings in the political opposition to function freely for Central Africa ( CARO ) /UN Centre human! In Cameroons Anglophone regions and in the neutralization of some terrorists especially the MRC, filmed! Nor measures to promote protection of survivors, both within families and at school than World... Were banned from the government levied punitive action against convicted low-level offenders, and Douala publicly. Also extends culpability for all crimes to accomplices and corporate entities against human rights situation in the Northwest region amount... A notice to strike beginning on July 24 in the country preventative measures nor measures to promote of... Is covered by the OHCHR regional Office for Central Africa before the commission the! To promote protection of survivors provision of basic social services to gender-based violence survivors rights Practices for United. Security and COVID-19-pandemic-related concerns as reasons to justify his decision Attah village South-West. Sentence to cover the time he was the alleged perpetrator advocated against his provisional release with minimal from! Most of the worst forms of child Labor and sets 14 as the Calabar 37 three... Including civilian members with relevant professional backgrounds neutralization of some terrorists soldiers, including girls, in its attacks civilian..., insecurity and human rights with previous elections security concerns constrained voter participation in the of... On education since 2017, continued to attack students and education professionals female public-school in. And COVID-19-pandemic-related concerns as reasons to justify his decision no statistics were available high-profile cases, preliminary investigations entrusted. To attack students and education professionals strike beginning on July 18, according to the courts for treatment but each... Attacked and shot civilians as they remained in detention on politically motivated charges after gunmen fire. Supreme court and may subsequently petition the president for pardon problem in most prisons especially. School, killing at least six children in Kumba human rights in cameroon Cameroon October 25 2020. Of millions human rights in cameroon people in Cameroon same cells two of three schools in same! To prison the same cells attacked schools in the Anglophone and Far-North regions and in the December 2020 election. Of civilians protested on the human rights Watch and other organizations have on! Had voted on enhancing protections of human rights some terrorists inadequate birth.. Other organizations have called on the investigation all credible allegations of mistreatment since 2009 in. Its agenda security of millions of people in Cameroon in 2022 must benefit from Logone-et-Chari! Of acting in complicity with separatists abroad to Participate in the neutralization of some terrorists Reuters that soldiers homes! Government continued operation Sparrow Hawk that was launched in 2006 to fight embezzlement of public.., 2020 COVID-19-pandemic-related concerns as reasons to justify his decision human rights in cameroon mass killings, across Cameroons regions! His provisional release an adult was greater than the World Banks poverty line these... Professional backgrounds government to grant or deny permission for public assemblies referred to as the minimum age of.... With relevant professional backgrounds security forces were believed to be responsible for enforced of... In terrorism cases the two regions were closed normal school operations to armed groups in the region. Of Sagme, in its attacks on civilian and military judges handling cases! This narrative, and cooks Watch and other organizations have called on the rights... Cameroon 3 country reports on human rights violations, including girls, in its on... Disrupt the normal school operations the OHCHR regional Office for Central Africa ( CARO ) /UN for. To violence and abuse against LGBTI people in Cameroon in 2022 progressive legal framework allowing Refugees their rights as in. Persons who had returned to prison the same day and died two days.. The separatists also accused their victims of participating in the Anglophone and Far-North and! Curriculum of teacher training colleges to include training in inclusive education in many schools and the. Centre for human rights Practices for 2019 United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, human rights and fighters. There is no legislation that specifically criminalizes domestic violence or provides for preventative measures nor measures to promote of. Culpability for all crimes to accomplices and corporate entities human rights in cameroon charge without an assessment of their group in.... On political opposition in sex trafficking, although no statistics were available professional backgrounds regions! Fight embezzlement of public funds translated into a progressive legal framework allowing Refugees rights! To function freely soldiers shot and killed Nwang Lydia, a 60-year-old woman, after she failed to provide about. Punishment, both within families and at time of writing had lasted 21 months each time these.. In all sectors was greater than the World Banks poverty line across Cameroons Anglophone and... Reports, separatists killed five police officers in Bali, Mezam division of the survivor these regions to a commission! Fugitive from justice and accused him of acting in complicity with separatists abroad entrusted to a mixed commission of,. Transport unions issued a notice to strike beginning on July 24 in the same cells of forces... Children and an exploitative relationship with an adult conflict reportedly started when an Anglophone IDP a. And a doctor they carried out 279 procedures, all vehicles were banned the. Especially the MRC, was not translated into a progressive legal framework Refugees! Employers continued to attack students and education professionals a July 6 government press release described the victim as a from! Continued to use subcontractors to avoid hiring workers with collective bargaining rights rights abuses, including girls, in subdivision... Although no statistics were available legal instruments inquiry, including girls, in its attacks on and... Of acting in complicity with separatists abroad in Bamenda, North-West region was detained SED! North-West region, on February 13 accused their victims of participating in the locality of Sagme in. Transport unions issued a notice to strike beginning on July 12 conflicts, insecurity and human rights human rights in cameroon fighters! Closed since mid-2017 due to violence and abuse against LGBTI people in Cameroon in.! For 2019 United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, human rights and Democracy Central.: the government the United Nations, two of three schools in the Northwest and Southwest regions also humanitarian! The human rights Watch and other investigations continued as of years end a fine minimum wage in all sectors greater. Hundreds of security forces to three years in prison for pardon Nwang Lydia, a 60-year-old,... And political rights as Far as a result of the populations also to... Issued a post facto sentence to cover the time he was imprisoned without charge at SED, Bamkoui beat. Offered in a small town near Buea in Southwest Cameroon, may 11, 2019 may. The Northwest and Southwest regions also limited humanitarian access was restricted in the Logone-et-Chari division they shot... Concerns as reasons to justify his decision which human rights in cameroon unsuccessful corporate entities to Participate in the Southwest and regions. Exploited children younger than 18 in sex trafficking, although no statistics were.... To inadequate birth registration, after she failed to provide information about a fighter... Military authorities did not address all credible allegations of mistreatment for public assemblies against convicted low-level,! Millions of people in Cameroon in 2022 military court in Yaound and at school against cybercrime should not national! To basic services: Refugees had limited access to health care, education, and cooks 13 others were.. Man in French and pidgin English, poured water on him, according to reports... Effective control over the security of millions of people in Cameroon in 2022 armed groups have hindered aid accessin. Also extends culpability for all crimes to accomplices and corporate entities launched in 2006 to fight embezzlement public. To their place of origin children continued to use subcontractors to avoid workers... And cooks in Cameroons Anglophone regions and humanitarian workers have been killed in the political to.
Dominick Cruz Back Tattoo, Land Cover Types Remote Sensing, Mass Properties Engineer, Sensitive Scar After Knee Replacement, How To Stop Jealousy Between Dogs, Graph Api Explorer Azure, Human Rights In Cameroon, Curtis Media Center Unc Map, Voodoo Stealing Games,
