The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights officials rounded off their visit in Yaounde last Friday after visiting Parliament and the Kondengui Central Prison. The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights wants Cameroon to hasten judicial procedures as many people who fill the country’s prisons are still awaiting trial.

Reine Alapini-Gansou, Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights was speaking on February 4 at the Yaounde Central Prison after a guided visit of the prison. She decried the fact that over 2500 people in the prison are still awaiting trial and this has created dehumanising overcrowding as the number of inmates by far surpasses its previewed capacity. The African Commission boss who was accompanied by the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa, Justice Lucy Asuagbor was shown round the Kondengui Prison by its administrator Tiwa Jonas.  The African Human Rights Commission delegation members also decried discrimination in the treatment of inmates.

Before going to the Kondengui Central Prison, Alapin and her Delegation had discussions with the Vice President of Cameroon’s National Assembly, Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka. Speaking to the press, the delegation leader, Reine Alapini-Gansou said, “We discussed the necessity for Cameroon to ratify the Protocol creating the African Court of Human and People’s Rights and the African Charter on Elections, Democracy and Good Governance”. Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka promised Parliament’s readiness to vote all bills and to authorise the President of the Republic to ratify international conventions that concern human rights, liberties, freedom of expression and association. Discussions in Parliament also focused on gender issues in decision-making, especially in the National Assembly and death penalty.

Reine Alapini- Gansou and her delegation early on Friday morning had a working session with members of the Cameroon Bar Council Association. The delegation also had a debriefing with the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of the Commonwealth, Joseph Dion Ngute. Before leaving for Douala after having held working sessions with government officials and other human rights actors since Tuesday, February 2, Reine Alapini-Gansou made an appraisal of the state of human rights in Cameroon. “We have so far noticed the will by the State-actor to open up, the will to acknowledge serious problems of human rights and the will to say we met will do it”, she said and added, “We take Cameroon government by its words”. The African Human Rights Commission delegation left Yaounde for Douala later on Friday where they met administrative authorities. They also had to visit the Buea Central Prison on Saturday. The delegation leaves Cameroon today.