Commission members met in Yaounde June 27, 2012 for the twelfth ordinary session.

The National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms held its twelfth ordinary session in Yaounde on June 27, 2012 to adopt its 2011 progress report and evaluate the state of human rights in Cameroon. Focus on the session was also to validate the report of the eleventh session, examine administrative management accounts and follow up the resolutions and recommendations of the last ordinary session.

The session, which was the first for the year, equally concentrated on preparing the groundwork for 2013. Amongst other things, the situation of human rights in Cameroon was also scrutinsed.

Dr Divine Chemuta Banda who presided at the session sounded optimistic, hinting that strides have been made in the protection and promotion of human rights in the country. He disclosed that much has been done in the handling of complaints. The Chairperson said the continuous increase in the number of complaints handled throughout the regions indicates an increasing awareness in the work of the commission.

Also, much field work was carried out and success recorded in reconciling several cases. To better appreciate the state of human rights, the commission undertook visits to detention cells for purposes of investigation. Visits to prisons, police and Gendarmerie offices in Bertoua and Doumé in the East Region, and the recent visit to detention places in Eseka in the Centre Region were cited as some of the measures taken by the commission to check human rights abuses.

In spite of all, Dr Divine Chemuta Banda says inadequate funding remains their major challenge. “We are still operating from temporary offices but thank God that we have money now to start building our head office in Yaounde,” said the Chairman. Work on the building begins this year, he announced.