Civil and political rights progressively respected with government focus on economic rights.
“The human rights situation in Cameroon is making steady progress,” Dr Divine Chemuta Banda, the Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms has declared, specifying that civil and political rights have improved in the past 20 years.
Talking during the presentation of the Commission’s human rights report in Cameroon for 2012 as well as its activity report for the same period in Yaounde on December 19, 2013, Dr Banda said, “You will agree with me that a lot of focus is now being given to the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights through the ongoing big infrastructure projects.”
He said government’s resolve was pointed out in the budget as the infrastructure projects will lure the private sector to investment for the fulfillment of economic rights. The Commission Chairman said the key sectors that need quick development were transport infrastructure, energy and water.
Human Rights Report
The 235-page bilingual report has five parts that deal with civil and political rights; Economic, social and cultural rights; Human rights of specific categories of people; Special issues; and other human rights concerns. The innovation contained in the report is the recommendations made after the diagnosis of the respect of each right.
Concerning the right to fair trial, the Commission recommended steps of making legal aid more accessible to users and creation of more courts. On respect of political rights, it recommended respect for quotas for women in elective and appointed positions. It noted progress in freedom of the press with the registration of 217 media organs in 2012 against 139 in 2011.
On curbing corruption, especially with entry into force of the Special Criminal Court, the Commission recommended improvement in living conditions and systematic disciplinary action. There are also suggestions for the improvement of detention conditions, and also on access to water, electricity and food supply.
