PROMOTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: CDHC and the Cameroonian Bar Association in synergy
[abelainfo] - On April 24, 2024, the President of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CDHC) met with members of the Bar Association's Human Rights Commission to enhance their collaboration in the protection and promotion of human rights. During the meeting, emphasis was placed on the defense of women's rights and the resolution of issues related to prison overcrowding.
The President of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CDHC) received members of the Bar Association’s Human Rights Commission on April 24, 2024, to discuss partnership arrangements aimed at improving the effectiveness of their joint actions. The Vice President of the Cameroon Bar Association, Me Dorcas Nkongme, explained that the purpose of this meeting was to present activities carried out in the field and establish close collaboration with the Cameroon Human Rights Commission.
The collaboration between the two institutions will focus on denouncing human rights violations, as well as the protection and promotion of fundamental rights on the ground. Lawyers have already undertaken numerous actions, including distributing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in schools and displaying it in classrooms on International Human Rights Day.
During the discussions, the Bar Association also emphasized the defense and protection of women’s rights. This was done during International Women’s Day, where actions were taken in four cities to raise awareness about the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and share the Maputo Protocol. The lawyer highlighted the importance of concrete actions on the ground, particularly in monitoring human rights violations in schools, during disasters, and in prisons.
The Cameroon Human Rights Commission expressed concerns about the constraints related to the functioning of correctional facilities, particularly focusing on prison overcrowding. With a prison occupancy rate of 164.25%, Cameroonian prisons face significant challenges. These include slow processing of judicial cases and communication difficulties between the prosecution and prisons. These problems contribute to some detainees’ lack of awareness about the status of their judicial cases.
Following this meeting, both parties, namely the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CDHC) and the Cameroonian Bar Association, agreed that by working closely together, they hope to strengthen the protection of human rights and address persistent issues related to prison overcrowding and the judicial system.
Raphaël Mforlem
