Cameroon Upr 4th Session

Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group 4th session (2-13 February 2009)

Cameroon On 5 February 2009 the UPR Working Group reviewed the human rights situation in Cameroon. The Working Group members (troika), selected to facilitate the review were China, Cuba and Senegal. For more information on the UPR process, see: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx

Background Documents National Report In French: http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session4/CM/A_HRC_WG6_4_CMR_1_F.PDF In English: http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session4/CM/A_HRC_WG6_4_CMR_1_E.PDF

Compilation of information from UN sources In French: http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session4/CM/A_HRC_WG6_4_CMR_2_F.PDF In English: http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session4/CM/A_HRC_WG6_4_CMR_2_E.PDF

Summary of information received from other stakeholders A total of 9 Civil Society Organizations made submissions to the UPR. In French: http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session4/CM/A_HRC_WG6_4_CMR_3_F.PDF In English http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session4/CM/A_HRC_WG6_4_CMR_3_E.PDF

Outcome of the Review Report of the UPR Working Group (in English only) http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session4/CM/A_HRC_WG6_4_L7_CMR_E.PDF

NB: These documents are also available from the LWF Office for International Affairs and Human Rights on request. Please contact: Patrik Sebastian Schmidt Office for International Affairs & Human Rights/LWF Email: [email protected]

P.O. Box 2100, Route de Ferney 150, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel +41/22-791 63 65 Fax +41/22-791 66 30, E-mail [email protected]

Introduction The delegation of Cameroon was headed by Joseph Dion Ngute, Ministry of External Relations The delegation presented the national report on the situation of human rights in Cameroon. During the interactive dialogue that followed, 54 delegations (member states and observers) made statements and posed questions. Among the discussed issues were:

Concerns and Recommendations These concerns and recommendations were expressed during the interactive dialogue. The response of Cameroon to these recommendations will be included in the outcome report to be adopted by the Human Rights Council at its eleventh session. A. Recommendations enjoying the support of Uzbekistan:

Signing and Ratification Sign and/or ratify: -

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Two Optional Protocols (Sale of Children, Children in Armed Conflicts) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Algeria, Mexico, Haiti) Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OP-CAT) (Mexico, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa, Djibouti, Estonia, Czech Republic) International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrants Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW) (Algeria) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPD) and it Optional Protocol (Djibouti, Mexico) International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED) (France, Djibouti) Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Brazil)

Freedom of opinion and expression Agree to the visit of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (United Kingdom).

Further advance access to the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press by ensuring current national press legislation is in conformity with international human rights standards (Israel, Chile).

Female genital mutilation Adopt adequate legislation prohibiting the practice of FGM and other discriminatory cultural practices (Slovenia, Brazil, Botswana). Continue to implement effective programs to sensitize the population about the harmful effects caused by this practice (Germany).

Violence against women and girls Make all possible efforts to achieve the complete elimination of all kinds of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence (Mexico, Malaysia, Pakistan).

Child Rights Improve measures to prevent and combat the sale of children, children exploited in the labor market and child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, including prostitution and pornography (Malaysia). Put in place the necessary legal and psychosocial assistance and societal reintegration for victims of trafficking (Slovenia). Implement the recommendations of CRC in order to guarantee the rights of homeless children (Italy). Reinforce measures to ensure that detained children get the necessary treatment and assistance (Estonia).

Detention and law enforcement officials Continue efforts to ensure the conformity of detention conditions with international standards (Algeria). Facilitate full access of international and local humanitarian organizations to prisons and speed up judicial reforms, including the construction of new prisons (Germany). Reduce the number of preventive detentions and strengthen efforts to put an end to impunity for police and security forces for any illegal act committed by their members (Canada). Better separate civil and military jurisdictions (France). Intensify efforts to educate and train law enforcement personnel and judges on all aspects of human rights (Czech Republic, Luxemburg). Turn more attention to some serious issues of combating impunity for law enforcement personnel and establishing an independent and effective national preventive mechanism (Republic of Korea).

Corruption

Improve the judicial system to combat corruption more effectively (Algeria, Turkey, Indonesia).

Minorities and vulnerable groups Respect international provisions in the area of the protection of minorities and vulnerable groups, particularly in guaranteeing Pygmies and Mbororo ownership of their traditional lands (Mexico, France). Reinforce measures to compensate and resettle indigenous communities forcibly removed from their land (South Africa)

B. Recommendations to be examined The following recommendations will be examined by Cameroon which will provide responses in due time. The response of Cameroon to these recommendations will be included in the outcome report to be adopted by the Human Rights Council at its eleventh session: • • • • • • • • • •

Adopt measures granting suspensive effect to appeals against deportation orders, to ensure its full implementation without any exceptions of the principle of nonrefoulement (Czech Republic) Accede to the Rome Statute (France); ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Brazil); Ratify the Convention No. 169 of the ILO concerning indigenous and tribal peoples in independent countries (Mexico); Extend an open invitation to the special procedures of United Nations Human Rights Council (Slovenia, Czech Republic, Latvia); Abolish the death penalty (Slovenia); Consider enacting a specific law for HIV/AIDS related cases (Tanzania); Put in place a special law that will take into consideration the land rights of the “pygmy” communities (Holy See).

C. Recommendations not accepted

Criminalization of homosexuality Amend its Criminal Code to abolish the criminalization of homosexual acts to conform to the provisions of the ICCPR, particularly articles 2 and 26, and the provisions of the African Charter of Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights (Canada, Brazil, Mexico). Establish effective protection of homosexuals against discrimination and attack (France Luxembourg), which would also facilitate more effective educational programs for the prevention of HIV/AIDS (Czech Republic). Freedom of the press Thoroughly reform the legal framework regulating the founding and operation of independent media enterprises

Comply with its obligations under the ICCPR, particularly by abolishing the penalty of detention for offences of the press (Canada).

Elections in Cameroon Revise the composition of ELECAM (Elections Cameroon, the electoral commission to guarantee fair elections) to make it more balanced, diverse and representative and totally independent in order to contribute to transparent, fair and credible elections (Canada) Arrest wants Corrected the shortcoming in the Code of Criminal Procedure, notably the need to respect requirements for serving warrants of arrest at all times, including on Sundays and holidays, and to address the current possibility for police officers to proceed to an arrest without a warrant (Haiti). *** For further information please contact: Patrik Sebastian Schmidt Office for International Affairs & Human Rights The Lutheran World Federation P.O. Box 2100, Route de Ferney 150 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel +41 22 791 63 65 Fax +41 22 791 66 30 E-mail: [email protected] www.lutheranworld.org