Human Rights: The Commission releases 2018 Human Rights Annual Report
The National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms has made public the 2018 Annual report on human rights and freedoms in Cameroon, on November 27, 2019.
Authorities of the commission revealed that Cameroon witnessed an improvement in the human rights situation in 2018.
Notwithstanding , it was also made known that fewer cases of reports of human rights abuse were recorded last year compared to the previous year.
This latest annual report is contained in a 465 page bilingual compendium, that examines six areas including;
# Statutory Activities
#International Human Rights Obligations
# Situation of Civil and Political Rights
# Situation of Economic. Social and Cultural Rights
# Situation of the Rights of Specific Categories
# Special Issues
Dr. Chemuta Divine Banda, National President of the Commission, condemned the increased cases of violence , adductions, arsons, targeted killings, closure of schools, forced and early marriages, mob justice and other forms of abuse.
A good number of these issues particularly concern five regions that have continued to suffer the spill overs of persistent security challenges.
# North West and South West , Armed Conflict, targeted killings , kidnapping for ransom
# East , Cross border criminality and kidnapping for ransom
# Adamawa, kidnapping for ransom
# Far North , Boko Haram attrocities
The way forward to eradicating Human Rights Abuse
In order to stop various forms of abuse in Cameroon, the commission made some recommendations.
The commission has urged the government to improve investigations of abuse and sanction the perpetrators accordingly.
The implementation of the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue will also bring solutions to some socio- political, challenges.
As for separatist fighters, they have been told to drop their guns, leave the bushes and cooperate with the government to restore peace in the troubled regions.
Kathy Neba Sina