Cameroon: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
March 8, 2006
Cameroon is a republic dominated by a strong presidency and has a population of approximately 16.3 million. Despite the country's multiparty system of government, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) has remained in power since the early years of independence. In October 2004 CPDM leader Paul Biya won re-election as president. The election was flawed by irregularities, particularly in the voter registration process, but observers believed the election results represented the will of the voters. The president retains the power to control legislation or to rule by decree. He has used his legislative control to change the constitution and extend the term lengths of the presidency. Although civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces, there were frequent instances in which elements of the security forces acted independently of government authority.
The government's human rights record remained poor, and the government continued to commit numerous serious human rights abuses. The following human rights violations were reported:
• severe limits on citizens' ability to change their government
• numerous unlawful killings by security forces
• regular torture, beatings, and other abuses of persons, particularly detainees and prisoners, by security forces
• impunity among the security forces
• harsh and life-threatening prison conditions
• arbitrary arrest and detention of Anglophone citizens advocating secession, local human rights
• monitors/activists, and other citizens
• prolonged--and sometimes incommunicado--pre-trial detention
• infringement on citizens' privacy rights
• restrictions on freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and association
• abuse and harassment of journalists
• limits on freedom of movement
• widespread corruption
• violence, including rape, and discrimination against women
• trafficking in persons, primarily children
• societal discrimination against indigenous Pygmies and ethnic minorities
• discrimination against homosexuals
• restrictions on worker rights and the activities of independent labor organizations
• child labor, slavery, and forced labor, including forced child labor
The government took steps to advance human rights during the year. There was a more systematic effort to investigate, suspend and prosecute security force members accused of killings and other abuses. Control and administration of the prisons was moved to the Ministry of Justice, allowing for better tracking of prisoners from arrest to final trial sentencing. The government also opened a new Department of Human Rights in the Ministry of Justice to investigate any abuses committed in areas under the ministry's responsibility.
Read Full Report:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61558.htm
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