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Universal Periodic Review – MEDIA BRIEF

Wednesday, 1 May 2013 (Morning)

(Disclaimer: The following brief is intended for use of the information media and is not an official record. The note provides a brief factual summary of the UPR Working Group meeting with the State under review and does not cover all points addressed. An official summary of the meeting can be found in the Working Group report.)

State under review

Cameroon
Represented by 15-member delegation headed by Mr. Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Documents

To access national report, compilation of UN information, and summary of stakeholders’ information, visit the Cameroon page on the UPR website.

Troika *

Italy, Kenya, Kazakhstan.

Opening statement by State under review

Few points raised in the  opening statement of State under review:
(See full statement on the Cameroon page on the UPR Extranet)

  • In 2010 the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper was published by the Government as a means to help create jobs, reduce poverty and enhance economic welfare, with a particular focus on women and vulnerable groups;
  • The Government ratified international human rights treaties, two of which were recommended during the first UPR -  the OP to the CRC on armed conflict and the OPCAT;
  • The State also ratified a number of regional African instruments between 2009 and 2012, including the African Charter on women’s rights (the Maputo protocol), the African Charter on youth, the African Charter on democracy, elections and the rule of law, and the African Union Charter on the fight against corruption;
  • In terms of the right to food, the Government endeavoured to tackle high food prices and to improve the quality of food; a Government agency was also created for standards and quality; 
  • In February 2011, the Government initiated a broad programme aimed to recruit more teachers youth; in 2012, 160,000 jobs were created and the appeal of Cameroon to foreign investors has also been promising for the future of the country;
  • Additional measures have been taken to promote access to education for persons with disabilities, including a waiver for school fees; moreover, in 2010, two practical guides were adopted to improve access to public places for persons with disabilities;
  • Election Cameroon (ELECAM) was created in 2009 to supervise elections since 2010 and successfully monitored the senatorial election held on 14 April 2013 as well as the Presidential election of October 2011; the effective functioning of ELECAM’s regional branches also contributed to implementation of a single electoral code and biometric electoral lists in place since October 2012; 
  • As regards women’s rights, during the period under review the Government intensified capacity-building activities for the prevention and management of gender-based violence; a programme to combat various forms of violence against women was also being implemented since 2011;
  • There was also respect for freedom of expression that has been manifested through better freedom of the press and the setting up of the National Communication Council, among other measures;
  • In the health sector, there was a decline in HIV/AIDS prevalence and s significant decline in the mortality rate of children below five years by 2011;
  • In February 2011, Cameroon received the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders in Africa and the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights; moreover, in July 2012, the country hosted the Special Rapporteur on the right to food;
  • In terms of detention centres, two new prisons were built recently; 51 out of 74 functional prisons have separate sections for women, while 36 prisons had separate sections for minors; nevertheless, some major efforts still need to be made to improve the feeding of prisoners and to enhance sanitation in places of detention.  

Participants

In total 82 States participated in the dialogue:  33 HRC members and 49 observers  (Statements available on Cameroon page on the UPR Extranet).

Positive achievements

Positive achievements noted by delegations included, among others: