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28 October 1999
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MORNING
HR/CT/99/45
28 October 1999
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONTINUES CONSIDERATION OF CAMEROON'S REPORT
The Human Rights Committee this morning continued its consideration of the third periodic report from the Government of Cameroon on the country's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The members of the Cameroonian Government delegation provided answers to the questions raised by the Experts of the Committee. They said, among other things, that polygamy was still practised in the country and that there were no legal provisions prohibiting it. Although the Government considered it to be a social problem, it was persuaded that the only way to eliminate polygamy was through a change in people's mentality.
In the course of the discussion, an Expert said that the practice of torture was widespread in Cameroon; journalists were prosecuted for their opinions; victims of torture died in prisons due to lack of medical treatment; and extra-judicial executions had taken place with impunity. Another Expert said that he was "shocked and horrified" that police confiscated passports of suspected political opponents, impeding them from going abroad.
Cameroon, as one of 144 States parties to the International Covenant to Civil and Political Rights, must submit summaries to the Committee on the measures undertaken to implement the provisions of the treaty. An 11-member delegation was on hand to answer questions raised by members of the Committee and provided additional information on the report.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will continue its consideration of report of Cameroon.
Discussion of Cameroon's Report
Responding to a number of questions raised by the Experts of the Committee, the members of the Cameroonian Government delegation acknowledged that polygamy was still practised in the country and that there were no legal provisions prohibiting its practice. Although the Government considered it to be a social problem, it was persuaded that the only way to eliminate the polygamy was through a change in people's mentality. So far, the Government had approached the issue systematically, through pre-marital counselling and education. The practice of polygamy was not encouraged by the Government.
The traditional practice of a man "inheriting" the widow of a brother was seen as a shame within the society, thus gradually reducing the practice, the delegation said. Tradition and social conditioning on the subject had so far allowed its existence in the Cameroonian society, the delegation added.
The Government of Cameroon was aware that a minimum age for marriage had not been widely respected in the country, the delegation said. Nevertheless, the Government was putting more of an effort to implement the provisions of the Conventions on the Rights of the Child and on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Women in Cameroon had been oriented towards certain professions,which brought pay that was inferior to men, the delegation said. However, the Government had made efforts to educate the population on the issue, and by now there were many women in all fields, including those traditionally reserved for men. The Government had underlined the necessity to educate the population in order to change their attitude towards women, and to valorise women's work in all fields.
There was no legal provision in Cameroon prohibiting the practice of genital mutilation, except a long-term plan of action going from 1998 to 2010, the delegation said. Besides, field actions and programmes of sensitization had been carried out with the help of local associations, such as Cameroonian female doctors. In addition, the Government was contemplating ways to create alternative resource-generating activities to those women who traditionally performed female circumcision as means of income. It was hoped that gradual and systematic change would intervene through the continued awareness-raising campaign, rather than issuing a law prohibiting the practice of genital mutilation, which was deeply entrenched in the people's tradition.
The state of emergency, which had been proclaimed in some regions of the country, had been lifted, and at present, there were no emergency situations, the delegation said. During such situations, emergency measures remained in place for a limited period of time, in which the authorities restricted certain rights and even imprisoned persons deemed to be dangerous to public security for up to two months.
Capital punishment was not abolished in Cameroon. It was used, members of the delegation said, in certain cases involving the most serious crimes, such as premeditated murder or treason. The public should voice its opinion on the issues, the delegation said, before the Government undertook efforts toward abolishing the death penalty.
Answering a written question from an Expert submitted in advance, the delegation answered in the event that internal directives for the use of weapons by members of the gendarmerie were breached, disciplinary measures were taken and compensation provided for victims of the abuses. The members of the gendarmerie could only use their arms in cases of self defence or before an eminent danger against others.
Cameroonian authorities had been taking appropriate legal and administrative measures against perpetrators of summary executions, torture and ill-treatment, the delegation said. Since April 1988, many complaints concerning acts of torture and other inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment had been lodged by persons deprived of their liberty. After investigations, at least 325 police officers of all ranks were punished for human rights violations between 1990 and 1995. In addition, special training sessions on human rights were occasionally organized for members of the police force.
Referring to reliable reports which stated that the "balancoire" torture technique was still in use in the interrogation of certain prisoners, and that torture was still widespread, a question was asked if measures had been taken to abolish those practices. The delegation said that interrogation of suspects and prisoners was under the responsibly of each police unit, and that any abuse of power was dealt with severely.
The right to judicial review of a detention order, including the granting of bail and habeas corpus, were provided in all courts and not only in Anglophone areas of Cameroon, the delegation said. According to article 114 of the criminal code of the country, the two criminal courts in Anglophone and Francophone regions had the possibility to hear and determine applications for immediate release of an individual.
Prosecutor generals who keep a suspect for an unjustified period of pre-trial detention were held responsible for such abuses, the delegation said. Preventive judicial detention should not exceed 16 days before the start of the trial.
The 1990 reform undertaken in Cameroon had allowed the process of liberalization and the practice of a multi-partism system, the delegation said. No expression of views was criminalized. Regarding the case of Mr. Nana Koulagna, a leader of an opposition party charged by a military court for a number of criminal offences, the delegation said that he was charged with a crime involving the death of a supporter of the traditional chief of a region where he was campaigning for election.
In the course of the discussion, an Expert said that torture was still practised in Cameroon; journalists were prosecuted for their opinions; victims of torture died in prisons due to lack of medical treatment; and extra-judicial executions had been taken place with impunity. Another Expert said that he was "shocked and horrified" that police confiscated passports of suspected political opponents, impeding them from going abroad.
HR/CT/99/45
28 October 1999
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONTINUES CONSIDERATION OF CAMEROON'S REPORT
The Human Rights Committee this morning continued its consideration of the third periodic report from the Government of Cameroon on the country's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The members of the Cameroonian Government delegation provided answers to the questions raised by the Experts of the Committee. They said, among other things, that polygamy was still practised in the country and that there were no legal provisions prohibiting it. Although the Government considered it to be a social problem, it was persuaded that the only way to eliminate polygamy was through a change in people's mentality.
In the course of the discussion, an Expert said that the practice of torture was widespread in Cameroon; journalists were prosecuted for their opinions; victims of torture died in prisons due to lack of medical treatment; and extra-judicial executions had taken place with impunity. Another Expert said that he was "shocked and horrified" that police confiscated passports of suspected political opponents, impeding them from going abroad.
Cameroon, as one of 144 States parties to the International Covenant to Civil and Political Rights, must submit summaries to the Committee on the measures undertaken to implement the provisions of the treaty. An 11-member delegation was on hand to answer questions raised by members of the Committee and provided additional information on the report.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will continue its consideration of report of Cameroon.
Discussion of Cameroon's Report
Responding to a number of questions raised by the Experts of the Committee, the members of the Cameroonian Government delegation acknowledged that polygamy was still practised in the country and that there were no legal provisions prohibiting its practice. Although the Government considered it to be a social problem, it was persuaded that the only way to eliminate the polygamy was through a change in people's mentality. So far, the Government had approached the issue systematically, through pre-marital counselling and education. The practice of polygamy was not encouraged by the Government.
The traditional practice of a man "inheriting" the widow of a brother was seen as a shame within the society, thus gradually reducing the practice, the delegation said. Tradition and social conditioning on the subject had so far allowed its existence in the Cameroonian society, the delegation added.
The Government of Cameroon was aware that a minimum age for marriage had not been widely respected in the country, the delegation said. Nevertheless, the Government was putting more of an effort to implement the provisions of the Conventions on the Rights of the Child and on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Women in Cameroon had been oriented towards certain professions,which brought pay that was inferior to men, the delegation said. However, the Government had made efforts to educate the population on the issue, and by now there were many women in all fields, including those traditionally reserved for men. The Government had underlined the necessity to educate the population in order to change their attitude towards women, and to valorise women's work in all fields.
There was no legal provision in Cameroon prohibiting the practice of genital mutilation, except a long-term plan of action going from 1998 to 2010, the delegation said. Besides, field actions and programmes of sensitization had been carried out with the help of local associations, such as Cameroonian female doctors. In addition, the Government was contemplating ways to create alternative resource-generating activities to those women who traditionally performed female circumcision as means of income. It was hoped that gradual and systematic change would intervene through the continued awareness-raising campaign, rather than issuing a law prohibiting the practice of genital mutilation, which was deeply entrenched in the people's tradition.
The state of emergency, which had been proclaimed in some regions of the country, had been lifted, and at present, there were no emergency situations, the delegation said. During such situations, emergency measures remained in place for a limited period of time, in which the authorities restricted certain rights and even imprisoned persons deemed to be dangerous to public security for up to two months.
Capital punishment was not abolished in Cameroon. It was used, members of the delegation said, in certain cases involving the most serious crimes, such as premeditated murder or treason. The public should voice its opinion on the issues, the delegation said, before the Government undertook efforts toward abolishing the death penalty.
Answering a written question from an Expert submitted in advance, the delegation answered in the event that internal directives for the use of weapons by members of the gendarmerie were breached, disciplinary measures were taken and compensation provided for victims of the abuses. The members of the gendarmerie could only use their arms in cases of self defence or before an eminent danger against others.
Cameroonian authorities had been taking appropriate legal and administrative measures against perpetrators of summary executions, torture and ill-treatment, the delegation said. Since April 1988, many complaints concerning acts of torture and other inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment had been lodged by persons deprived of their liberty. After investigations, at least 325 police officers of all ranks were punished for human rights violations between 1990 and 1995. In addition, special training sessions on human rights were occasionally organized for members of the police force.
Referring to reliable reports which stated that the "balancoire" torture technique was still in use in the interrogation of certain prisoners, and that torture was still widespread, a question was asked if measures had been taken to abolish those practices. The delegation said that interrogation of suspects and prisoners was under the responsibly of each police unit, and that any abuse of power was dealt with severely.
The right to judicial review of a detention order, including the granting of bail and habeas corpus, were provided in all courts and not only in Anglophone areas of Cameroon, the delegation said. According to article 114 of the criminal code of the country, the two criminal courts in Anglophone and Francophone regions had the possibility to hear and determine applications for immediate release of an individual.
Prosecutor generals who keep a suspect for an unjustified period of pre-trial detention were held responsible for such abuses, the delegation said. Preventive judicial detention should not exceed 16 days before the start of the trial.
The 1990 reform undertaken in Cameroon had allowed the process of liberalization and the practice of a multi-partism system, the delegation said. No expression of views was criminalized. Regarding the case of Mr. Nana Koulagna, a leader of an opposition party charged by a military court for a number of criminal offences, the delegation said that he was charged with a crime involving the death of a supporter of the traditional chief of a region where he was campaigning for election.
In the course of the discussion, an Expert said that torture was still practised in Cameroon; journalists were prosecuted for their opinions; victims of torture died in prisons due to lack of medical treatment; and extra-judicial executions had been taken place with impunity. Another Expert said that he was "shocked and horrified" that police confiscated passports of suspected political opponents, impeding them from going abroad.