United Nations Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa started a five day training on the submission of reports by states to Treaty Body

Yaoundé 29 October 2007. - The United Nations Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa started a five day training on the submission of reports by states to Treaty Body Organs of the United Nations and the implementation of human rights instruments at Hotel Mont Fébé, Yaoundé Cameroon.

The formation which will run from 29 October to 02 November 2007 has as its main beneficiaries, state representatives and members of national human rights commissions from four Central African countries: The Republic of Cameroon, Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea as well as some members of the civil society.

The opening ceremony was marked by a word of welcome from the Regional Representative for the Centre, Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry, who used the opportunity to explain the reasons for the seminar emphasizing that the formation was not only to train states on how to write reports to treaty body organs but to help them to understand and better implement the stipulations and recommendations provided in these treaties.

The President of the National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms, Mr. Chemuta Divine Banda on his part lauded this initiative which is aimed at fostering the promotion and protection of human rights.

His Excellency Maurice Kamto, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Justice of Cameroon in his opening speech, commented on the importance and usefulness of this formation to states representatives confronted with reporting obligations and acclaimed the organization of this seminar which he termed as an act of intellectual capacity building for governmental and non-governmental actors working in the field of human rights protection.

The training is aimed at being highly practical and not purely theoretical. During the five days, sessions of thematic presentations will be made by several speakers and will be followed by group exercises and simulation for better integration of knowledge.