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Monday 8 August 2011

Call to scrap Cameroon`s human rights and freedoms watchdog

Cameroon`s human rights and freedoms watchdog should be scrapped because it contributes very little to meaningful equality and human rights promotion in the country. Lots still to be done and CFA millions spent on luxuries whilst human rights abuses are rising in an appalling situation..and no place to create a fairer Cameroon.

In a report, the civil society group. ACAT-Cameroon, says that the National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms cost CFA millions a year to run. It also accused the commission of using statistics in an illogical way and of a narrow approach to social policy which is neither reasonable nor useful.

But Dr Divine Chemuta Banda, the chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms rejected the claims and said its job is to start a debate on issues where we could see better outcomes for people suffering unfair disadvantages.


Based on Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, local human rights activists groups  insist that torture is never legitimate and that the dignity of all human beings must be respected.

The fight against torture has been responsible for the creation of the National Commission and therefore according to the local and international human rights group, and the failure of Dr Divine Banda`s administration to protect those who have been abused by the authorities should then force the total scrap of that government agency and save taxpayer some money....

The commission has failed to defend  all victims of torture and ill-treatment, both prisoners of conscience or common law, whether held by state or non-state entities.

In its report ACAT-Cameroon.described the commission`s goal of equality as impractical, saying it wishes that life outcomes be entirely divorced from politics. Since an editor died in prison in Cameroon, no independent report has been made public and the Commission has failed to act.

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