Cameroon: Human Rights

Cameroon is a republic dominated by a strong presidency. The country has a multi-party system of government, but the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) has remained in power since it was created in 1985. In practice the president retains the power to control legislation. On April 14, the country conducted the first Senate elections in its history, which were peaceful and considered generally free and fair. On September 30, simultaneous legislative and municipal elections were held and considered by most observers to be free and fair. In October 2011 CPDM leader Paul Biya was re-elected president, a position he has held since 1982, in a flawed election marked by irregularities. Authorities failed at times to maintain effective control over the security forces. Security forces committed human rights abuses. The most important human rights problems in the country were security force torture and abuse, particularly of detainees and prisoners, denial of fair and speedy public trial, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association. Other major human rights abuses included security force killings, life-threatening prison conditions, arbitrary arrest and detention, prolonged and sometimes incommunicado pretrial detention, and infringement on privacy rights. The government harassed and imprisoned journalists, restricted freedoms of speech and press, and impeded freedom of movement. Corruption was pervasive at all levels of government. Societal violence and discrimination against women and girls, including female genital mutilation/cutting, occurred. Trafficking in persons and government-sponsored discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community were problems. Discrimination against persons with albinism occasionally occurred, and hereditary servitude was a problem. The government restricted worker rights and the activities of independent labor organizations. Forced labor, including by children, and child labor were problems. Although the government took some steps to punish and prosecute officials who committed abuses in the security forces and in the public service, impunity remained a problem.