The Legal Framework for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Cameroon by Non-Governmental Organisations

Alvine Longla Boma

doi:10.5771/2363-6270-2021-1-29

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- 1–2 Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis 1–2
- 3–95 Abhandlungen • Articles • Articles 3–95
  - 3–28 L’incidence de la lutte contre le Covid-19 sur les finances publiques camerounaises Steve Thiery Bilounga Steve Thiery Bilounga 3–28
  - 29–45 The Legal Framework for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Cameroon by Non-Governmental Organisations Alvine Longla Boma Alvine Longla Boma 29–45
  - 46–67 L’émergence d’une régulation sous-régionale des forêts en Afrique centrale Fabrice Kengne Fotso Fabrice Kengne Fotso 46–67
  - 68–95 La pérennité de l’identité de l’ordre constitutionnel congolais : réflexions sur les dispositions intangibles de la Constitution du 18 février 2006 Balingene Kahombo Balingene Kahombo 68–95
- 96–108 Besprechungsaufsatz • Review Article • Critique 96–108
  - La justiciabilité de la Constitution en droit congolais. Note d’observation sous Cour constitutionnelle (RDC), Matière d’appréciation de la conformité à la Constitution, R. Const. 0038, 28 Août 2015 Dieu-Merci Ngusu Masuta Dieu-Merci Ngusu Masuta
- 109–119 Berichte • Reports • Rapports 109–119
  - Le Conseil Supérieur de la Magistrature du Burundi selon la loi n° 1/02 du 23 janvier 2021 : avancée ou recul en matière d’indépendance de la justice? Aimé-Parfait Niyonkuru Aimé-Parfait Niyonkuru
- 120–122 Buchbesprechungen • Book Reviews • Compte-rendus de publications 120–122
  - Patrick Hönig: Ein Ende der Straflosigkeit? Mobile Gerichte im Osten der Demokratischen Republik Kongo. Harald Sippel Harald Sippel
- 123–123 Impressum 123–123
Durchsuchen Sie das Werk
Geben Sie ein Keyword in die Suchleiste ein
CC-BY-NC Access

RiA Recht in Afrika | Law in Africa | Droit en Afrique , page 29 - 45

The Legal Framework for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Cameroon by Non-Governmental Organisations

Autoren

Alvine Longla Boma

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/2363-6270-2021-1-29
- ISSN: 1435-0963
- ISSN online: 2363-6270
Zusammenfassung

Civil Society organisations play key roles in African countries. This is not an exception in the Cameroonian dispensation. Indeed, the existence and operation of civil societies in this jurisdiction is legitimated by a 1990 law allowing the free formation of associations. Even though the state has the primary obligation to promote and protect human rights, there also exists a plethora of associations with the same interest. This paper is motivated by the state’s wanton failure in ensuring the enjoyment and fulfilment of the right. For one thing, the state has maintained a stronghold on the Civil Society through legislation which gives public authorities a leverage over human rights defenders. Moreover, an analysis of existing legal and institutional frameworks available to allow human rights non-governmental organisations thrive, leaves much to be desired. Findings reveal that though there are adequate laws and institutions which ensure the creation and functioning of Civil Society organisations in Cameroon, there are also contradictory laws which give the public authority an edge over these organisations and allow them to sanction the activities of some human rights defenders under the guise of maintaining public order. We argue that there should be adequate protection offered to human rights defenders as well as the relaxation of laws permitting public authorities to illegally sanction the activities of relevant non-governmental organisations.

Abstract

Civil Society organisations play key roles in African countries. This is not an exception in the Cameroonian dispensation. Indeed, the existence and operation of civil societies in this jurisdiction is legitimated by a 1990 law allowing the free formation of associations. Even though the state has the primary obligation to promote and protect human rights, there also exists a plethora of associations with the same interest. This paper is motivated by the state’s wanton failure in ensuring the enjoyment and fulfilment of the right. For one thing, the state has maintained a stronghold on the Civil Society through legislation which gives public authorities a leverage over human rights defenders. Moreover, an analysis of existing legal and institutional frameworks available to allow human rights non-governmental organisations thrive, leaves much to be desired. Findings reveal that though there are adequate laws and institutions which ensure the creation and functioning of Civil Society organisations in Cameroon, there are also contradictory laws which give the public authority an edge over these organisations and allow them to sanction the activities of some human rights defenders under the guise of maintaining public order. We argue that there should be adequate protection offered to human rights defenders as well as the relaxation of laws permitting public authorities to illegally sanction the activities of relevant non-governmental organisations.
Share