Human rights challenges still abound - Dr Chemuta

Human rights stakeholders in the country under the canopy of Cameroon Network of Human Rights Organisations (CNHRO) are meeting in Yaounde to seek ways of creating a framework for exchange on the situation of Human Rights in Cameroon which the Chairman of the National Commission of Human Rights and Freedoms, Dr. Chemuta Divine Bantar says is still challenging.

In spite significant efforts made in the domain of promotion and protection of human rights in the country through the ratification of national and international instruments geared at ensuring rights and freedoms of man, Dr. Chemuta holds that “a better guarantee of civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights and entitlements of vulnerable groups remains a challenge.”

To him more efforts are required to intensify measures against corruption, improve access to water electricity and housing, protection of children, woman, disabled persons, indigenous people, and refugees amongst others.

Thus, the challenge for civil society in stemming the situation is multifaceted. The Yaounde forum to run from 4-6 August 2015, presents an opportunity for capacity building and experience sharing among actors in a bid to surmount these challenges.

The Coordinator of the Cameroon Network of Human Rights Organisations, Hyomeni Paul Guy rejoiced that the forum is coming at a time when the international community is constantly engaged to ameliorate human rights situation in the face of persistence acts of terrorism.

The two speakers at the opening ceremony Tuesday morning condemned the atrocities perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorist group in the Far North Region. Participants from the ten regions and the delegation from the Morrocan National Commission on Human Rights will be drilled on thematic topics during panel discussions and free legal consultations as well as exhibitions.