820- Given that divorce is a result of an offence under Cameroon law, protection of the wife
has was characterised by the preservation of her patrimonial interests and protection of
children before the courts. Hence, alimony could be granted where necessary for a woman
without revenue.
821- Where a marriage is dissolved due to divorce, the judges make sure the patrimonial
rights of the divorced woman are protected and may order liquidation of their joint property.
Some court decisions illustrate this.
822- In 2015, over 368 divorce decisions rendered by various courts included the order to
liquidate joint property. Moreover, 352 rulings granted alimony to women while 6 men
benefited from alimony.414
823- In 2016, 751 divorce judgements were rendered by the “Tribunaux de Premier Degré415”
(TPD) at the instance of husband compared to 708 at the instance of the wife and 170 at the
instance of both husband and wife. Among these, 212 granted alimony to the wife and 23416
granted to the man. Before the High Courts417, 170 judgements were rendered at the instance
of the husband, 155418 at the instance of the wife and121419 where the responsibility is shared,
with 92420 granting alimony to the woman compared to 31421 to the man.
824- In 2017, 355422 cases of liquidation of the matrimonial regime were recorded before the
TPD meanwhile 161 cases were recorded before the HCs.
825- Overall, it is observed that liquidation of joint property was ordered both before the TPD
and the HC and this indicates an increasing approval of the need to protect the matrimonial
interests of women in case of dissolution of marriage.
C: Protecting the Woman who is separated from her Husband.
826- Legal separation is a procedure which can be initiated by the man or by the woman.
§5: Protecting Children in the Family (Article 6 (i))
827- Protecting children means preserving their interest, above all, within the family. Thus,
the woman abandoned by her husband can seize the competent court to obtain alimony for the
children left to her care and for herself.
828- The protection of children in the family is the duty of the parents who are responsible for
educating their children. To follow-up this duty, a Department of Promotion and Protection of
the Family and the Rights of Children was created at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment
and the Family. Moreover, community engagement activities on the respect of children’s
rights were organised in the country.
829- A mechanism to support and assist poor and needy persons and families was put in place
under the said Ministry. This mechanism which involves diverse offers in favour of
vulnerable families, aims at providing them with financial support in all sectors of education
and health, training and setting up income generating activities and preparing layette.
414
These statistics are a reflection of trends in jurisprudence in trial and Appellate Courts excluding the Supreme
Court.
415
These are trial courts where the customs of the parties are applicable. They are organised by decree No.
69/Df/544 of 19 December 1969.
416
Source Minjustice
417
These are modern law courts where written law is applicable and organised by Law No. 2006/15 of 20
December 2006 on Judicial Organisation.
418
Source Minjustice.
419
Source Minjustice.
420
Source Minjustice.
421
Source Minjustice.
422
Source Minjustice
136
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