I. GENERAL INFORMATION ON CAMEROON
The general information on Cameroon, contained in the initial report on the
implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, remains
valid for this periodic report.
Politically, the major change that took place concerns the Cameroon Parliament which
effectively became bicameral , following the legislative and senatorial elections organised
in April 2013. The Legislative Power is henceforth exercised by the National Assembly,
made up of 180 members and the Senate with 100 Senators.
Economically, the fight against poverty and child malnutrition remains one of the major
concerns of the Government.
To ensure food self-sufficiency, the Government opted for an “agricultural revolution”
known as “second generation agriculture”, with the prerequisite being the use of modern
methods of production.
Underemployment remains one of the major concerns. A strategy for sustainable growth
and a strong economy and the creation of thousands of decent jobs was thus adopted.
To this end, in recent years, programmes to fight against youth unemployment were
implemented. Thus, 25 000 youths were recruited into the Public Service in 2011, nearly
150 000 jobs were created in various sectors between 2013 and 2014. Besides, as part of
the major development projects, a plan to promote national employment and technology
transfer was drawn up in partnership with company managers.
II. GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES (Art.1 (1))
The general implementation measures cover the following five areas of intervention:
legislation, institutional framework, budget allocation for the implementation of the Charter,
cooperation with non-state stakeholders and dissemination.
a) Regulatory Framework
This encompasses international legal instruments, regional instruments ratified by
Cameroon and national laws.
Amongst the international and regional instruments could be cited the:
- Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflicts,
ratified on 30 May 2012;
- Optional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the
rights of women ratified on13 September 2012;
- Resolution No. A/C3/67/21/Rev of the United Nations General Assembly on
intensifying the fight against female genital mutilations adopted in 2013;
- African Youth Charter, ratified on 11 January 2011.
Nationally, the Civil Code being drafted integrates, in a harmonized manner, the essential
elements of the draft Child Protection Code and the Code on Persons and the Family.
Other instruments which take into account some specific concerns to protect certain rights
of specific categories of children were equally adopted, such as the:
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