B: Equal Access to Justice
1: The Establishment of Legal aid
728- Access to justice and equal treatment of litigants are the guiding principles of the
dispensation of justice and hearing of cases. Section 1-1 of the Penal Code provides that all
persons shall be subject to criminal law. Equality before the courts brings about free access to
justice and equal treatment before the judge. Thus, the Constitution, in the Preamble, holds
that the law shall ensure the right of every person to a fair hearing before the courts.
729- To promote equal justice, Law No. 2009/4 of 14 April 2009 to organize Legal aid was
adopted. According to the provisions of this law, a complete or partial exemption from court
fees is granted to the disadvantaged, including women going through a divorce procedure
with minor children under her care and without any revenue of her own in view of granting
them access to justice. More so, this law offers the woman deserted by her husband without
any resources the opportunity to access Legal aid in order to obtain alimony for her children
and herself through the law.
730- In spite of financial constraints which hinder the proper functioning of some Legal aid
commissions; litigants have been able to access Legal aid. Statistics of legal aid collected over
the period 2012-2017 are indicators of this inclusive justice advocated by Cameroon.
Chart 2: Evolution of Legal aid
Source: MINJUSTICE
2: Support to Local, National, Regional and Continental Initiatives
aimed at Granting Women Access to Legal aid and Services.
731- With the assistance of civil society organizations, awareness raising campaigns were
organised for the public and especially women on the request for Legal aid in a bid to
facilitate access of these persons to justice. Thus, these civil society organisations held
awareness raising sessions across the national territory, particularly through the production of
brochures and by radio broadcasts even in local languages.
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