A/HRC/11/21* Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its fourth session from 2 to 13 February 2009. The review of Cameroon was held at the 7th meeting on 5 February 2009. The delegation of Cameroon was headed by H.E. Dr. Joseph DION NGUTE, Minister Delegate of External Relations in charge of Commonwealth. At its meeting held on 9 February 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Cameroon. 2. On 8 September 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Cameroon: China, Cuba and Senegal. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Cameroon: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/4/CMR/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/4/CMR/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/4/CMR/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Latvia and the Netherlands was transmitted to Cameroon through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The Minister Delegate, H. E. Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, introduced the national report, which had been prepared in collaboration with civil society and various ministerial departments and related structures including the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms and outlined achievements, progress, difficulties and concerns in the field of human rights. 6. Since independence, Cameroon has undergone positive evolution attested by its accession to international legal instruments. The 1990s had been a milestone for human rights promotion and protection in Cameroon, which had adopted laws liberalising politics, media, trade union and religion. A National Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms, and a National Observatory for election (replaced by Elections Cameroon – ELECAM) had been established. The Constitution of 18 January 1996 strengthened human rights promotion and protection, emphasizing Cameroon’s commitment to the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of the United Nations, the African Charter for Human and Peoples Rights and the other duly ratified conventions. International human rights instruments had constitutional rank. Besides ratifying numerous universal and regional instruments Cameroon had signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and envisaged ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OP-CAT) and the optional protocols to the Convention on the GE.09-16396 3