A/HRC/11/L.10
page 94
379. The Minister Delegate expressed gratitude to all countries that assisted Cameroon
on 5 February 2009 during the universal periodic review. He indicated that their observations,
comments and recommendations would continue to guide the Government to pursue its action to
promote and protect all human rights in Cameroon.
380. In the course of Working Group discussions, 54 recommendations were made, 40 of which
Cameroon accepted, 7 it rejected, while 7 were subject to further consideration, leading
Cameroon to accept 1, reject 2 and continue consideration of 4. A total of 41 recommendations
received the consent of the Cameroonian authorities. The Government would work within the
limit of available possibilities and with the cooperation of the international community to
implement them. The four recommendations under consideration related to the ratification of the
Treaty of Rome establishing the International Criminal Court, the adoption of a law on specific
cases of HIV/AIDS, the adoption of suspensive effects to decisions on deportation and measures
related to non-refoulement, and accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against
Torture.
381. The Minister Delegate indicated that nine recommendations had not been supported by
Cameroon. With regard to the decriminalization of homosexuality, he stated that the penalization
of homosexuality was not, according to the legal order of Cameroon, contrary to the provisions
of article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 26 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Homosexual persons were not denied their rights or any
benefit because of their presumed sexual orientation. The practice was, however, contrary to
both prevailing legislation and what the democratic society of Cameroon still regarded as
immoral.
382. The Minister Delegate also underlined the fact that the legislation of Cameroon was in line
with the relevant provisions of articles 26 (2) of the Universal Declaration and article 29 (7) of
the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, which constitute guarantees that can be
invoked by every democratic society according to its moral characteristics. On the one hand,
these provisions allowed the State to restrict a right or freedom in order to satisfy the just
requirements of morality, public order and general well-being in a democratic society, and on the
other required individuals to ensure in their own relations with society the preservation and
strengthening of positive African cultural values. For the culture of Cameroon, homosexuality
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