A/HRC/39/15
33.
During the period under consideration, cooperation with human rights mechanisms
had continued. The fact that the State had submitted the requisite reports to the treaty
bodies and had responded to various communications illustrated its openness to
constructive comments likely to lead to improved respect for the human rights of persons
under its jurisdiction.
34.
The State had made no secret of the constraints that it faced, both economic and
security-related, and which it had been striving to overcome through an inclusive approach
that took account of the contributions of the various national actors and other partners. State
support in that endeavour was strongly desired by partners, in order to consolidate unity,
stability and territorial integrity.
35.
Since 2014, the fight against Boko Haram, a terrorist group in the Far North region,
and the sociopolitical situation in certain neighbouring countries had led to a large influx of
refugees and internally displaced persons. As at October 2017, nearly 236,000 internally
displaced persons and 332,000 refugees had relocated to the Eastern, Adamawa and Far
North regions.
36.
The social crisis in the North-west and South-west regions, which began at the end
of 2016, had also affected the realization of certain human rights.
37.
Dialogue and the obligation to protect territorial integrity, people and their property,
and pacification characterized the response to the above-mentioned social crisis, aimed also
at consolidating the government policy of promoting social harmony. In this sense, in
addition to the responses to the claims being made, the institutional framework had been
strengthened by the decision of the President to create a national commission for the
promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism.
38.
Reconciling security and freedom remained a constant challenge for the State, as
was the development of information and communications technology.
39.
The head of the delegation reiterated the State’s commitment to continuing the
implementation of the recommendations that Cameroon had accepted in 2013 and those
made at the current review.
40.
Cameroon would continue to strengthen the good practices it had developed both
during the implementation of the recommendations accepted at it its previous review and in
the preparation of its third national report. These good practices included the drafting of a
timetable of actions and of a road map for the implementation of recommendations,
permanent consultations with stakeholders under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s
office, the briefing conducted by Cameroon with its international partners, and cooperation
with the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa.
41.
In addition to the expectations already expressed at the previous review on the
capacity-building of actors in the field of human rights and the protection of prisoners,
greater support for the fight against terrorism and more burden-sharing and care services
and management of refugees were still being sought, as was for national initiatives to foster
peaceful coexistence. Much more support for climate change adaptation policies was also
desired.
B.
Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review
42.
During the interactive dialogue, 76 delegations made statements. Recommendations
made during the dialogue may be found in section II of the present report.
43.
Italy appreciated the State’s efforts to raise school enrolment rates, including for
girls, its review of the Penal Code in 2016, including penalties for female genital
mutilation, and its intensification of the fight against enforced marriage.
44.
Madagascar welcomed the ratification by Cameroon of the Protocol to the African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its adoption of article 242 of the Penal Code,
while regretting the cases of discrimination against, inter alia, marginalized and indigenous
children.
GE.18-11388
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