Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Beatrice Manka’a
Published on 2024-02-28 21:45:22
Cameroon’s Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) hosted a press conference to address the ongoing conflict in the Far North, North West, and South West regions of the country. The conference coincided with the release of CHRDA’s 2023 Human Rights Report, which paints a bleak picture of the conflict’s impact on the area.
2023 was described by CHRDA as a year of “enormous challenges” due to insecurity, economic instability, and violence in the Anglophone regions and the Far North Region. The investigations conducted by CHRDA revealed that both state actors and non-state armed groups were responsible for severe human rights violations and abuses.
The report outlines violations of various fundamental rights, such as the right to life, freedom of movement, education, protection from arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and gender-based violence.
CHRDA presented recommendations directed at different stakeholders. They urged Cameroon’s state authorities to increase transparency in investigations into alleged human rights abuses by state agents, especially the military and security forces. Both state and non-state actors were called upon to cease attacks on journalists and human rights defenders. CHRDA also appealed to the international community to pressure Cameroon to uphold its human rights and humanitarian law obligations. In the Far North region, the Cameroonian government was advised to promote civil-military cooperation.
In an interview with MMI, CHRDA President Barrister Agbor Nkongbo reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to protecting and promoting human rights. He highlighted the importance of documenting, monitoring, and reporting on human rights violations by all parties involved in the conflict. Nkongbo emphasized the role of citizen engagement in addressing the crisis, stating that citizens must engage to ensure the improvement of the situation and prevent human rights violations.
Nkongbo also stressed the role of the media in the conflict. He urged journalists to actively engage with the issue, creating documentaries that evoke emotions and attract the necessary assistance for the affected regions.
The recommendations from CHRDA and Nkongbo’s statements shed light on the complexities of the Anglophone crisis and underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to achieve long-lasting peace and stability in Cameroon.
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
