Overview of Human Rights in Cameroon

Cameroon's leader, Paul Biya, has been head of state since 1982, and was re-elected in October 2004 amid allegations of vote-rigging, harassment of voters, and other means of law breaking. Despite these actions, international observers believe the intention of voters was reflected in the final result. Cameroon’s human rights record under Biya remains poor. The government itself is responsible for many human rights violations.

The security forces, with the consent of the government, commit numerous unlawful actions. Torture, beatings and other abuses are committed against detainees and prisoners. Arbitrary arrest and detention is the result of activists advocating for human rights or secession. There have also been credible reports of unlawful killings done at the hands of the security forces.

The government infringes on citizens’ right to privacy, as well as imposed limits on the freedoms of speech, press, association, assembly and movement. Opposition politicians and journalists who speak out against the regime are constantly harassed and abused and often held in detention, sometimes incommunicado.

Societal discrimination and violence against homosexuals, indigenous Pygmies and ethnic minorities continues unchecked. Slavery and forced child labor are known to occur in some parts of the nation. There are also reports of trafficking of persons, especially children, for forced sexual labor.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

144th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.