Women's Rights: A Scarce "Commodity" in Cameroon

By Yemti Harry Ndienla (Originally posted on Associated Content)

There is no gainsaying that women's rights constitute an important indicator of understanding global well-being. Yet many believe this is not an issue of world concern. Though many may think women's rights are only an issue in some countries - especially those (Muslim countries) where religion is law, some countries are lodging reservations as to the rights of women.

Of the 161 countries ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, about 44 have said they will not implement certain provisions of the treaty on political, constitutional, cultural or religious grounds" states a report published by the inter press service. On the other hand "some of the countries that have ratified the Convention have objected to Article 2 which compels them to enter into a contractual obligation with the United Nations to take all necessary measures to ensure equality of women.

It is within this backdrop that members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the republic of Cameroon recently examined a bill relating to women's rights in the country were not only women's rights, but equally their efforts are hardly recognized. The bill authorities the President of the Republic to ratify the protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, adopted at Maputo, Mozambique on 11 July 2003. The country's law makers also examined an other bill to authorize the President of the Republic to ratify the amendments to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer as adopted on 17 September 1997 in Montreal and on 3 December 1999 in Beijing.

The counties Minister of Women Empowerment and the Family, Suzanne Mbomback , was present to defend the said bill to authorise the president to ratify the protocol which prescribes equal access of women and men to justice and equal protection before the law. It also prescribes equal participation of women in decision-making, the maintenance of peace and health and food security, protection of women during periods of conflict and gender mainstreaming in the national development process.

Cameroon is a multi-ethnical and multi-cultural country in Central Africa. With hundreds of ethnicities and languages and most religions represented, it is difficult to point at "the Cameroonian" in a gender profile. Although the numbers of cultures are high, one aspect is quite common in Cameroon, and that is the importance given to local traditions. This again widely affects Cameroonian women's situation, as traditions never give as much protection as modern equality laws.

Though Cameroon is part of many Conventions on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, including its constitution which guarantees equality between men and women, as well as civil law which provides equal rights in the areas of inheritance, credit and employment, the weight of tradition remains powerful thereby paving way for women to be discriminated.

As a consequence, only male heads of household have land rights, Polygamy is permitted by law and tradition, but not polyandry. Worst ill many girls are married off by their families by the age of 12, while violence against women and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remain at high levels.

Yemti Harry Ndienla blogs at Prince Report.

Comments

[lil doctor]

"The bill authorities the President of the Republic to ratify" I think you guys have got to read over what you post here as news. check your spelling and grammar. I was embarrased when a friend pointed this out and a couple of other gramatical errors and asked me if English was the official language in Cameroon.

[Araoye Segilola - Nigerian]

Wonen's right is a must. African leaders must wake up address this social problem in all its ramifications.