The role and challenges of Civil Society Organizations in protecting and promoting human rights

ABSTRACT

In relation to this topic relating to civil society organization roles and challenges in protecting human rights. Human rights are the basic or fundamental rights that a human being is endowed or naturally possessed with irrespective of their background, race, age, sex and religion. These rights are fundamental as they guarantee individuals the means necessary to satisfy their basic needs such as food.
The principles of human rights in Cameroon drew inspiration from the universal declaration of human rights and freedom; these fundamental rights of the country are found in the 1996 constitution. The preamble of the 1996 constitution is legally recognized and significant source of human rights and the fundamental freedom in
Cameroon, an attempt to appreciate the human rights in Cameroon, it also necessary to outline a part of this section of the preamble which has been interpreted as incorporating most of the substantive human rights an international
Instrument into our municipal the provision states that “we the people of Cameroon affirms our attachment to the fundamental freedom enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights-(UNDHR), the, United Nation Charter (UN Charter) and the African charter on human and people’s rights and all duly ratified international convention relating thereto (The Preamble of the 1996 constitution in Cameroon. These are in line that we have sophisticated human rights regime in theory. It is noticed subsequently that the same preamble goes further to affirm some of the basic rights including; right to life, the right to fair hearings, the right not to be subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment among other right(Awanbeng, 2005186).
Human rights has been an issue of controversy till today, this is seen often in cases where, some acknowledge the existence to promote human rights, while others do not recognize its existence. These are rights that are meant to them, these is relatively because human right is a critical issue of the state and its citizens.(Lindholt and Yigen, 2000:l47).The United Nation Organization has played a vital and lucrative role in international human rights laws since creation. Upon the declaration of human rights by the United Nations, there have been the establishments of many conventions to protect and promote human rights

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Civil society (CS) is defined in many ways according to the context and the way different fields understand it. However, even if there are different contexts and content many agree that civil society include institutions and organizations which can take different directions but for the benefit of the country’s development. For this reason, civil society is in general an arena outside the state domain but not separated from the state. Government and civil society organizations are considered under civil society because every human being is a civilian. CSOs play an important role in meeting the needs of people who are not able to sustain themselves economically and socially. The rise of CSOs in Cameroon is crucial because the work of CSOs play as the bridges of communication between municipalities and local people; the work of CSOs also promotes access to resources from local and national government. The researcher is interested in knowing how CSOs play this crucial role in the development of communities and the facilitation of poverty reduction. Caroll (2006) states, those civil CSOs as agents of change often find themselves between government and the private sector in meeting development outcomes. 

In relation to this topic relating to civil society organization roles and challenges in protecting human rights. Human rights are the basic or fundamental rights that a human being is endowed or naturally possessed with irrespective of their background, race, age, sex and religion. These rights are fundamental as they guarantee individuals the means necessary to satisfy their basic needs such as food. The principles of human rights in Cameroon drew inspiration from the universal declaration of human rights and freedom; these fundamental rights of the country are found in the 1996 constitution. The preamble of the 1996 constitution is legally recognized and significant source of human rights and the fundamental freedom in Cameroon, an attempt to appreciate the human rights in Cameroon, it also necessary to outline a part of this section of the preamble which has been interpreted as incorporating most of the substantive human rights an international instrument into our municipal law (Awanbeng, 2005:73). The provision states that “we the people of Cameroon affirms our attachment to the fundamental freedom enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights (UNDHR), the United Nation Charter (UN Charter) and the African charter on human and people’s rights and all duly ratified international convention relating thereto (The Preamble of the 1996 constitution in Cameroon. These are in line that we have sophisticated human rights regime in theory. It is noticed subsequently that the same preamble goes further to affirm some of the basic rights including; right to life, the right to fair hearings, the right not to be subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment among other right(Awanbeng, 2005:86).

Human rights has been an issue of controversy till today, this is seen often in cases where, some acknowledge the existence to promote human rights, while others do not recognize its existence. These are rights that are meant to them, these is relatively because human right is a critical issue of the state and its citizens.(Lindholt and Yigen, 2000:147).The United Nation Organization has played a vital and lucrative role in international human rights laws since creation. Upon the declaration of human rights by the United Nations, there have been the establishments of many conventions to protect and promote human rights

Since October 2016, the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon has been the target of extreme violence and the persecution by the Cameroon government. There is a vast range of human rights violation s that amounts to crimes against humanity, a separatist movement has responded with the violent against the state’s defense forces. Government officials and armed insurgency groups have reportedly perpetrated sexual assault, torture, and public humiliation of women and girls throughout the Anglophone regions. Other reported crimes against humanity in the Anglophone regions include murder and lethal force against civilians, mass arbitrary arrest and detentions, torture of persons in state custody, and deportation and the forcible transfer of Anglophone populations. There have been approximately 500,000 civilians who have been forcibly displaced with many internally displaced persons relocated to remote areas with inadequate access to food, potable water, clothing, basic hygiene or medical assistance for resulting diseases, including dysentery and malaria.

CSOs often use several strategies in carrying out development to influence the process of development in poor areas. According to a World Bank report (2014), 2.5 billion people worldwide do not have access to sanitation and clean water, and over 1 billion live in extreme poverty. These problems have been identified by many scholars and developmental programs who study the way for reducing poverty to bring out and initiate programs and strategies that aim to address poverty, inequality and unemployment in many countries in the developing countries.  CSOs are involved in service delivery, advocacy, innovation and poverty reduction initiatives (Lewis, 2005; Carroll, 1992). However, as these organizations work with different people, organizations, and donors, they face challenges in promoting development. Development process is very challenging programs, and despite the development work that has done by many organizations in developing countries, poverty, inequality, and employment persist. One cannot attribute failures to a single cause.  These organizations face multiple challenges that hinder them from achieving their goals and these problems vary from one organization to another, from one country or city to another. According to Edwards (2008), insufficient financing, litigation and tight regulations, lack of co-operation from government institutions have posed problems to many organizations. CSOs in Cameroon came because of meeting the needs to reduce the rate of human rights violation in the country as well as the reduce poverty and unemployment rate. Therefore, the evaluation of CSOs’ roles together with an effective use of social capital approach can provide some answers to most of the challenges CSOs face in Cameroon  and in developing countries.

The social capital approach is all about increasing social stability through social cohesion and improving development issues. Social capital relies on the basic idea that “it is not what you know but who you know” (Woolcock and Narayan, 2000:2). Social capital refers mostly to social cohesion, which makes members of a community or any social groupings more committed to better living conditions for all (Woolcock and Narayan, 2000). The research focused on the evaluation of the role of CHRDA in its three programs which are integrated human settlement, participatory governance and community economic development.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Civil society organization are also known as agents of socio-economic change as they promote development through the work they do, civil society organizations also promote democracy and good governance and also create safe spaces where those living in extreme can make their voices heard (Lewis, 2005).

However, the development process continues to face diverse challenges such as unemployment, poverty, inequality, which continue to increase. On the other one hand, skills development programs, education and internships continue to intensify creating opportunities for individuals to be employed and follow entrepreneurial ventures. In Cameroon poverty, unemployment, human rights violation and inequality continue to increase not only in local communities as well as the rural communities too.

CSOs in Cameroon have assumed various roles as well as employ different strategies to tackle these development problems. However, the problems persist and continue to affect the development process. For the points above, the researcher would like to evaluate the strategies used by civil society to combat these problems of the human rights violation in Cameroon.

Therefore, the focus of this study was to critically evaluate the roles and strategies of Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa CHRDA) organization in the development as a case study. This is because CHRDA works directly with community-based organizations (CBOs) and the people at the grassroots to design and implement projects aimed at addressing some of the development challenges facing the community. 

CHRDA, which is used as the research’s case study, is one such organization  that works with local communities in providing skills development training, technical advice and other assistance and are committed to local development for the benefit of the poor people in the communities.

A significant part of their operations entails research and advocacy at policy levels. At the local level, CHRDA support and mobilize community processes that encourage good governance. Despite all these programs and initiatives implemented by CHRDA, unemployment, poverty and inequality continue to rise in communities where they operate. Therefore, this study seeks to evaluate the roles and strategies used by organizations in development by answering the questions below.

 1.3 Research Questions

• What are the roles played by the Centre for human rights and democracy in Africa in combating human rights violation in Cameroon?

• What are the challenges faced by the Centre for human rights and democracy in Africa when carrying out their functions of human rights protection in Cameroon?

• What are the strategies and techniques used by CHRDA in the promotion and protection of human rights in Cameroon?

 1.4 Research Objectives

The following are the objectives of the study:

1. To examine the roles played by the Centre for human rights and democracy in Africa in combating human rights violation in Cameroon.

2. To examine the challenges faced by the Centre for human rights and democracy in Africa when carrying out their functions of human rights protection in Cameroon.

3. To determine the strategies and techniques used by CHRDA in the promotion and protection of human rights in Cameroon.

1.5 Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses are tentative answers to the research questions above

1. There have been significant roles played by CHRDA in fighting human rights in Cameroon.
2. CHRDA faces the problem of independent when executing or carrying out its functions.
3. There have been many strategies put in the place by CHRDA in promoting and protecting human rights in Cameroon.

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