THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHT OF WOMEN IN CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Women human’s right refers to a revolutionary advocacy aimed at emphasizing that a woman right are, human can be protected for purpose of her being human. The concept of women right helps to focus on women in human right movement. Women right are given great important in the convention of the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. . Analysis and articulate their experience of violence, degradation and marginalization[1]

The rationale behind the study is based on the right of women in Cameroon and the concept of fundamental right and public liberty and extension. The beginning or historical evolution of the concept of the human rights. In the viewing of Dr. BBR Ambedkar[2], fundamental rights are gift of law. There are essential for human beings, there are inalienable and enforceable by the state.

The origin of human right philosophy can be trace from the idea of natural law philosophers such as classical natural rights teachings may be delineated along Socrates, platonic Aristotle and thematic lines. The natural philosopher, Plato Socrates, Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas see human right as inherit and inalienable right embedded in man my God. The concept of human right is as old as the Bible.[3]

This text strongly stood against the omnipotence and absolutism of the crown. The text  aim at putting a barrier to royal injustice and arbitrary to the commoners. Since it had the effect of putting limit to the royal powers, by making the king not above the law, but it should be noteworthy that the notion of human right originated since the beginning of man’s social life. For the fundamental assumption is that each person is moral and rational being who deserve to be treated with care and dignity. That’s when man memory rennet. But in ancient Greece and Roman one can only see that the notion of human right was originated with the case of human right claims of the human treatment provided to slave and in the general terms against slavery itself

Also according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 under the UNO in its preamble it stated that whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of equal and in alienable right of all members of human family is a foundation of freedom, justices and peace in the world. These shows that human rights are neutral and natural given by God and no one should be disprove of.[4]

However the preamble to 1996[5] Cameroonian constitution makes allusion to principle of human right which are acknowledged as constitution values. In fact these principle in preamble paragraph 4 makes references to nondiscrimination bases on race, religion, sex and belief and paragraph 5 read together with article 45 affirm the attachment of domestic laws to the later national ratification of treats which is superior to domestic laws. Also  the convention in the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against women (CEDAW). 1979[6] which obliges states to promote  women in all domains, political, legal, economic, social and cultural development. All these international treaty have been ratified in Cameroon to protect the right of her citizens.

However before the colonial era and the coming of the idea of human right and protection of the right of woman African as a whole and Cameroon in particular. Cameroon was based on law of obligation. The right of women in Cameroon varies from culture to culture. Cameroon is made up of 250 ethnic groups with different values, habits and culture. Although there are many ethnic groups in Cameroon, the right of women may be similar as some ethnic groups has similar cultures. Women right were grossly violated. Women knew nothing about their right. There existed obnoxious and cruel practices against women such as female genital mutilation, breast ironing, domestic violence, lack of right to acquired property and discrimination in power Cameroonian political set up.

Although the Cameroon state has enacted laws and ratified international treaties to protect and  respect the right of women, some of the obnoxious and cruel practices still exist still date.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

According to Rebecca J cook[7] through articles on the Enforcement of women’s rights. Through law “she said , Gender planning required meeting the practical and strategies need of women a need unmet in most countries including those in advance economy. She argued that this plan has been restricted to the need of women in agriculture domain for sustainable development. She argued if addressing the need of women. The law should be liberal in such a way that allows women to own land, have separate bank account and respect of their life within the family. She argued the protection of the right of women should be the first in development gender. She argued in the case of a girl mostly below legal age of married, government should be held responsible for not enforcing the law and failure to educate them before getting to such marriages

The preparation for and follow up to UN fourth world conference on women in Beijing, provides a significance opportunities for human right activist to ensure the respect and protection of world being of women she argued that international, regional, domestic protection of women rights can make a different if women are empowered to use their right including knowing what they can do if their right are violated

This article argued that full rectification and adherent to the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (The women Convention) 1979 would provide a very powerful tool for enforcement of all aspect of women right.[8]Also a report given my communities on Elimination against Women 57 section by Advocate for Human Right “A non-governmental organization in special consultative status January 24^th 2014 showed that breast ironing is common in littoral region (53%). Also FGM is practices almost in all regions of Cameroon. It is reported that infibulation has been performed in Kajifu areas in Manyu Division in the South West Region of Cameroon. Also in the south West and Far North Region FGM is reportedly practices on 100% of Muslim and 63.6% of Christian girls.[9]

With all this there is a call for international Regions and domestic protection of the right of women and to put an end to all forms of discrimination against women.

1.3 RESARCH QUESTIONS

Base on the above problem the study seeks to answer the following questions

1. What is the legal frame work for the protection of the right of women in Cameroon?

2. What are the challenges faced my women in Cameroon?

3. What are the challenges encounter to enforce the right of women in Cameroon

4. What polices recommendation can be made to better the plight of women?

1.4   OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1.4.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE

General objective of the study is to examine the enforcement of the right of women in Cameroon

1.4.2 SPECIFICE OBJECTIVES

1. To examine the legal frame work for the protection of the right of women in Cameroon
2. To identify the challenges face my women in Cameroon
3. To examine the challenges hindering effective enforcement of the right of women in Cameroon
4. To propose policy recommendation

FURTHER READING: LAW PROJECT TOPICS WITH MATERIALS

READ ALSO SIMILAR TOPICS WITH COMPLETE MATERIALS

A legal analysis of the Maputo Protocol and its impact on women’s right in Cameroon

GENDER EQUALITY AND THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN TO EMPLOYMENT IN CAMEROON

The Protection of Women’s rights to employment in Cameroon

THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN INHERITANCE RIGHT IN CAMEROON

The property rights of women after divorce proceedings in Anglophone Cameroon

PROPERTY RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN ANGLOPHONE CAMEROON