The urt’s cisn reflects growg regnn of the fundamental rights of lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr, and tersex people Cameroon, cludg their right to be protected om vlence.
Contents:
- INSI THE STGGLE FOR LGBT RIGHTS CAMEROON: 'IT'S NORMAL TO KILL SOMEBODY FOR BEG GAY'
- GAY RIGHTS GROUPS BRAVE ABE, VLENCE TO FIGHT HIV CAMEROON
- U.S. EMBASSY CAMEROON LANGUAGE ENGLISH FRANçAIS // MENU EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ALERTS FOR U.S. CIZENS U.S. VISAS U.S. PASSPORTS U.S. CIZEN SERVIC NOTARIALS NEWS & EVENTS JOB OPPORTUNI BS EDUTN & EXCHANG CONTACT SEARCH×SEARCH COUNTRY/AREA AFGHANISTANALBANIAALGERIAANGOLAARGENTAARMENIAATRALIAATRIAAZERBAIJANBAHAMASBAHRABANGLASHBARBADOSBELASBELGIUMBELIZEBENBERMUDABOLIVIABOSNIA & HERZEABOTSWANABRAZILBNEIBULGARIABURKA FASOBURMABUNDICABO VERCAMBODIACAMEROONCANADACENTRAL AIN REPUBLICCHADCHILECHACOLOMBIACOMOROSCOSTA RICôTE D’IVOIRECROATIACUBACURAOCYPSCZECH REPUBLICDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGODENMARKDJIBOUTIDOMIN REPUBLICECUADOREGYPTEL SALVADOREQUATORIAL GUEAERREAESTONIAESWATIETHPIAFIJIFLANDFRANCEGABONGEIAGERMANYGHANAGREECEGUATEMALAGUEAU.S. VIRTUAL PRENCE GUEA-BISSGUYANATHE GAMBIAHAIHONDURASHONG KONG AND MAUHUNGARYICELANDINDIAINDONIAIRANIRAQIRELANDISRAELITALYJAMAIJAPANJORDANKAZAKHSTANKENYAKOREAKOSOVOKUWAKYRGYZ REPUBLICLAOSLATVIALEBANONLOTHOLIBERIALIBYALHUANIALUXEMBOURGMADAGASRMALAWIMALAYSIAMALDIVMALIMALTAMARSHALL ISLANDSMRANIAMRIMEXIMICRONIAMOLDOVAMONGOLIAMONTENEGROMOROCMOZAMBIQUENAMIBIANEPALNETHERLANDSNEW ZEALANDNIRAGUANIGERNIGERIANORTH MACEDONIANORWAYOMANPAKISTANPALPALTIAN TERRORIPANAMAPAPUA NEW GUEAPARAGUAYPEPHILIPPPOLANDPORTUGALQATARREPUBLIC OF CONGOROMANIARSIARWANDASAMOASAN MAROSDI ARABIASENEGALSERBIASIERRA LEONESGAPORESLOVAKIASLOVENIASOMALIASOUTH AISOUTH SUDANSPASRI LANKASUDANSURAMESWENSWZERLANDSYRIAAMERIN INSTUTE TAIWANTAJIKISTANTANZANIATHAILANDTIMOR-LTETOGOTONGATRIDAD & TOBAGOTUNISIATüRKIYETURKMENISTANUGANDAUKRAEUNED ARAB EMIRATUNED KGDOMUGUAYUZBEKISTANVENEZUELAVIETNAMYEMENZAMBIAZIMBABWEU.S. MISSN TO ASEANU.S. MISSN TO THE AIN UNNU.S. MISSN TO THE EUHOLY SEEU.S. MISSN TO THE ICAOU.S. MISSN TO NATOU.S. MISSN TO OSCEU.S. MISSN TO THE OASU.S. MISSN TO THE OECDU.S. MISSN TO THE UN-GENEVAU.S. MISSN TO THE UN-ROMEU.S. MISSN TO THE UNED NATNSU.S. MISSN TO INTERNATNAL ORGANIZATNS VIENNA EMERGENCY INFORMATN FOR AMERIN CIZENSVISA INFORMATN UPDATEPREVNEXT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCELOL EMERGENCY INFORMATN AND CONTACTS ALERTS FOR U.S. CIZENSREAD ALERTS FOR U.S. CIZENS VIS FOR MORE INFORMATN NEW GUIDANCE FOR VISA PICKUPBEGNG MAY 18TH 2022, ALL APPROVED VISAS WILL BE PICKED UP OM DHL YAOUNDé IMMBLE STAMATADAS BUILDG, HYPODROME/ HOTEL -VILLE. THERE IS NO ADDNAL FEE FOR THIS SERVICE. PICK-UP TIMTHE APPLINT MAY PICK UP THEIR VISA AT THEIR NVENIENCE: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 08:00 – 17:00 OR SATURDAY 09:00 – 14:00. CONTACTS FOR QUTNS AND CONCERNSPLEASE NTACT DHL AT +237-233-500-900/01/02/03 OR WH ANY QUTN OR NCERNS. PREVNEXT 2021 COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTIC: CAMEROON NOTICE DOWNLOAD THE PDF VERSN HERE 2021 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT: CAMEROON BY U.S. EMBASSY CAMEROON 108 MINUTE READAPRIL 12, 2022 2021 COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTIC: CAMEROON EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CAMEROON IS A REPUBLIC DOMATED BY A STRONG PRINCY. THE PRINT RETAS POWER OVER THE LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCH OF ERNMENT. THE LG POLIL PARTY, THE CAMEROON PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT, HAS REMAED POWER SCE S CREATN 1985. THE UNTRY HELD LEGISLATIVE ELECTNS FEBARY 2020 THAT WERE MARKED BY IRREGULARI. THE LG PARTY WON 152 OF 180 NATNAL ASSEMBLY SEATS. PL BIYA HAS SERVED AS PRINT SCE 1982. HE WAS LAST REELECTED 2018 AN ELECTN OBSERVERS SCRIBED AS MARKED BY IRREGULARI. THE NATNAL POLICE AND THE NATNAL GENDARMERIE ARE RPONSIBLE FOR TERNAL SECURY. THE NATNAL POLICE REPORT TO THE GENERAL DELEGATN OF NATNAL SECURY AND THE NATNAL GENDARMERIE REPORTS TO THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR DEFENSE CHARGE OF THE GENDARMERIE. THE ARMY SHAR SOME DOMTIC SECURY RPONSIBILI; REPORTS TO THE MISTER LEGATE AT THE PRINCY CHARGE OF FENSE. THE RAPID INTERVENTN BATTALN REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE PRINT. CIVILIAN AND ARY THORI AT TIM DID NOT MATA EFFECTIVE NTROL OVER THE SECURY FORC. THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT MEMBERS OF THE SECURY FORC MTED SOME AB. SIGNIFINT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSU CLUD CREDIBLE REPORTS OF: UNLAWFUL OR ARBRARY KILLGS, CLUDG EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLGS; ENFORCED DISAPPEARANC; TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT BY THE ERNMENT AND NONSTATE ARMED GROUPS; HARSH AND LIFE-THREATENG PRISON NDNS; ARBRARY ARRTS OR TENTN; POLIL PRISONERS OR TAE; SER PROBLEMS WH THE PENNCE OF THE JUDICIARY; ARBRARY OR UNLAWFUL TERFERENCE WH PRIVACY; PUNISHMENT OF FAY MEMBERS FOR OFFENS ALLEGEDLY MTED BY AN DIVIDUAL; SER AB A NFLICT, CLUDG ABDUCTNS AND PHYSIL ABE, BY NONSTATE ARMED GROUPS; SER RTRICTNS ON EEDOM OF EXPRSN, CLUDG VLENCE, THREATS OF VLENCE, OR UNJTIFIED TENTNS OF JOURNALISTS AND CENSORSHIP; SUBSTANTIAL TERFERENCE WH THE RIGHT OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND EEDOM OF ASSOCIATN; SER RTRICTNS ON EEDOM OF MOVEMENT; ABILY OF CIZENS TO CHANGE THEIR ERNMENT PEACEFULLY THROUGH EE AND FAIR ELECTNS; SER AND UNREASONABLE RTRICTNS ON POLIL PARTICIPATN; SER ERNMENT RPTN; LACK OF VTIGATNS AND ACUNTABILY FOR GENR-BASED VLENCE; CRIM VOLVG VLENCE OR THREATS OF VLENCE TARGETG MEMBERS OF ETHNIC GROUPS, CLUDG THE MASSAGA AND OLI MUNI THE SOUTHWT REGN AND HERRS AND FARMERS THE NORTHWT REGN; TRAFFICKG PERSONS; CRIM VOLVG VLENCE OR THREATS OF VLENCE TARGETG LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENR, QUEER, OR TERSEX PERSONS; AND THE EXISTENCE OR E OF LAWS CRIMALIZG SAME-SEX SEXUAL NDUCT BETWEEN ADULTS. ALTHOUGH THE ERNMENT TOOK STEPS TO INTIFY, VTIGATE, PROSECUTE, AND PUNISH OFFICIALS WHO MTED HUMAN RIGHTS AB OR RPTN, DID NOT DO SO SYSTEMATILLY AND RARELY MA PUBLIC THE OUTE OF SUCH PROCR. IMPUNY REMAED A SER PROBLEM. ARMED SEPARATISTS, BOKO HARAM, THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA-WT AI, AND CRIMAL GANGS ALSO MTED SIGNIFINT HUMAN RIGHTS AB, SOME OF WHICH WERE VTIGATED BY THE ERNMENT. SECTN 1. RPECT FOR THE INTEGRY OF THE PERSON A. ARBITRARY DEPRIVATION OF LIFE AND OTHER UNLAWFUL OR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS THERE WERE REPORTS THAT THE ERNMENT OR S AGENTS MTED ARBRARY AND UNLAWFUL KILLGS THROUGH EXCSIVE E OF FORCE THE URSE OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTI. AS THE PREV YEAR, MOST OF THE KILLGS WERE ASSOCIATED WH THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.G., AB INTERNAL CONFLICT). NO SPECIFIC RACIAL OR ETHNIC MUNI WERE DISPROPORTNATELY TARGETED AMONG THE VICTIMS. THERE WERE ALSO CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT ARMED GROUPS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, AS WELL AS BOKO HARAM AND THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA-WT AI (ISIS-WA) THE FAR NORTH REGN, MTED UNLAWFUL KILLGS. THE MISTRY OF DEFENSE, THROUGH THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE CHARGE OF THE NATNAL GENDARMERIE (SED), IS RPONSIBLE FOR VTIGATG WHETHER KILLGS ATTRIBUTED TO FENSE AND SECURY FORC ARE JTIFIABLE. INVTIGATNS NCERNG POLICE-PERPETRATED KILLGS MAY BE NDUCTED BY THE GENERAL DELEGATN OF NATNAL SECURY THROUGH S SPECIAL DIVISN FOR SERVIC CONTROL. IN SOME S, PRELIMARY VTIGATNS ARE ENTSTED TO A MIXED MISSN OF QUIRY, CLUDG CIVILIAN MEMBERS WH RELEVANT PROFSNAL BACKGROUNDS. PROSECUTNS RELATED TO THE MATTERS ARE NDUCTED THROUGH THE MILARY TRIBUNAL. IN A MAY 29 RELEASE, MANLA CENTER INTERNATNAL (MCI) REPORTED THAT FOUR SOLDIERS OF THE 31ST MOTORIZED INFANTRY BATTALN (BIM) OF THE CAMEROONIAN ARMY BASED TCHOLLIRE, NORTH REGN, SHOT AND KILLED SOULEYMANOU BOUBA, AGE 22, ON APRIL 28. ACRDG TO MCI, BOUBA AND TWO OTHER HERRS WERE RETURNG TO CAMEROON WH THEIR ANIMALS OM THE CENTRAL AIN REPUBLIC (CAR) WHEN THEY CROSSED THE BORR AND FOUND THE BIM ABSENT OM THEIR TABLISHED CHECKPOT. WHEN THE SOLDIERS RETURNED TO THEIR POST AND FOUND ANIMALS AND HERRS HAD CROSSED THE CAR BORR TO CAMEROON WHOUT THORIZATN, THEY PURSUED BOUBA AND HIS PANNS, LOTED THEM 30 MUT OM THE BORR, AND OPENED FIRE, REPORTEDLY WHOUT WARNG, KILLG BOUBA. AS OF YEAR’S END, THE SE WAS ONGOG, ALTHOUGH THE FOUR SOLDIERS HAD BEEN RELEASED. NORTHWT GOVERNOR ADOLPHE LELE LAIQUE ANNOUNCED THAT ON APRIL 12, AN ARMED SECSNIST GROUP ATTACKED A VEHICLE RRYG FOUR PRISON OFFICIALS TAKIJA KIKAIKELAKI, A VILLAGE NEAR KUMBO THE NORTHWT REGN. THE ASSAILANTS KILLED THE FOUR OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE: KIGA THEODORE, THE NORTHWT PRISON ADMISTRATN LEGATE; PRISON ADMISTRATOR NANG LEONEL; SENR PRISON GUARD AFUH NELSON; AND AWONO YANNICK, ANOTHER PRISON GUARD AND DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEPARATISTS WHO CLAIMED RPONSIBILY FOR THE ATTACK POSTED A VIO OF THE KILLGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IN THE VIO, THEY ULD BE SEEN BEATG THE FOUR CIVIL SERVANTS WH STICKS AND MACHET BEFORE G THEIR WEAPONS TO EXECUTE THEM. ON SEPTEMBER 6, MUYA SUBDIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN, HEAVILY ARMED DIVIDUALS BELIEVED TO BE SEPARATISTS OPENED FIRED ON A PUBLIC B OM DOUALA, KILLG SIX OCCUPANTS OF THE B: A WOMAN, OBA DILONGA; AND FIVE MEN INTIFIED AS TABI ENOW, ACHIDI ABEL, YANCHO FANCIS NEBA, KEH (NO KNOWN LAST NAME), AND THE DRIVER. BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA NTUED KILLG CIVILIANS, CLUDG MEMBERS OF VIGILANCE MTE, WHICH ARE ANIZED GROUPS OF RINTS OPERATG WH ERNMENT FORC THE FAR NORTH REGN. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA ATTACKED CIVILIANS 288 TIM, KILLG 134 AND WOUNDG 39. BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA ALSO KILLED 34 FENSE AND SECURY PERSONNEL AND WOUND 47. ON MAY 19, TERRORISTS ATTACKED THE LOLY OF TOUROU, KILLG THREE SOLDIERS, CLUDG THE HEAD OF THE HAOUA ARY POST, AND FOUR CIVILIANS, CLUDG WASSA AYOUBA (AGE 45), DANAGAI GUEDJERE (AGE 17), ALI DORONDO (AGE 63), AND ZAWALA MOSKOTA (AGE 5), ACRDG TO THE PRIVATE NEWSPAPER OEIL DU SAHEL. ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 30, AN ATTACK ON HAWA LEFT SEVEN PERSONS AD AND SEVERAL OTHERS WOUND. DURG A JUNE 13 ATTACK, TERRORISTS KILLED THREE CIVILIANS AND STOLE THE FOOD SUPPLI OF RINTS. ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 25-26, TERRORISTS KILLED TWO MEMBERS OF THE JOT MULTILATERAL FORCE AT BOUDOUWA, MAYO SAVA DIVISN. ALTHOUGH THE ERNMENT REPEATEDLY PROMISED TO VTIGATE AB MTED BY SECURY FORC, DID NOT DO SO TRANSPARENTLY OR SYSTEMATILLY. FOLLOWG THE APRIL 2020 RELEASE OF A SUMMARY OF THE FDGS OF AN VTIGATN TO THE FEBARY 2020 KILLG BY SECURY FORC OF AN TIMATED 23 CIVILIANS THE VILLAGE OF NGARBUH, LEGAL PROCEEDGS STARTED AGAST THREE SECURY FORCE MEMBERS, 17 MEMBERS OF A VIGILANCE MTEE, AND ONE FORMER SEPARATIST FIGHTER, DICTED ON MURR CHARG, AT THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL JUNE 2021, AFTER MULTIPLE ADJOURNMENTS. AS OF THE END OF DECEMBER 2021, ONLY THE THREE SECURY FORCE MEMBERS HAD APPEARED BEFORE THE URT, WHILE THE MEMBERS OF THE VIGILANCE MTEE AND THE FORMER SEPARATIST FIGHTER WERE STILL AWAG THEIR URT APPEARANCE. AT YEAR’S END, THE URT HAD NOT ISSUED ANY FAL VERDICT, AND THE SOLDIERS WERE NOT TENTN. B. DISAPPEARANCE AS THE PREV YEAR, THERE WERE REPORTS OF DIVIDUALS HELD MUNIDO BY, OR ON BEHALF OF ERNMENT THORI, TYPILLY FOR BRIEF PERDS OF TIME IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWG ARRT. ON JULY 16, FOR EXAMPLE, ACRDG TO MULTIPLE ACUNTS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMY ALLEGEDLY ARRTED DR. PUNJOM NJEFI YV, THE CHIEF MEDIL OFFICER OF BAFUT DISTRICT HOSPAL, THE NORTHWT REGN. A ARY NTACT REPORTEDLY VED PUNJOM TO A BAFUT ARY BASE. ONCE AT THE ARY BASE, OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY RMED PUNJOM THEY SPECTED HIM OF AIDG SEPARATISTS BY PROVIDG MEDIL ASSISTANCE TO JURED BATANTS. ON HIS WAY BACK OM THE ARY BASE, UNINTIFIED MASKED MEN TAED PUNJOM AND TOOK HIM TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOTN. PUNJOM REPORTEDLY DISVERED SIX DAYS LATER THAT HE WAS AT A RAPID INTERVENTN BATTALN (BIR) MP BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN. BARRISTER AMUNGWA N NTSO NI CLAIMED PUNJOM’S WIFE TOLD HIM THAT SHE DID NOT HEAR OM HER HBAND AGA UNTIL JULY 30 WHEN HE RMED HER THAT HE HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE SED YAOUNDé. THE CAMEROON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSN (CHRC) NFIRMED THE ARRT, ALTHOUGH WH SLIGHTLY DIFFERG TAILS. ACRDG TO THE COMMISSN, PUNJOM WAS ARRTED ON JULY 8 UNR SPICN OF FANCG TERRORISM AND WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE ARY TRIBUNAL FOR THE FIRST TIME ON AUGT 26. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE SED AND AGA TRANSFERRED TO THE YAOUNDé KONNGUI CENTRAL PRISON ON SEPTEMBER 9. THE CHRC RELAYED THAT OFFICIALS OM SED AND THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL STATED THAT PUNJOM HAD NEVER BEEN NIED THE ABILY TO MUNITE WH HIS FAY OR HIS LAWYER. AS OF DECEMBER, THE VTIGATN NTUED, AND VISS TO THE TAEE WERE ALLOWED, SUBJECT TO THORIZATN BY THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSNER, ACRDG TO THE CHRC. ON JANUARY 13, ARMED SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED 10 WORKERS OF THE CAMEROON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATN LIKOMBA BBER TATE PLANTATN TIKO, SOUTHWT REGN, AND SET THEIR TRACTOR ABLAZE. IN A VIO THAT SURFACED ONLE ON JANUARY 15, THE VOIC OF SOME MEN, WHO INTIFIED THEMSELV AS “AMBAZONIA RTORATN FORC,” ULD BE HEARD FORCG THE WORKERS TO APOLOGIZE FOR WORKG ON THE TATE. ONE OF THE MSAG OM THE KIDNAPPERS SUGGTED THAT THE WORKERS WERE KIDNAPPED BEE THEY WERE BEG GUARD BY THE ARY. THE KIDNAPPERS HAND GUNS AND GRENAS TO THE PLANTATN WORKERS AND SAID THEY SHOULD HELP THEM FIGHT THE ARY TIKO. THE WORKERS REMAED PTIVY FOR WEEKS. C. TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN, OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT, AND OTHER RELATED ABUSES ALTHOUGH THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROHIB SUCH PRACTIC, THERE WERE REPORTS THAT SECURY FORCE MEMBERS TORTURED OR OTHERWISE ABED DIVIDUALS. HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATNS DOCUMENTED SEVERAL S WHICH SECURY FORC, AND TRADNAL AND RELIG THORI SEVERELY MISTREATED CIVILIANS, CLUDG CHILDREN, AND OTHERS WHICH ARMED SEPARATISTS MISTREATED CIVILIANS AND MEMBERS OF FENSE FORC. PRISON GUARDS REPORTEDLY ABED TAE DURG THE YEAR. IN S APRIL WHERE DO TORTURE TAKE PLACE AROUND THE WORLD REPORT, NONERNMENTAL ANIZATN (NGO) FREEDOM OM TORTURE REPORTED THAT CIZENS WERE TORTURED FOR THEIR OPPOSN TO THE STATE AS WELL AS FOR THEIR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATN. NGO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTED THAT ON APRIL 10, WHEN TWO LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENR, QUEER, AND TERSEX (LGBTQI+) PERSONS WENT TO THE GENDARM TO REPORT BEG ATTACKED, THE GENDARM ON DUTY BEAT THEM. THE MEN SAID THE GENDARM HELD THEM ON THE FLOOR THREATENED TO KILL THEM, SEARCHED THEIR CELL PHON, ORRED THEM TO REMOVE THEIR SHO AND BEAT THE SOL OF THEIR FEET WH A MACHETE. THEY WERE REPORTEDLY RELEASED THE FOLLOWG DAY AFTER PAYG A BRIBE. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTED THAT ON APRIL 24, SOLDIERS OM THE BIR SEVERELY BEAT AND THEN TAED BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MOTORBIKE RIRS OUTSI OF NDOP, BEE THE SOLDIERS ALLEGEDLY SPECTED THEM OF BEG SEPARATIST FIGHTERS. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SPOKE TO TWO OF THE MOTORBIKE RIRS WHO TOLD THEM THE SOLDIERS FORCED THEM TO UNDRS AND BEAT THEM WH AN IRON HAMMER AND THEIR BELTS AND KICKED THEM. ONE OF THE MOTORBIKE RIRS TIMATED THE BEATG LASTED MORE THAN FOUR HOURS. (ALSO SEE SECTN 1.D., ARBRARY ARRT.) SéBASTIEN EBALA, WHO ALLEGED HE WAS PREVLY TORTURED BY SECURY FORC, TOLD NGO SOS-TORTURE NETWORK THAT COLONEL JOEL ÉE BAMKOUI LLED HIM ON JUNE 22 AND THREATENED TO ARRT AND TORTURE HIM AGA AS RETALIATN FOR EBALA G FORWARD PUBLICLY WH HIS ALLEGATNS OF BEG TORTURED. THERE WERE NEW REPORTS DURG THE YEAR ON S OF TORTURE PREVLY NOT PUBLICLY KNOWN. IN FEBARY, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH RELEASED A REPORT CLAIMG DOCUMENTED 14 S OF PHYSIL ABE OR ASSLT OF DIVIDUALS WHO HAD BEEN PORTED TO THE UNTRY. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ALLEGED 13 OF THE S WERE ABE OR ASSLT BY ERNMENT THORI AND ONE SE OF PHYSIL ABE OR ASSLT BY ARMED SEPARATISTS. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FURTHER REPORTED THAT ERNMENT AGENTS RAPED THREE WOMEN CTODY, SUBJECTED A MAN TO FORCED LABOR, AND SEVERELY BEAT DIVIDUALS RETURNED TO THE UNTRY AFTER PORTATN. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ASSSED SEVERAL OF THE S AMOUNTED TO TORTURE. IN ONE EXAMPLE, A WOMAN TOLD HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SHE WAS TORTURED AND RAPED BY GENDARM OR ARY MEN DURG SIX WEEKS TENTN BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN. SHE SAID THEY ED ROP, TUB, BOOTS, AND BELTS TO H HER OVER ALL HER BODY. SHE SAID THEY TOLD HER SHE STROYED THE IMAGE OF THE UNTRY, SO SHE HAD TO PAY FOR . AS OF SEPTEMBER, THORI HAD NOT OFFICIALLY RELEASED RMATN REGARDG THE OUTE OF THE VTIGATN NCERNG THE TWO SOLDIERS, TWO GENDARME OFFICERS, AND FOUR POLICEMEN, WHO FEBARY 2021 WERE ACCED OF ABG A CIVILIAN THE NORTHWT REGN. IN AUGT 17 MENTS, THE PRINT OF THE CHRC REMARKED THAT UNR TERNATNAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW, THE ERNMENT WAS NOT REQUIRED TO PUBLISH THE FDGS OF THE VTIGATN. HE SUGGTED THAT THORI DID WHAT WAS SENTIAL, CLUDG PUTTG AN END TO THE AB AND PUNISHG THE PERPETRATORS. NGOS DITED ARMED SEPARATISTS EQUENTLY SEXUALLY ASSLTED CIVILIANS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.G., PHYSIL ABE, PUNISHMENT, AND TORTURE). DURG THE EVENG OF JANUARY 31 GAROUA, NORTH REGN, ALI YOSEF, APPROXIMATELY AGE 17, DIED AT THE PALACE OF HIS UNCLE AND TRADNAL LER, THE LAMIDO OF GAROUA, UNR SPIC CIRCUMSTANC, AND HIS BODY WAS QUICKLY BURIED. A PRS RELEASE OM THE LAMIDO’S PALACE DITED THAT YOSEF WAS UNR THE FLUENCE OF DGS AND HAD BEEN TAKEN AT THE REQUT OF HIS MOTHER BY HIS UNCLE. ACRDG TO THE PRS RELEASE, YOSEF DIED OF HEART FAILURE WHILE HE WAS UNRGOG TOXIFITN. ON FEBARY 2, YOSEF’S BODY WAS EXHUMED FOLLOWG STCTNS OM LOL ADMISTRATIVE THORI. THE TOPSY REVEALED SIGNS OF HARSH TREATMENT, AND THORI REFERRED THE SE TO THE ARY URT GAROUA. SPECTS ASSOCIATED WH THE SE CLUD LAMIDO IBRAHIM EL RACHIDE; MAIRAMOU, THE LAMIDO’S ELR SISTER AND MOTHER OF THE CEASED; AND TWO SOLDIERS ASSIGNED TO THE LAMIDO’S PALACE. AS OF THE END OF AUGT, ALL THE SPECTS EXCEPT THE LAMIDO HAD REPORTEDLY BEEN TERROGATED AND OFFICIALLY DICTED. REFERRG TO THE ISSUE, THE PRINT OF THE CHRC DITED ON SEPTEMBER 16 THAT HIS ANIZATN ULD, IF NEED BE, TERVENE AS AMIC CURIAE, TO MAKE THE LAMIDO APPEAR BEFORE THE URT. AS OF DECEMBER, NO FURTHER ACTN HAD BEEN REPORTED. IN A NEWS BROADST ON MAY 24, THE STATE-OWNED CAMEROON RAD AND TELEVISN NATNAL STATN REPORTED THAT THORI DISVERED A QURANIC SCHOOL TRANSFORMED TO A TRADNAL PRISON THE SABONGARI NEIGHBORHOOD OF NGAOUNRE, ADAMAWA REGN. QURANIC MASTERS REPORTEDLY HELD 70 YOUTHS THE PRISON AND SUBJECTED THEM TO PHYSIL ABE DAILY. THEIR PARENTS HAD ENTSTED THEM TO THE QURANIC STCTORS AND BELIEVED THE CHILDREN WERE AT A BOARDG SCHOOL. THE CHILDREN PROVID TTIMONI THAT SUGGTED THEY SPENT ALL THEIR TIME CHAED, HAD NOTHG TO EAT, AND WERE NIED SHOWERS. ADAMAWA GOVERNOR KILDADI TAGUIEKE BOAR, WHO VISED THE LOTN ON MAY 23, ORRED THE RELEASE OF THE CHILDREN, THE IMMEDIATE CLOSURE OF THE PRISON, AS WELL AS AN VTIGATN. AS OF EARLY SEPTEMBER, THERE WERE NO REPORTED VELOPMENTS NCERNG THE VTIGATNS. WHILE VTIGATNS AND PROSECUTNS WERE NDUCTED AND PUNISHMENTS IMPOSED, THE ERNMENT RARELY PUBLICIZED THE OUTE OF THE VAR VTIGATNS, AND IMPUNY REMAED A PROBLEM. CORPTN, ERNMENT RELUCTANCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OFFICIALS’ ERRORS OR MALFEASANCE, AND JUDICIAL OPACY NTRIBUTED TO IMPUNY. THE GENERAL DELEGATN OF NATNAL SECURY AND THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR DEFENSE CHARGE OF THE NATNAL GENDARMERIE VTIGATED SOME AB. THE ERNMENT LEVIED PUNIVE ACTN AGAST NVICTED LOW-LEVEL OFFENRS, AND OTHER VTIGATNS NTUED AS OF YEAR’S END. PRISON AND DETENTN CENTER CONDNS PRISON NDNS WERE HARSH AND LIFE THREATENG DUE TO FOOD SHORTAG, POOR-QUALY FOOD, GROSS OVERCROWDG, PHYSIL ABE, AS WELL AS AQUATE SANARY NDNS AND MEDIL RE. ABIVE PHYSIL CONDNS: OVERCROWDG REMAED A SIGNIFINT PROBLEM MOST PRISONS, PECIALLY MAJOR URBAN CENTERS. THE UNTRY’S PRISONS HAVE THE SIGNED PACY TO ACMODATE 19,415 MAT. RPONDG TO A QUTN ON THE IMPLEMENTATN OF ALTERNATIVE PENALTI PROVID FOR BY THE OF CRIMAL PROCRE, MISTER OF JTICE LRENT ESSO TOLD PARLIAMENTARIANS ON JUNE 27 THAT THE PENENTIARY ADMISTRATN HAD 4,351 PERSONNEL FOR A PRISON POPULATN OF 32,003 MAT. FURTHERMORE, A REPORT RELEASED MAY, THE INTERNATNAL FERATN OF ACTNS BY CHRISTIANS FOR THE ABOLN OF TORTURE (ACAT) LTORAL, DITED THAT THE SIX FUNCTNAL PRISONS THE LTORAL REGN, WH AN TAKE PACY OF 1,550, HAD A TOTAL POPULATN OF APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MAT. THE DOUALA NEW BELL CENTRAL PRISON ALONE, ACRDG TO ACAT, HAD 4,000 TO 4,500 MAT THE FACILY, WHICH HAD A SIGNED PACY OF 800. OFFICIALS HELD PRISONERS DILAPIDATED, LONIAL-ERA PRISONS. AUTHORI OFTEN HELD PRETRIAL TAE AND NVICTED PRISONERS THE SAME CELLS. IN SOME S, WOMEN TAE HAD BETTER NDNS, CLUDG IMPROVED TOILET FACILI AND LS-CROWD LIVG QUARTERS. PRISONS GENERALLY HAD SEPARATE WARDS FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. AUTHORI REPORTED THAT THE SICK WERE HELD SEPARATELY OM THE GENERAL PRISON POPULATN, BUT THIS WAS OFTEN NOT THE SE. THE NDNS TENTN CELLS LOTED AT GENDARMERIE AND POLICE UNS WERE WORSE. THE CELLS WERE GENERALLY VERY NARROW, AND MOST OF THEM LACKED TOILETS AND WDOWS. VIRTUALLY ALL LACKED BEDS. UNLIKE PRISONS THAT HAD SEPARATE WARDS FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, SEPARATN OF TAE BY AGE AND SEX WAS NOT SYSTEMATIC GENDARMERIE AND POLICE UN CELLS. PRISON OFFICIALS MA EXTENSIVE E OF SHACKLG AS A DISCIPLARY MEASURE. ACCS TO FOOD, POTABLE WATER, SANATN, HEATG, VENTILATN, LIGHTG, AND MEDIL RE WAS AQUATE. INMAT THE LTORAL REGN FOR EXAMPLE, ACRDG TO ACAT, RECEIVED ONLY ONE MEAL PER DAY. WHILE THE DAILY PRISON FOOD APPROPRIATN PER MATE CREASED 2018 TO 371 CFA ANCS (APPROX. 60 CENTS), PRISON OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY PLAED THAT ONCE BUDGETED AT THE BEGNG OF THE YEAR, THE FOOD APPROPRIATN WAS SELDOM ADJTED, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE PRISON POPULATN CREASED DURG THE YEAR. INMAT WERE EXPOSED TO MALNUTRN, TUBERCULOSIS, BRONCHIS, MALARIA, HEPATIS, SBI, AND NUMERO OTHER NTAG DISEAS. CHOLERA BROKE OUT THE DOUALA NEW BELL CENTRAL PRISON FEBARY AND RURGED AUGT, KILLG MORE THAN A DOZEN MAT AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, CLUDG A MEMBER OF THE CAMEROON RENAISSANCE MOVEMENT (MRC), ACRDG TO CREDIBLE REPORTS. ANECDOTAL REPORTS SUGGT THAT POOR PRISON NDNS ALSO PROMOTED THE VELOPMENT OF ILLIC PRACTIC SUCH AS THE SALE OF DGS, ENSLAVEMENT OF DIGENT MAT, AS WELL AS MALE AND FEMALE PROSTUTN. PRISONER-ON-PRISONER VLENCE OCCURRED DURG THE YEAR. ADMISTRATN: AUTHORI ALLEGEDLY DID NOT ADDRS ALL CREDIBLE ALLEGATNS OF MISTREATMENT. VISORS FOR ORDARY MAT NEED TO PLY WH REGULATNS, CLUDG VISG DURG APPROVED HOURS, OBSERVG COVID-19 PANMIC-RELATED BARRIER MEASUR, AND LIMG THE NUMBER OF VISORS PER MATE AT THE SAME TIME. FOR POLILLY SENSIVE S, HOWEVER, VISORS OFTEN HAD ADDNAL REQUIREMENTS, CLUDG FORMAL THORIZATN OM THE STATE UNSEL OR THE ERNMENT MISSNER, WHOUT WHICH THEY OFTEN RORTED TO BRIBG PRISON STAFF MEMBERS TO MUNITE WH MAT. INPENNT MONORG: INPENNT MONORG OF PRISONS NTUED TO BE NSTRAED BY COVID-19 PANMIC-RELATED RTRICTNS. DIPLOMATIC MISSNS WERE GRANTED ACCS TO VIS THEIR NATNALS. THE CHRC REGULARLY NDUCTED VISS TO REVIEW PRISON NDNS AS PART OF S STATUTORY MISSN. DURG A MAY 24-26 TRAG WORKSHOP YAOUNDé, THE CHRC LEARSHIP DITED THAT THEY NDUCTED VISS 30 TENTN FACILI THE FAR NORTH, NORTHWT, WT, SOUTHWT AND ADAMAWA REGNS DURG THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. THE ERNMENT DID NOT READILY ALLOW PENNT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ACCS TO REVIEW PRISON NDNS. MOST ANIZATNS ALLEGED THAT ACCS TO PRISONS MOSTLY PEND ON THE RELATNSHIPS BETWEEN THE LEARS OF THE ANIZATNS AND PRISON OFFICIALS. IMPROVEMENTS: THE MISTER OF JTICE APPOTED THE MANAGEMENT TEAM OF THE NEW DOUALA-NGOMA CENTRAL PRISON ON JANUARY 4, AND THE TEAM WAS OFFICIALLY MISSNED ON FEBARY 18. THE PRISON, PLETED 2020 WH AN TAKE PACY OF 1,500 MAT, REPORTEDLY RECEIVED S FIRST MAT ON SEPTEMBER 4, WHEN 200 PRISONERS WERE REPORTEDLY TRANSFERRED TO THE PRISON OM THE DOUALA NEW BELL CENTRAL PRISON. D. ARBITRARY ARREST OR DETENTION THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROHIB ARBRARY ARRT AND TENTN AND PROVI FOR THE RIGHT OF ANY PERSON TO CHALLENGE THE LAWFULNS OF THEIR ARRT OR TENTN URT. THE LAW STAT THAT EXCEPT THE SE OF AN DIVIDUAL DISVERED THE ACT OF MTG A FELONY OR MISMEANOR, THE OFFICIALS MAKG THE ARRT MT DISCLOSE THEIR INTY AND RM THE TAEE OF THE REASON FOR THEIR ARRT. UNR THE LAW, ANY PERSON ILLEGALLY TAED BY POLICE, THE STATE UNSEL, OR THE EXAMG MAGISTRATE MAY, WHEN THE PROCEEDGS END A NO-SE LG OR AN ACQUTAL WHICH HAS BEE FAL, RECEIVE PENSATN IF THE FENDANT PROV THAT THEY HAVE SUFFERED JURY OF A PARTICULARLY SER NATURE BEE OF SUCH TENTN. THE ERNMENT DID NOT ALWAYS RPECT THE PROVISNS. ARRT PROCR AND TREATMENT OF DETAE THE LAW REQUIR POLICE TO OBTA A WARRANT OM A JUDGE OR PROSECUTOR BEFORE MAKG AN ARRT, EXCEPT WHEN A PERSON IS UGHT THE ACT OF MTG A CRIME, BUT POLICE OFTEN DID NOT RPECT THIS REQUIREMENT. THE LAW PROVIS THAT SPECTS BE BROUGHT PROMPTLY BEFORE A JUDGE OR PROSECUTOR, ALTHOUGH THIS OFTEN DID NOT OCCUR, AND CIZENS WERE TAED WHOUT JUDICIAL THORIZATN. POLICE MAY LEGALLY TA A PERSON NNECTN WH A MON CRIME FOR UP TO 48 HOURS, RENEWABLE ONCE. THIS 48-HOUR PERD MAY, WH THE WRTEN APPROVAL OF THE STATE UNSEL, BE EXCEPTNALLY EXTEND TWICE BEFORE CHARG ARE BROUGHT. NEVERTHELS, POLICE AND GENDARM REPORTEDLY OFTEN EXCEED THE TENTN PERDS. THE LAW ALSO PERMS TENTN WHOUT CHARGE FOR RENEWABLE PERDS OF 15 DAYS BY ADMISTRATIVE THORI, SUCH AS ERNORS AND CIVILIAN ERNMENT OFFICIALS SERVG TERRORIAL MAND. THE LAW PROVIS THAT DIVIDUALS ARRTED ON SPICN OF TERRORISM AND CERTA OTHER CRIM MAY BE TAED FOR VTIGATN FOR PERDS OF 15 DAYS, RENEWABLE WHOUT LIMATN WH THORIZATN OF THE PROSECUTOR. THE LAW ALLOWS ACCS TO LEGAL UNSEL AND FAY MEMBERS, ALTHOUGH POLICE EQUENTLY NIED TAE ACCS TO BOTH. THE LAW PROHIBS MUNIDO TENTN, BUT SUCH S OCCURRED, PECIALLY NNECTN WH THE NFLICTS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE LAW PERMS BAIL, ALLOWS CIZENS THE RIGHT TO APPEAL TO RECE JUDG AND PROVIS THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR UNLAWFUL ARRT, BUT THE RIGHTS WERE SELDOM RPECTED. BAIL WAS APPROVED ONLY ON A SELECTIVE BASIS, AND APPLITNS TO RECE JUDG WH NFLICTS OF TERT RARELY SUCCEED, PECIALLY POLILLY SENSIVE S. ARBRARY ARRT: POLICE, GENDARM, THE BIR, AND OTHER ERNMENT THORI REPORTEDLY NTUED TO ARRT AND TA PERSONS ARBRARILY, OFTEN HOLDG THEM FOR PROLONGED PERDS WHOUT CHARGE OR TRIAL AND AT TIM MUNIDO. MULTIPLE CREDIBLE SOURC, CLUDG THE WORKG GROUP ON HUMAN RIGHTS, REPORTED THAT ON APRIL 24, BIR SOLDIERS TAED AND BEAT BETWEEN 30 TO 40 MOTORBIKE RIRS WHO WERE PART OF A FUNERAL NVOY HEADG TO OKU OM NDOP. THE SOLDIERS SPECTED THE BIKE RIRS OF LLABORATG WH SEPARATISTS AND TOOK THEM TO THE BIR BASE NDOP. HRW DITED THAT THE SOLDIERS THEN TRANSFERRED 23 OF THE BIKE RIRS TO THE BIR BASE BAFUT, APPROXIMATELY 27 OM NDOP, WHERE THEY HELD THEM MUNIDO FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS. ON MAY 21, THE 23 TAE WERE REPORTEDLY MOVED TO THE CENTRAL PRISON BAMENDA. THE GROUP APPEARED BEFORE THE BAMENDA MILARY COURT AT LEAST TWICE AS OF JUNE, BUT THEY WERE NOT YET FORMALLY CHARGED AS OF DECEMBER. ON MAY 29, BAFOSAM, WT REGN, ACRDG TO CREDIBLE NGOS AND THE VICTIM HIMSELF, BARRISTER JEAN CL TELLA, A LAWYER WH THE CAMEROON BAR ASSOCIATN, WAS ON HIS WAY TO A MEETG WHEN THREE PERSONS CIVILIAN CLOTH FORCIBLY TOOK HIM TO THE LOL GENDARMERIE. THE OFFICIALS NEHER PRODUCED A WARRANT NOR DISCLOSED THE REASON FOR THE ARRT. WHILE AT THE GENDARMERIE, THE LAWYER REALIZED THAT TWO OF THE DIVIDUALS WERE GENDARM. TELLA DISCLOSED HIS INTY AND ASKED TO BE RMED REGARDG THE REASONS FOR HIS ARRT. TELLA STATED THAT THE GENDARM SUBJECTED HIM TO ACTS OF PHYSIL ABE AND RELEASED HIM THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE TERVENTN OF HIS LLEAGU. TELLA SAID HE FILED A PLAT WH THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE, AND THE PROSECUTOR FORWARD THE FILE TO THE GENDARMERIE LEGN FOR VTIGATNS. AS OF MID-OCTOBER, THE GENDARMERIE HAD REPORTEDLY FORWARD THE FILE TO THE ERNMENT MISSNER AT THE BAFOSAM MILARY TRIBUNAL WHOUT TERROGATG ALL SPECTS. PRETRIAL DETENTN: THE OF CRIMAL PROCRE PROVIS FOR A MAXIMUM OF 18 MONTHS’ TENTN BEFORE TRIAL, BUT MANY TAE WAED YEARS TO APPEAR URT. THE 2014 ANTERRORISM LAW PROVIS THAT A SPECT MAY BE HELD FELY VTIGATIVE TENTN WH THE THORIZATN OF THE PROSECUTOR. ACRDG TO TIMAT BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSN OF THE CAMEROON BAR ASSOCIATN, THERE WERE 18,437 PRETRIAL TAE A TOTAL OF 31,815 MAT AS OF SEPTEMBER. SOME OF THE TAE HAD BEEN AWAG TRIAL FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. IN SOME S, THE LENGTH OF PRETRIAL TENTN EQUALED, AND OTHER S EXCEED, THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR THE ALLEGED CRIME. OTHER FACTORS NTRIBUTG TO LENGTHY PRETRIAL TENTNS CLUD, BUT WERE NOT LIMED TO, SUFFICIENT STAFF, MISMANAGEMENT OF SE FIL, THE FENDANT’S ABILY TO PAY URT FE, AND THE POLICIZATN OF SOME LEGAL PROCEEDGS THAT REQUIRED DIRECTN OM THORI THE CENTRAL ERNMENT. ACRDG TO TIMAT BY ACAT LTORAL, 3,500 OUT OF THE 4,000 TO 4,500 MAT AT THE DOUALA-NEW BELL CENTRAL PRISON WERE PRETRIAL TAE AS OF JANUARY. THE BAR ASSOCIATN TIMAT OM 2021 DITED CLOSE TO 60 PERCENT OF MAT NATNWI WERE PRETRIAL TAE. ON DECEMBER 20, THE SPECIAL CRIMAL COURT FOUND AMADOU VAMOULKé GUILTY OF EMBEZZLEMENT AND SENTENCED HIM TO 12 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT, AFTER MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF TENTN AND MORE THAN 90 HEARGS. THE URT ALSO ORRED HIM TO PAY A 47 LN CFA ANCS ($76,400) FE. VAMOULKé, A FORMER GENERAL MANAGER OF STATE-OWNED CAMEROON RAD TELEVISN, WAS ARRTED AND TAED 2016 ON EMBEZZLEMENT CHARG. THE UN WORKG GROUP ON ARBRARY DETENTN CLARED 2020 THAT “THE VLATNS OF THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCS ARE OF SUCH GRAVY THAT THEY NFER AN ARBRARY CHARACTER ON VAMOULKé’S TENTN.” E. DENIAL OF FAIR PUBLIC TRIAL THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR AN PENNT JUDICIARY, BUT THE ERNMENT DID NOT ALWAYS RPECT JUDICIAL PENNCE AND IMPARTIALY. IN SOME STANC, THE OUT OF TRIALS APPEARED FLUENCED BY THE ERNMENT, PECIALLY POLILLY SENSIVE S. IN OTHER S, THE ERNMENT EXPLICLY STCTED JUDICIAL OFFICIALS AND PROSECUTORS TO TAKE SPECIFIC CISNS. DPE THE JUDICIARY’S PARTIAL PENNCE OM THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, THE PRINT OF THE REPUBLIC APPOTS ALL MEMBERS OF THE BENCH AND LEGAL PARTMENT OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH, CLUDG THE PRINT OF THE SUPREME COURT, AND MAY DISMISS THEM AT WILL. THE PRINT OF THE REPUBLIC ALSO APPOTS THE PRINT AND MEMBERS OF THE CONSTUTNAL COUNCIL FOR A RENEWABLE PERD OF SIX YEARS. MILARY URTS MAY EXERCISE JURISDICTN OVER CIVILIANS A BROAD NUMBER OF OFFENS CLUDG CIVIL UNRT. TRIAL PROCR THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR THE RIGHT TO A FAIR AND PUBLIC TRIAL WHOUT UNDUE LAY, AND THE FENDANT IS PRUMED NOCENT. AUTHORI DID NOT ALWAYS RPECT THE LAW, APPLYG THE PRUMPTN OF NOCENCE A SELECTIVE MANNER. CRIMAL FENDANTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE RMED PROMPTLY AND TAIL OF THE CHARG, WH EE ASSISTANCE OF AN TERPRETER IF NEED; THE QUALY OF TERPRETATN OFTEN WAS POOR. DEFENDANTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PRENT AND TO NSULT WH AN ATTORNEY OF THEIR CHOICE, BUT MANY S THE ERNMENT DID NOT RPECT THIS RIGHT, RTRICTG ACCS TO LAWYERS, OFTEN AT THE PRELIMARY VTIGATN PHASE, PARTICULARLY S OF DIVIDUALS SPECTED OF PLICY WH SEPARATISTS, OR POLIL OPPONENTS. WHEN FENDANTS NNOT PAY FOR THEIR OWN LEGAL FENSE, THE URT MAY APPOT TRIAL UNSEL AT PUBLIC EXPENSE, BUT THE PROCS WAS OFTEN BURNSOME AND LENGTHY, AND THE QUALY OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE WAS POOR. AUTHORI GENERALLY ALLOWED FENDANTS TO QUTN WNS AND TO PRENT WNS AND EVINCE ON THEIR OWN BEHALF BUT DID NOT PEL WNS TO TTIFY. DEFENDANTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO AQUATE TIME AND FACILI TO PREPARE A FENSE AND NOT TO BE PELLED TO TTIFY OR NFS GUILT, BUT THORI OFTEN VLATED THIS RIGHT. HEARSAY AND ANONYMO TTIMONY WERE SOMETIM PERMTED, PECIALLY TERRORISM S. EXAMG MAGISTRAT SOMETIM ATTEMPTED TO DUCE POLIL OPPONENTS AND SPECTED SEPARATISTS TO CRIMATE THEMSELV. DEFENDANTS MAY APPEAL NVICTNS UP TO THE SUPREME COURT AND MAY SUBSEQUENTLY PETN THE PRINT FOR PARDON. COURTS OFTEN LIMED PROCRAL RIGHTS POLILLY SENSIVE S. APPEAL HEARGS THE SE OF 39 MRC TAE YAOUNDé WHO, DECEMBER 2021 AND JANUARY 2022 WERE SENTENCED BY ARY URTS TO UP TO SEVEN YEARS SOME S, EVENTUALLY OPENED AT THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL ON SEPTEMBER 15. THE HEARGS WERE THEN POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 20, AT THE REQUT OF MRC LAWYERS. THERE HAD BEEN TWO PREV ATTEMPTS TO START THE APPEAL TRIALS, NOTABLY ON JULY 22 AND AUGT 17, THE ABSENCE OF THE TAE AND THEIR LAWYERS, WHO WERE UNAWARE. ACRDG TO THE LEAD SE LAWYER, THE APPELLANTS AND THEIR LAWYERS ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THE HEARGS AUGT, WHEN THE URT SENT AN ORR REQUTG THE ADMISTRATOR OF THE YAOUNDé CENTRAL PRISON TO PRODUCE THE APPELLANTS FOR THE JULY 22 HEARG. AS OF AUGT 31, THE ARY TRIBUNAL DOUALA HAD NOT YET FORWARD APPEAL FIL TO THE LTORAL COURT OF APPEAL FOR THOSE SENTENCED DOUALA DECEMBER 2021. FORMER MISTER OF WATER AND ENERGY BASILE ATANGANA KOUNA, WHO WAS TENTN SCE 2018 NNECTN TO THE ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT OF PUBLIC ROURC, WAS RELEASED ON JULY 29, AFTER THE SPECIAL CRIMAL COURT (TCS) DROPPED THE CHARG AGAST HIM. DURG THE HEARG, THE TCS ANNOUNCED THAT THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OF THE TCS, AT THE REQUT OF JTICE MISTER ESSO, HAD REQUTED A STAY OF PROCEEDGS BEE THE ACCED RETURNED THE MONEY TO THE ERNMENT TREASURY. MISTER ESSO REQUTED THE TCS TO DROP THE CHARG FOLLOWG A JULY 25 LETTER OM SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PRINCY FERDAND NGOH NGOH DITG THAT PRINT BIYA HAD THORIZED THE END OF PROCEEDGS AGAST ATANGANA KOUNA. POLIL PRISONERS AND DETAE THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF NEWLY INTIFIED POLIL PRISONERS OR TAE AS OF THE END OF THE YEAR. NETY-FOUR OF THOSE ASSOCIATED WH THE 2020 PROTTS LLED FOR BY THE MRC OPPOSN PARTY, HOWEVER, REMAED TENTN, 29 OF WHOM WERE EXPECTED TO PLETE THEIR IMPRISONMENT TERMS ON SEPTEMBER 30, CLUDG EIGHT YAOUNDé AND MFOU, CENTER REGN, AND 21 DOUALA PROMENT. AMONG THE REMAG TAE WERE MRC TREASURER ALA FOGUE AND MRC SPOKPERSON OLIVIER BIBOU NISSACK. WHILE THE CHARG FOR WHICH THEY WERE NVICTED RELATED TO REBELLN, SURRECTN, AND STABILIZATN OF MOCRATIC STUTNS, THERE WERE CREDIBLE ALLEGATNS THAT THE CHARG WERE MENSURATE WH PARTICIPATG OR ATTEMPTG TO PARTICIPATE PEACEFUL PROTTS. THE UN WORKG GROUP ON ARBRARY DETENTN FOUND NOVEMBER THAT THE PRIVATN OF LIBERTY OF 15 DIVIDUALS TAED THIS SE WAS ARBRARY, CLUDG THE TENTNS OF MRICE KAMTO, ALBERT DZONGANG, ALA FOGUE TEDOM, MICHèLE NDOKI, PL ERIC KGUE, GASTON PHIIPPE ABE ABE, CéLT DJAMEN NDJAMO, SYLVAN MUTHAGA, JEAN DJIKOU MOUAFFI, SAMIRATOU MATCHUENM, LRE KAMEGNE NOUTCHANG, JEAN BONHR TCHOUEFA NOA, MAMADOU YAUBOU, CHRISTIAN FOULEFACK TSAMO, AND OLIVIER BIBOU NISSACK. WHILE MANY OF THE TAE WERE RELEASED, CLUDG KAMTO, OTHERS REMAED TENTN. THE 10 SEPARATIST LEARS, CLUDG JULI SISIKU AY TABE, WHOM THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT 2019, REMAED PRISON, AND SEPTEMBER 2021, THE COURT OF APPEALS NFIRMED THE SENTENCE. IN NOVEMBER, THE UN WORKG GROUP ON ARBRARY DETENTN FOUND THE PRIVATN OF LIBERTY OF THE 10 DIVIDUALS TO BE ARBRARY. CIVIL JUDICIAL PROCR AND REMEDI CIZENS AND ANIZATNS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK CIVIL REMEDI FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AB THROUGH ADMISTRATIVE PROCR OR THE LEGAL SYSTEM; BOTH OPTNS VOLVED LENGTHY LAYS. INDIVIDUALS AND ANIZATNS MAY APPEAL ADVERSE CISNS DOMTILLY OR TO REGNAL HUMAN RIGHTS BODI, BUT THE CISNS OF REGNAL HUMAN RIGHTS BODI ARE NOT BDG. PROPERTY SEIZURE AND RTUTN THERE WERE REPORTS THAT THE ERNMENT EVICTED PERSONS OM THEIR PLAC OF RINCE WHOUT DUE PROCS OR AQUATE RTUTN. ON MAY 14, FOR EXAMPLE, ADMISTRATIVE THORI FORCEFULLY EVICTED SEVERAL DOZEN RINTS OM THE AREA KNOWN AS DIKOLO-BALI DOUALA 1 SUBDIVISN, LTORAL REGN, AS PART OF A PROJECT TO BUILD A FIVE-STAR HOTEL. GOVERNMENT WORKERS AND SECURY BULLDOZED HO AND TEARGASSED PROTTORS. ACRDG TO THE ERNOR OF THE LTORAL REGN, SOME RINTS HAD RECEIVED PENSATN PRR TO THE EVICTN. ON MAY 28, THE ERNOR SET UP A MISSN TO REVIS THE AREA AND SEE WHERE THE NSTCTN WENT BEYOND THE ORIGAL LAND PERIMETER, AND TO REGISTER THE LLATERAL VICTIMS. HE ALSO ORRED THE SPENSN OF ALL WORK ON THE SE PENDG THE REPORT OF THE MISSN. THE REPORT HAD NOT BEEN MA PUBLIC AS OF THE END OF THE YEAR. THE POPULATNS OF KRIBI 3 SUBDIVISN, OCEAN DIVISN OF THE SOUTH REGN, WHO WERE EVICTED BEE OF THE NSTCTN OF THE KRIBI-LOLABE HIGHWAY SCE 2016, HAD REPORTEDLY NOT YET RECEIVED FULL PENSATN AS OF MID-JUNE AT THE TIME OF THE HIGHWAY’S PLETN AND GURATN. ACRDG TO MEDIA REPORTS, THE ERNMENT RELEASED APPROXIMATELY ONE BILLN CFA ANCS ($1.63 LN) FOR PENSATN, BUT THE DIVISNAL PENSATN MISSN DISBURSED ONLY PART OF THE PENSATN. F. ARBITRARY OR UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH PRIVACY, FAMILY, HOME, OR CORRESPONDENCE ALTHOUGH THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROHIB ARBRARY TERFERENCE WH PRIVACY, FAY, HOME, OR RRPONNCE, THE RIGHTS WERE SUBJECT TO RTRICTN THE TERTS OF THE STATE, AND THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS POLICE AND GENDARM ABED THEIR POSNS BY HARASSG CIZENS AND NDUCTG SEARCH WHOUT WARRANTS. THE LAW PERMS A POLICE OFFICER TO ENTER A PRIVATE HOME DURG DAYLIGHT HOURS WHOUT A WARRANT ONLY IF PURSUG A PERSON SPECTED OF OR SEEN MTG A CRIME. POLICE AND GENDARM OFTEN DID NOT PLY WH THIS PROVISN AND ENTERED PRIVATE HOM WHOUT A WARRANT. REPORTS SUGGTED THORI PUNISHED FAY MEMBERS FOR OFFENS ALLEGEDLY MTED BY THEIR RELATIV. IN 2021, THE SELF-STYLED SEPARATIST “GENERAL NO PY” WHO NTROLLED A SEPARATIST BASE KNOWN AS MARE FORC LOTED NDOP, NORTHWT REGN, CLAIMED THAT SOLDIERS STORMED HIS POUND AND ARRTED HIS “UNCL, NTS, YOUNGER BROTHERS, AND SISTERS.” HE GAVE THORI 48 HOURS TO RELEASE THE FAY MEMBERS, THREATENG TO WREAK HAVOC IF ANYTHG BAD HAPPENED TO THEM. WHILE NO PY’S BROTHER AND WERE RELEASED AUGT 2021, HIS MOTHER AND UNCLE REMAED ERNMENT CTODY. AS OF MID-SEPTEMBER, ANTOETTE KONGNSO, NO PY’S FORMER GIRLIEND ARRTED OCTOBER 2021, WAS STILL BEG HELD TENTN SPE A DECEMBER 2021 CISN OF THE SOUTHWT URT OF APPEALS GRANTG HER BAIL. G. CONFLICT-RELATED ABUSES THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS OF AB ASSOCIATED WH THE ONGOG CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, WHERE ERNMENT FORC CLASHED WH SEPARATISTS. THE AB CLUD KILLGS AND ABDUCTNS BY BOTH ERNMENT FORC AND ARMED SEPARATIST GROUPS. FURTHERMORE, THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS OF AB, CLUDG KILLGS AND ABDUCTNS, MTED BY BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA THE FAR NORTH REGN. KILLGS: THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT MEMBERS OF ERNMENT FORC AND SEPARATIST FIGHTERS LIBERATELY KILLED CIVILIANS. ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 9, ERNMENT FORC KILLED AT LEAST TWO UNARMED CIVILIANS DURG A RENNAISSANCE OPERATN BELO, BOYO DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. EYEWNS REPORTEDLY TOLD CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY AI (CHRDA) THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 A.M., YOUNG MEN WERE RETURNG HOME WHEN SOLDIERS TAED THEM. ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN WAS INTIFIED AS GION ALAHFUCHI, A FORMER SEPARATIST FIGHTER WHO WAS PREVLY SHOT THE WAIST AND WAS JT REVERG OM HIS WOUNDS. AT SOME POT DURG THE EVENG, WHEN GION ALAHFUCHI PLAED THAT HE WAS TIRED, THE SOLDIERS ALLEGEDLY SL HIS THROAT WH A KNIFE AND DUMPED HIS RPSE BY THE ROADSI. WNS REPORTEDLY TOLD THE CHRDA THAT THE SOLDIERS LEFT BELO APPROXIMATELY 10 TCKS, AND MOVED TO NJKFU, HEADG TOWARDS A SEPARATIST MP SUATED THE VILLAGE OF ABOH. WHILE AT NJKFU, THEY REMOVED A MAN HIS 50S KNOWN AS “BO LUH” OM BED AND EXECUTED HIM AFTER ACCG HIM OF MAKG CHARMS (OSHI) FOR SEPARATIST FIGHTERS. ON MARCH 2, SPECTED SEPARATISTS AMBHED AND KILLED TIMOTHEE ABOLOA, DIVISNAL OFFICER (DO) OF EKONDO-TI THE SOUTHWT REGN. THE ATTACKERS TONATED AT LEAST FOUR IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE VIC (IEDS) AS THE DO AND SEVERAL OTHERS DROVE TOWARD THE NEIGHBORG TOWN OF BEKORA. ACRDG TO SOUTHWT REGN GOVERNOR BERNARD OKALIA BILAI, AFTER THE TONATN OF THE IEDS, SEPARATISTS OPENED FIRE ON THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. AT LEAST SIX OTHER PERSONS DIED THE ATTACK. ON JUNE 14, ARMED SEPARATISTS AMBHED AND PATED TWO POLICE OFFICERS MBUENE, A VILLAGE SUATED NJIKOM SUBDIVISN, BOYO DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. ACRDG TO REPORTS, THE OPERATN WAS A UNTERATTACK ON THE FENSE FORC, WHO PREVLY NDUCTED AN OPERATN THE VILLAGE SEARCH OF SEPARATIST FIGHTERS. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTED JUNE THAT ARMED SEPARATISTS KILLED AT LEAST SEVEN PERSONS, JURED SIX OTHERS, RAPED A GIRL, AND MTED OTHER GRAVE HUMAN RIGHTS AB ACROSS THE UNTRY’S NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS SCE JANUARY. ABDUCTNS: ARMED SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED SEVERAL PERSONS FOR NOT RPECTG THE SEPARATIST-IMPOSED LOCKDOWN MEASUR. THE SEPARATISTS HELD PERSONS AS HOSTAG, CLUDG PUBLIC OFFICIALS, POLIL LEARS, TEACHERS, SCHOOLCHILDREN, AND RELIG AND TRADNAL LEARS. THERE WERE CREDIBLE ALLEGATNS THAT SEPARATISTS PHYSILLY BTALIZED THEIR VICTIMS. AS OF LATE JUNE, ACRDG TO CREDIBLE NGOS, SEPARATISTS HAD RRIED OUT AT LEAST 80 ABDUCTNS SCE JANUARY. IN APRIL, ARMED SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED 33 ROMAN CATHOLIC SEMARIANS FOR RANSOM BACHUO-NTAI, SOUTHWT REGN. ON APRIL 30, BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN, SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED SENATOR REGA MUNDI, A MEMBER OF THE LG CAMEROONIAN PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT, ALONG WH HER DRIVER. THE DAY AFTER HER ABDUCTN, A VIO CIRCULATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWG SENATOR MUNDI SEATED ON A SOFA ONT OF A “REPUBLIC OF AMBAZONIA” POSTER, READG A PREPARED STATEMENT WHICH SHE REFERRED TO HERSELF AS “AN AMBAZONIAN BY BIRTH AND NATNALY,” AND LLG FOR AMBAZONIAN PENNCE. ACRDG TO REPORTS, DIFFERENT FACTNS OF THE SELF-PROCLAIMED AMBAZONIAN DEFENSE FORC CLAIMED RPONSIBILY, EACH MAKG S OWN MANDS FOR THE SENATOR’S LIBERATN AND AT LEAST ONE GROUP THREATENG TO KILL HER. GOVERNMENT FENSE AND SECURY FORC EVENTUALLY RCUED SENATOR MUNDI ON MAY 30 (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.B., DISAPPEARANCE). AS OF THE END OF AUGT, FON YAKUM KEV SHUMANG II, THE PRINT OF THE NORTHWT HOE OF CHIEFS, WHOM ARMED SEPARATISTS ABDUCTED 2021, REMAED UNACUNTED FOR. SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED THE TRADNAL LER DECEMBER 2021, OM HIS PALACE AT BAMBALANG, NGOKETUNJIA DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. ALSO, THE WHEREABOUTS OF FIVE OF THE SIX DIVISNAL LEGAT, WHOM ARMED SEPARATISTS ABDUCTED JUNE 2021 NDIAN DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN, REMAED UNKNOWN AS OF DECEMBER. ACRDG TO BISHOPS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BAMENDA PROVCIAL EPISPAL CONFERENCE (BAPEC), ON SEPTEMBER 16, AT LEAST 30 UNINTIFIED DIVIDUALS FIRG TO THE AIR SET FIRE TO ST. MARY’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH NCHANG, MAMFE, SOUTHWT REGN AND ABDUCTED NE PERSONS. THE ABDUCTE CLUD FIVE PRITS, A NUN, ONE TECHIST, AND TWO OTHERS. THE BISHOPS ATTRIBUTED THE ATTACK TO SEPARATISTS WHO REGULARLY ACCED THE CHURCH OF NOT SUPPORTG THE SECSN OF THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THEY SAID SCE THE CRISIS BEGAN 2016, BATANTS HAD CREASGLY THREATENED AND TARGETED CHURCH LEARS AND MISSNARI WHO WERE “FACG A WAVE OF PERSECUTN.” DURG A SEPTEMBER 21 MEDIA TERVIEW, BAPEC LEAR ARCHBISHOP ANDREW NKEA SAID THE KIDNAPPERS HAD ASKED FOR A 66 LN CFA ANCS ($107,000) RANSOM, WHICH THEY LATER RCED TO 33 LN CFA ANCS ($53,700). ALL NE ABDUCTE WERE EVENTUALLY RELEASED ON OCTOBER 22. PHYSIL ABE, PUNISHMENT, AND TORTURE: ACRDG TO CREDIBLE REPORTS, BOTH ERNMENT AGENTS AND SEPARATISTS PHYSILLY ABED CIVILIANS, AS WELL AS PRISONERS THEIR CTODY (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.C.). MULTIPLE ANIZATNS REPORTED THAT BIR SOLDIER EWOME EBOKO JOHN, BETTER KNOWN BY THE PSDONYM “MOJA MOJA,” ARRTED MANY CIVILIANS THE SOUTHWT REGN, ACCED THEM OF BEG SEPARATISTS, AND ADMISTERED HARSH TREATMENT TO SECURE NFSNS. ACRDG TO THE ANIZATNS, MOJA MOJA OFTEN RERD VIOS OF HIS VICTIMS AS HE ABED THEM AND PUBLISHED THE VIOS ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE LLED “MOJA MOJA CHIEF.” ON JUNE 27, ONE OF THE VIOS WENT VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA PICTG EWUME BEATG AN UNARMED CIVILIAN WH A METAL OBJECT AND FORCG HIM TO NFS TO BEG A SEPARATIST FIGHTER. ON JULY 12, A GROUP OF LAWYERS CLUDG AMUNGWA N NTSO NI, TAMFU NGARKA TRISTEL RICHARD, AND EDWARD LYONGA EWULE ADDRSED A NUNCIATN LETTER TO THE ERNMENT MISSNER (PROSECUTOR) OF THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL, PYG THE DIRECTOR OF ARY JTICE AT THE MISTRY OF DEFENSE. WHILE NO VTIGATN WAS REPORTEDLY OPENED BY THE END OF THE YEAR, ONE OF THE LAWYERS WHO SIGNED THE NUNCIATN LETTER SAID SED OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MOJA MOJA WOULD BE VTIGATED. ACRDG TO THE CONDUCT UN FIELD MISSNS ONLE PORTAL, THERE WERE THREE ALLEGATNS DURG THE YEAR OF SEXUAL EXPLOATN REPORTED AGAST THE UNTRY’S PEACEKEEPERS THE UN MULTIDIMENSNAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATN MISSN THE CENTRAL AIN REPUBLIC (MINUSCA). TWO ALLEGATNS NCERNED POLICE OFFICERS AND ONE NCERNED A ARY OFFICER, AND VTIGATNS TO ALL THREE REMAED PENDG AT THE END OF THE YEAR. INVTIGATNS TO TWO ALLEGATNS MINUSCA OM 2021, CLUDG ONE NCERNG ALLEGED CHILD RAPE, AS WERE THREE VTIGATNS TO ALLEGATNS MINUSCA OM 2020. THE UNTRY’S PEACEKEEPERS HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO ALMOST 50 SEXUAL EXPLOATN ALLEGATNS SCE THE UN BEGAN TRACKG SEXUAL EXPLOATN DATA 2015. THE UNTRY, HOWEVER, TOOK SOME STEPS TOWARD GREATER ACUNTABILY. ON 19 SEPARATE OCSNS SCE 2019, THE ERNMENT SENTENCED PERPETRATORS TO PRISON TIME FOLLOWG SUBSTANTIATN OF SEXUAL EXPLOATN ALLEGATNS. DURG THE YEAR, THE ERNMENT PUBLICLY UTNED TROOPS BEG PLOYED TO THE CAR TO PLY FULLY WH STANDARDS OF BEHAVR. CHILD SOLDIERS: THERE WERE NO CREDIBLE ALLEGATNS THAT THE ERNMENT RECED OR ED CHILD SOLDIERS. AS 2021, THERE WERE NO REPORTED ALLEGATNS THAT MEMBERS OF FENSE AND SECURY FORC ED CHILDREN FOR TELLIGENCE GATHERG. SOME MUNY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUPS, KNOWN AS VIGILANCE MTE, MAY HAVE ED AND RECED CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 12 OPERATNS AGAST BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA, ALTHOUGH NO SPECIFIC S WERE HIGHLIGHTED, AND NO STATISTICS WERE AVAILABLE (ALSO SEE SECTN 7.C.). AUTHORI NTUED TO ENURAGE THE CREATN OF VIGILANCE MTE. BOKO HARAM NTUED TO REC AND E CHILD SOLDIERS, CLUDG GIRLS, S ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN AND ARY TARGETS. OTHER CONFLICT-RELATED ABE: AS THE PREV YEAR, THERE WERE REPORTS OF VLENCE DIRECTED AGAST HEALTH WORKERS AND STUTNS AND OF THE E OF FIREARMS AROUND HEALTH FACILI BY MEMBERS OF SECURY FORC AND ARMED SEPARATISTS. THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF SUCH CINTS TARGETG SCHOOLS AND CIVILIAN RINTIAL AREAS. ON APRIL 21, KONYE, MEME DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN, MEMBERS OF ERNMENT SECURY FORC REPORTEDLY BURNED SEVERAL HO MATONDO II VILLAGE, POPULARLY KNOWN AS NUMBER 19, FOLLOWG A PURSU OF FLEEG ARMED SEPARATISTS. ON FEBARY 10, ACRDG TO CREDIBLE REPORTS, ARMED SEPARATISTS BURNED DOWN THE DORMORI AND ADMISTRATIVE BLOCKS OF QUEEN OF THE ROSARY COLLEGE OKOYONG, A GIRLS-ONLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH STUTN MANFE, MANYU DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN. IN APRIL, ARMED SEPARATISTS STORMED THE UNIVERSY OF BAMENDA MP THE NORTHWT REGN, SHOOTG THE AIR, G PANIC AMONG STUNTS AND TEACHERS, AND LEADG TO A STAMPE THAT JURED AT LEAST FIVE PERSONS. SEPARATISTS REPORTEDLY ATTACKED THE UNIVERSY FOR NOT OBSERVG A SEPARATIST-IMPOSED LOCKDOWN. TWO MONTHS LATER, ON JULY 8, SEPARATIST FIGHTERS OVERTOOK THE BUILDG OF THE FACULTY OF ENGEERG AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE UNIVERSY OF BUEA, WHERE STUNTS WERE TAKG EXAMS. ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 8, UNINTIFIED MEN BELIEVED TO BE SEPARATIST FIGHTERS BURNED DOWN THE MAMFE DISTRICT HOSPAL, SUATED MANYU DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN. THE ENTIRE STCTURE WAS STROYED, CLUDG ALL HOSPAL EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS. THE HOSPAL WAS THE LARGT HEALTH FACILY MANYU DIVISN, SERVG A POPULATN OF MORE THAN 80,000 DIVIDUALS, ACRDG TO REPORTS. A. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, INCLUDING FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA THE LAW PROVIS FOR EEDOM OF EXPRSN, CLUDG FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRS AND OTHER MEDIA, BUT THE ERNMENT OFTEN RTRICTED THIS RIGHT, EXPLICLY OR IMPLICLY. PRIVATE MEDIA WERE ACTIVE AND EXPRSED A WI SPECTM OF VIEWPOTS. THE MEDIA LANDSPE FACED NSTRATS ON EDORIAL PENNCE, PART DUE TO FEAR OF REPRISAL OM STATE AND NONSTATE ARMED ACTORS, CLUDG SEPARATISTS NNECTED TO THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. FREEDOM OF EXPRSN: GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS NIED DIVIDUALS OR ANIZATNS THE ABILY TO CRICIZE OR EXPRS VIEWS AT ODDS WH ERNMENT POLICY. AUTHORI IMPOSED RTRICTNS ON SYMBOLIC EXPRSNS, SUCH AS FLAGS AND POLIL SYMBOLS. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO NIED CIZENS THE ABILY TO DISCS CERTA MATTERS OF GENERAL TERT, CLUDG EXPRSN OF VIEWS NCERNG POLIL TRANSN. INDIVIDUALS WHO CRICIZED THE ERNMENT PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY OFTEN FACED REPRISALS. ON SEVERAL OCSNS, THE ERNMENT VOKED LAWS REQUIRG PERMS OR ERNMENT NOTIFITN OF PUBLIC PROTTS TO STIFLE DISURSE. AS PART OF PREPARATNS FOR THE MAY 20 NATNAL DAY CELEBRATN, THE MFOUNDI SENR DIVISNAL OFFICER YAOUNDé ON MAY 15 ADDRSED A LETTER TO THE VICE PRINT OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT (SDF), SPELLG OUT NDNS FOR SDF’S PARTICIPATN THE MAY 20 PARA. THE NDNS CLUD, BUT WERE NOT LIMED TO, NOT DISPLAYG ANY IMAGE OTHER THAN THAT OF PRINT BIYA, NOT G TELEPHON DURG THE PARA, AND NOT DISPLAYG SLOGANS, PLARDS, OR TEXTS NOT PREVLY APPROVED BY THE CIVIL BET OF THE PRINCY. VLENCE AND HARASSMENT: POLICE, GENDARM, AND OTHER ERNMENT AGENTS ARRTED, TAED, PHYSILLY ATTACKED, AND TIMIDATED JOURNALISTS. THE STATE’S FAILURE TO VTIGATE OR PROSECUTE ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS CREATED FACTO RTRICTNS. ON MAY 18, BISSONG MACLLA BSONG, A JOURNALIST WHO WORKS FOR KICK442 ONLE MEDIA, WENT TO THE MOLYKO STADIUM BUEA, SOUTHWT REGN, TO VER A MATCH OF THE CAMEROONIAN ELE ONE SOCCER CHAMPNSHIP. BISONG PRODUCED A SNNED PY OF HER ACCREDATN OM HER MOBILE PHONE, BUT NJONJE MBUA, THE DIRECTOR OF THE STADIUM, REFED HER ACCS TO THE STADIUM, SAYG SHE MT PRODUCE THE PHYSIL DOCUMENT. MBUA FORCED THE JOURNALIST AWAY, WH THE ASSISTANCE OF POLICE OFFICERS. IN THE PROCS, TWO OF THE POLICEMEN REPORTEDLY EXERTED PHYSIL VLENCE ON BSONG, CLUDG PUNCHG HER AND DRAGGG HER TO THE GROUND. KICK442 ONLE MEDIA REPORTEDLY FILED A PLAT WHICH WAS PENDG BEFORE THE URT BUEA; THERE WAS NO REPORTED UPDATE ON THE SE AS OF DECEMBER. CENSORSHIP OR CONTENT RTRICTNS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRS AND OTHER MEDIA, CLUDG ONLE MEDIA: BY LAW THE MISTRY OF COMMUNITN REQUIR EDORS TO SUBM TWO SIGNED PI OF THEIR NEWSPAPERS WH TWO HOURS AFTER PUBLITN. JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA OUTLETS REPORTED PRACTICG SELF-CENSORSHIP, PECIALLY IF THE NATNAL COMMUNITN COUNCIL (NCC) HAD SPEND THEM PREVLY. THE MISTRY OF COMMUNITN HAS SUPERVISORY THORY OVER MEDIA AND ACCREDS MEDIA ANIZATNS, WHILE THE NCC IS THE REGULATORY AND NSULTATIVE BODY ON MEDIA MATTERS. AUTHORI THREATENED JOURNALISTS, AND THE NCC SPEND JOURNALISTS AND PUBLISHERS FOR PROGRAMS AND VIEWS EMED AT ODDS WH ERNMENT POLICY. IN SOME S, SANCTNED OUTLETS AND JOURNALISTS REFED TO IMPLEMENT THE NCC’S CISNS, LEADG THE CHAIR OF THE NCC TO REPORTEDLY REQUT SUPPORT OM THE MISTRY OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN TO IMPLEMENT NCC CISNS. ON MARCH 14, BENJAM MBOUTOU, THE SENR DIVISNAL OFFICER (SDO) FOR WOURI DIVISN, LTORAL REGN, SUMMONED CEDRIC NOUFELE, THEN EDOR CHIEF OF EQUOXE TV, TO HIS OFFICE. EQUOXE TV PROMOTER SEVER TCHOUNK ON MARCH 16 REPRENTED NOUFELE AT THE MEETG. TCHOUNK AND THE SDO REPORTEDLY DISCSED MATTERS CLUDG THE NDUCT OF DRO RéPONSE, A PROGRAM THAT HAD NOUFELE AS PRENTER. THE SDO REPORTEDLY PLAED NCERNG THE WAY NOUFELE HANDLED THE PROGRAM, STATG THAT HE OFTEN DID NOT GIVE REPRENTATIV OF THE LG CPDM THE SAME TREATMENT AS OTHER PANELISTS. THEREAFTER, ON MARCH 18, LTORAL GOVERNOR DIDONNE IVAHA DIBOUA SENT A LETTER TO TCHOUNK, ACCG EQUOX TV OF CG PUBLIC UPRISG AGAST REPUBLIN STUTNS. REFERRG TO THE DRO RéPONSE PROGRAM OF FEBARY 27 ON AN ONGOG TEACHERS’ STRIKE, THE ERNOR CLAIMED THAT ONE OF THE PANELISTS LLED ON PARENTS AND STUNTS TO JO THE PROTT. HE THREATENED TO “APPLY THE LAW” IF EQUOX DID NOT CHANGE S REPORTG STYLE. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ERNOR, THE NCC ISSUED A PRS RELEASE DRAWG “THE ATTENTN OF MEDIA PROFSNALS TO THE GRAVY OF THE NSEQUENC THAT MAY ARISE OM THE DISSEMATN OF PROMISG RMATN AGAST REPUBLIN STUTNS, AND FIRMLY REMDG THEIR THORS THAT MEDIA EXCS ARE A THREAT TO PUBLIC ORR.” LIKE THE ERNOR, THE NCC THREATENED TO SANCTN WHAT REFERRED TO AS UNPROFSNAL BEHAVR. ON APRIL 1, THE NCC SPEND SEVER TCHOUNK OM PRACTICG JOURNALISM AND THE FUNCTNS OF PUBLISHER FOR ONE MONTH. THE NCC ALSO BANNED NOUFELE OM PRACTICG JOURNALISM FOR THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME, ACCG HIM OF FAILG TO EXERT NTROL OVER PANELISTS DURG THE FEBARY 27 PROGRAM, TH ALLOWG THE BROADSTG OF NFLICTG MENTS LIKELY TO AMPLIFY A “POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE” SOCIAL MAND. THE DRO RéPONSE PROGRAM RECEIVED A ONE-MONTH SPENSN. LIBEL/SLANR LAWS: LIBEL, SLANR, FAMATN, AND BLASPHEMY ARE TREATED AS CRIMAL OFFENS. THE LAW THORIZ THE ERNMENT TO IATE A CRIMAL SU WHEN THE PRINT OR OTHER SENR ERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE THE ALLEGED VICTIMS. THE LAWS PLACE THE BURN OF PROOF ON THE FENDANT, AND CRIM ARE PUNISHABLE BY PRISON TERMS AND SUBSTANTIAL F. ORDARY CIZENS MAY ALSO FILE LIBEL OR SLANR SUS, BUT THE LAW IS OFTEN APPLIED SELECTIVELY AND GIV PRIVILEG TO SENR ERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WELL-NNECTED DIVIDUALS. THERE WERE NO KNOWN REPORTS OF S PROSECUTED UNR LIBEL, SLANR, OR BLASPHEMY LAWS DURG THE YEAR. NATNAL SECURY: AUTHORI OFTEN CED LAWS AGAST TERRORISM OR PROTECTG NATNAL SECURY TO THREATEN CRICS OF THE ERNMENT. NONERNMENTAL IMPACT: THERE WERE SEVERAL REPORTED S OF ARMED SEPARATIST GROUPS THE SOUTHWT AND NORTHWT REGNS EXPLICLY HIBG THE ENJOYMENT OF EEDOM OF EXPRSN, CLUDG FOR THE PRS. HOWEVER, NCERN FOR PERSONAL SECURY AND RTRICTNS ON MOVEMENTS IMPOSED BY ARMED SEPARATISTS NTRIBUTED TO LIMG EEDOM OF EXPRSN FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRS. ON FEBARY 14, VISN 4, A PROERNMENT TELEVISN CHANNEL, SPEND DIDONNE ESSOMBA AS A NSULTANT FOR S CLUB D’EL WEEKLY PROGRAM. THE CISN ME AFTER DIDONNE ESSOMBA NOUNCED PRINT BIYA’S LONGEVY POWER AND QUTNED HIS PHYSIL PACY TO N THE UNTRY AT AGE 89. HE CLARED THAT WAS THE PRINT’S WIFE, CHANTAL BIYA, WHO WAS LEADG THE UNTRY. FOLLOWG THE PROGRAM, ESSOMBA WAS SUMMONED TO THE TERRORIAL SURVEILLANCE PARTMENT ON FEBARY 16, ACRDG TO THE DAILY LA NOUVELLE EXPRSN OF FEBARY 17. ESSOMBA LATER RETURNED TO VISN 4. SEVERAL ANIZATNS REPORTED THAT ON MAY 26, BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN, AT LEAST SIX HEAVILY ARMED SEPARATISTS ATTEMPTED TO KIDNAP FRERIC TAKANG, THE BBC’S CAMEROON RRPONNT AND ONE OF THE FEW JOURNALISTS STILL WORKG THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE SEPARATISTS TOOK TAKANG’S BELONGGS, CLUDG HIS VEHICLE, PUTER, MICROPHONE, MONEY, AND MOBILE PHONE. CONTACTED BY NGO JOURNALISTS AI FOR DEVELOPMENT, TAKANG SAID SEPARATIST FIGHTERS DO NOT ALLOW JOURNALISTS ACCS TO AREAS UNR THEIR NTROL. OVERALL, ACRDG TO LA NOUVELLE EXPRSN, FEWER THAN 10 JOURNALISTS NTUED WORKG OM BAMENDA. INTER FREEDOM ANECDOTAL REPORTS DITED THAT THE ERNMENT MONORED PRIVATE ONLE MUNITNS WHOUT APPROPRIATE LEGAL THORY. THE REPORTS HOWEVER DID NOT HIGHLIGHT ANY SPECIFIC S. B. FREEDOMS OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATION THE ERNMENT LIMED AND RTRICTED EEDOMS OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATN. GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO VTIGATE OR PROSECUTE ATTACKS ON HUMAN RIGHTS FENRS AND PEACEFUL PROTTERS UNRMED THE ENJOYMENT OF EEDOMS OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND OF ASSOCIATN. FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY ALTHOUGH THE LAW PROVIS FOR EEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY, THE ERNMENT OFTEN RTRICTED THIS RIGHT. THE LAW REQUIR ANIZERS OF PUBLIC MEETGS, MONSTRATNS, AND PROCSNS TO NOTIFY OFFICIALS ADVANCE BUT DO NOT REQUIRE PRR ERNMENT APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC ASSEMBLI, NOR DO THORIZE THE ERNMENT TO SUPPRS PUBLIC ASSEMBLI THAT DID NOT APPROVE ADVANCE. NEVERTHELS, OFFICIALS OFTEN ASSERTED THE LAW IMPLICLY THORIZ THE ERNMENT TO GRANT OR NY PERMISSN FOR PUBLIC ASSEMBLI. THE ERNMENT OFTEN GRANTED PERMS FOR GATHERGS ON A SELECTIVE BASIS AND ED FORCE TO SUPPRS ASSEMBLI FOR WHICH HAD NOT ISSUED PERMS. AUTHORI TYPILLY CED SECURY AND HEALTH-RELATED NCERNS AS THE BASIS FOR CIDG TO BLOCK ASSEMBLI. PROERNMENT GROUPS, HOWEVER, WERE GENERALLY THORIZED TO ANIZE PUBLIC MONSTRATNS. MULTIPLE ANIZATNS REPORTED THAT ON FEBARY 16, DAOUDA ISSA, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER OF DOUALA IV, THE LTORAL REGN, BANNED A THREE-DAY SEMAR HOSTED BY GERMANY’S FRIEDRICH EBERT FOUNDATN. THE PURPOSE OF THE SEMAR WAS TO TRA OFFICIALS OF OPPOSN PARTI, THE MRC AND SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT (SDF), ON POLIL MUNITN. CLOSE TO 80 MEMBERS OF THE MRC AND SDF ALLEGEDLY SHOWED UP FOR THE TRAG SSN WHEN DAOUDA ISSA ENTERED THE VENUE WH GENDARM AND POLICEMEN, TOLD ALL ATTEN TO STEP OUT, AND THREATENED TO ARRT ANYONE WHO CHOSE TO REMA. WHILE THE FRIEDRICH EBERT FOUNDATN WAS THE ANIZER OF THE SEMAR, DAOUDA ISSA REPORTEDLY SERVED MRC AND SDF OFFICIALS WH AN ORR BANNG THE EVENT. THE ORR STATED THAT THE ANIZERS HAD NOT PREVLY RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR THE TRAG, WHICH HE SCRIBED AS “A PUBLIC POLIL MONSTRATN LIKELY TO GENERATE AND DISTURB PUBLIC ORR.” ON JUNE 29, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER FOR YAOUNDé 1, NYANDJI MGBATOU HAROUNA, BANNED A NFERENCE SCHLED TO TAKE PLACE AT THE FRAN HOTEL YAOUNDé ON JUNE 30. EARLIER, ON JUNE 28, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER HAD ISSUED A RECEIPT TO JEAN BOS TALLA, THE PROMOTER OF THE NFERENCE, ACKNOWLEDGG NOTIFITN OF THE EVENT. IN HIS JUNE 29 REVERSAL, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER CED A RISK OF DISPTG SOCIAL ORR. THE NFERENCE DUBBED “LA GRAN PALABRE” WAS EXPECTED TO MOBILIZE ACTORS OM AMIA, CIVIL SOCIETY, MEDIA, AND POLICS TO DISCS POLIL TRANSN. ON THE DAY SCHLED FOR THE NFERENCE, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER ARRIVED AT THE NFERENCE VENUE WH SECURY FORC AND ORRED PARTICIPANTS NOT TO ENTER. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATN THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR THE EEDOM OF ASSOCIATN, BUT THE LAW ALSO LIMS THIS RIGHT. ON THE REMENDATN OF THE SENR DIVISNAL OFFICER, THE MISTRY OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN MAY SPEND THE ACTIVI OF AN ASSOCIATN FOR THREE MONTHS ON GROUNDS THAT THE ASSOCIATN IS DISPTG PUBLIC ORR. THE MISTER MAY ALSO DISSOLVE AN ASSOCIATN IF IS EMED A THREAT TO STATE SECURY. NATNAL ASSOCIATNS MAY ACQUIRE LEGAL STAT BY CLARG THEMSELV WRG TO THE MISTRY, BUT THE MISTRY MT EXPLICLY REGISTER FOREIGN ASSOCIATNS, AND THE PRINT MT ACCRED RELIG GROUPS UPON THE REMENDATN OF THE MISTER OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN. THE LAW IMPOS SUBSTANTIAL F FOR DIVIDUALS WHO FORM AND OPERATE ANY SUCH ASSOCIATN WHOUT MISTRY APPROVAL. THE LAW PROHIBS ANIZATNS THAT ADVOTE A GOAL NTRARY TO THE NSTUTN, LAWS, AND MORALY, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT AIM TO CHALLENGE THE SECURY, TERRORIAL TEGRY, NATNAL UNY, NATNAL TEGRATN, OR REPUBLIN FORM OF THE STATE. CONDNS FOR REGNN OF POLIL PARTI, NGOS, AND ASSOCIATNS WERE PLITED, VOLVED LONG LAYS, AND WERE UNEVENLY ENFORCED (SEE ALSO SECTN 3, POLIL PARTI AND POLIL PARTICIPATN). THIS RULTED ASSOCIATNS OPERATG LEGAL UNCERTATY WH THEIR ACTIVI TOLERATED BUT NOT FORMALLY APPROVED. ALTHOUGH THE ERNMENT DID NOT OFFICIALLY BAN ANY ANIZATNS, NTUED TO RTRICT THE ACTIVI OF SOME NGOS, CLUDG DOCTORS WHOUT BORRS (MSF) AND UN MON AVENIR. ON JULY 15, DOCTORS WHOUT BORRS ANNOUNCED S CISN TO CLOSE PROJECT BAS KUMBA AND MAMFE, THE SOUTHWT REGN, BEGNG ON AUGT 1. THE CISN FOLLOWED THE SPENSN OF MSF ACTIVI BY THORI THREE MONTHS EARLIER, PRR TO WHICH SECURY FORC ARRTED AND TAED FOUR MSF STAFF MEMBERS DECEMBER 2021 AND JANUARY. THE MSF DITED THAT ULD NOT FELY MATA TEAMS WH NO CLEAR VISIBILY OF WHEN MAY RTART ACTIVI, NOR OF THE LIKELIHOOD THAT S STAFF ULD WORK NDNS WHERE THEY WOULD NOT BE PROSECUTED FOR PROVIDG MEDIL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE NEED, CLUDG TO ARMED SEPARATISTS. IN AN AUGT 2021 RELEASE, MISTER OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN PL ATANGA NJI ORRED THE LEARSHIP OF FOREIGN ANIZATNS OPERATG THE UNTRY TO UPDATE THEIR STAT BY SUBMTG SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATN WH A MONTH. ALTHOUGH THE NGO UN MON AVENIR, WHICH REGULARLY NOUNC ERNMENT AB, SUBMTED THE REQUIRED FILE, THE ANIZATN’S LEARSHIP CLAIMED THEIR ACCREDATN HAD NOT BEEN RENEWED AS OF DECEMBER. C. FREEDOM OF RELIGION SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S INTERNATNAL RELIG FREEDOM REPORT. D. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND THE RIGHT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY ALTHOUGH THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR EEDOM OF TERNAL MOVEMENT, FOREIGN TRAVEL, EMIGRATN, AND REPATRIATN, AT TIM THE ERNMENT AND NONSTATE ARMED GROUPS RTRICTED THE EEDOMS. IN-UNTRY MOVEMENT: USG MOR ACTNS AS A PRETEXT, POLICE, GENDARM, AND CTOM OFFICERS OFTEN EXTORTED BRIB AND HARASSED TRAVELERS AT ROADBLOCKS AND CHECKPOTS CI AND ON HIGHWAYS. POLICE EQUENTLY STOPPED TRAVELERS TO CHECK INTIFITN DOCUMENTS, CLUDG NATNAL INTY RDS, PASSPORTS, RINCE PERMS, VEHICLE REGISTRATNS, CTOMS STAT, AND TAX RECEIPTS AS SECURY AND IMMIGRATN NTROL MEASUR. AS THE PREV YEAR, HUMANARIAN ANIZATNS CED DIFFICULTY ACCSG CERTA AREAS AND SOME STANC WERE HARASSED AND NIED PASSAGE BY ERNMENT THORI. UNACPANIED WOMEN WERE EQUENTLY HARASSED WHEN TRAVELG ALONE. AUTHORI RTRICTED MOVEMENTS OF PERSONS AND GOODS, CLUDG MOTORBIK, PECIALLY THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, CG SECURY NCERNS. ARMED SEPARATISTS RTRICTED THE MOVEMENTS OF PERSONS AND GOODS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, SOMETIM A LIBERATE ATTEMPT TO HARASS AND TIMIDATE THE LOL POPULATN. SEPARATISTS OFTEN ED WEEKLY LOCKDOWNS REFERRED TO AS “GHOST TOWNS” TO ENFORCE RTRICTNS ON MOVEMENT, WHICH THE ARMED SEPARATISTS MAND ALL BS, SCHOOLS, AND PLAC OF WORSHIP CLOSE, AND RINTS STAY HOME. VLENT CRIME, CLUDG KIDNAPPG BY TERRORISTS, KIDNAPPG FOR RANSOM, ARMED ROBBERY, ASSLT, AND RJACKG, WERE MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS TO -UNTRY MOVEMENT THE THREE NORTHERN REGNS AS WELL AS PART OF THE EAST REGN. SEPARATISTS NTUED TO ENFORCE A LOCKDOWN OF THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS ON MONDAYS, AS WELL AS FOR OTHER EXTEND PERDS OF TIME. DURG THE LOCKDOWN PERDS, ALL VEHICL WERE BANNED OM THE ROADS THE REGNS. SEPARATISTS WARNED THAT ANY PERSON OR GROUP OF PERSONS NTRAVENG THE BAN WOULD BE PUNISHED. FOREIGN TRAVEL: CIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEAVE THE UNTRY WHOUT ARBRARY RTRICTNS. THE MOVEMENT OF SOME POLIL OPPONENTS AND BTORS, HOWEVER, WAS MONORED, AND THEIR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS WERE OFTEN NFISTED TO NFE THEM TO THE UNTRY. TO OBTA EX PERMS, CIZENS NEED A VALID PASSPORT AND VISA FOR THEIR UNTRY OF STATN. THERE WERE NO CREDIBLE REPORTS OF CIZENSHIP REVOTN ON AN ARBRARY OR DISCRIMATORY BASIS DURG THE YEAR. E. PROTECTION OF REFUGEES THE ERNMENT GENERALLY OPERATED WH THE OFFICE OF THE UNED NATNS HIGH COMMISSNER FOR REFUGE (UNHCR) AND OTHER HUMANARIAN ANIZATNS PROVIDG PROTECTN AND ASSISTANCE TO REFUGE OR ASYLUM SEEKERS, AS WELL AS OTHER PERSONS OF NCERN. THE UNTRY OPERATED AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY. THIS POLICY, HOWEVER, WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED A MANNER THAT ALLOWED REFUGE TO EXERCISE FULLY THEIR RIGHTS TO EEDOM OF MOVEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, AND ACCS TO ERNMENT HEALTH AND TNAL SERVIC, AS STATED VAR LEGAL STMENTS. ACCS TO ASYLUM: THE LAW PROVIS FOR THE GRANTG OF ASYLUM OR REFUGEE STAT, AND THE ERNMENT HAS TABLISHED A SYSTEM OF PROVIDG PROTECTN TO REFUGE, BUT THE IMPLEMENTATN OF THIS SYSTEM WAS WEAK. UNHCR NTUED TO PROVI DOCUMENTATN AND ASSISTANCE TO THE REFUGEE POPULATN, ALTHOUGH LOL THORI DID NOT ALWAYS REGNIZE THE DOCUMENTS AS OFFICIAL, WHICH PREVENTED REFUGE OM TRAVELG AND ENGAGG BS ACTIVI. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT: THE ERNMENT DID NOT PROVI DOCUMENTS A TIMELY MANNER TO REFUGE AND OTHER PERSONS NEED OF PRIMARY DOCUMENTATN, WHICH RTRICTED MOVEMENT. DURG THE YEAR, THORI LNCHED A PROJECT TO LIVER BMETRIC INTY RDS TO REFUGE OM THE CAR. UNHCR AND THE ERNMENT NTUED TO NDUCT BMETRIC VERIFITN AND REGISTRATN OF NIGERIAN REFUGE THE FAR NORTH REGN, CLUDG THOSE NOT LIVG REFUGEE MPS. THE PILOT PHASE OF THE PROJECT WAS LNCHED THE EAST REGN AND WAS EXPECTED TO SECURE 6,000 BMETRICS-BASED INTIFITN DOCUMENTS TO CAR REFUGE LIVG MPS THERE. THE BMETRICS-BASED INTIFITN DOCUMENTS AIMED TO FACILATE THE SOCENOMIC TEGRATN OF THE REFUGE, CLUDG ENABLG HOLRS TO OPEN AND ACCS BANK ACUNTS, AND TO CIRCULATE EELY WH THE UNTRY. EMPLOYMENT: THERE WERE NO CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT THE ERNMENT IMPOSED RTRICTNS ON REFUGE’ ABILY TO WORK AFTER THEIR STAT AS REFUGE WAS OFFICIAL. REFUGE WHOUT ERNMENT-REGNIZED DOCUMENTATN, HOWEVER, EXPERIENCED SIGNIFINT OBSTACL TO EMPLOYMENT. ACCS TO BASIC SERVIC: THERE WERE NO KNOWN S OF DISCRIMATN TN AND HEALTH RE THAT OCCURRED ONCE A REFUGEE’S STAT WAS OFFICIAL. WHILE REFUGE HAD LIMED ACCS TO HEALTH RE, TN, AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNI, THEIR RAL HOST MUNI FACED SIAR PROBLEMS. ACCS TO THE SERVIC VARIED ACRDG TO THE LOTN OF THE REFUGE, WH THOSE MPS RECEIVG MORE SUPPORT THROUGH HUMANARIAN ASSISTANCE, WHILE REFUGE LIVG HOST MUNI FACED MORE DIFFICULTY RECEIVG SERVIC. DURABLE SOLUTNS: THERE WAS NO EVINCE THAT THE ERNMENT ACCEPTED REFUGE FOR RETTLEMENT OR OFFERED NATURALIZATN TO REFUGE RIDG S TERRORY. THE ERNMENT, HOWEVER, ASSISTED THE VOLUNTARY RETURN OF PERSONS TO THE CAR. THE ERNMENTS OF CAMEROON AND THE CAR SUCCSFULLY REPATRIATED 299 CAR REFUGE OM THE EAST AND ADAMAOUA REGNS ON JUNE 1. UNHCR SUPERVISED THEIR PARTURE OM THE UNTRY. ACRDG TO THE CAMEROON TRIBUNE, 6,504 REFUGE BENEFED OM UNHCR SUPPORT AND S PARTNERS TO TRAVEL BACK HOME. IN APRIL, THE ERNMENT HOSTED A MISTERIAL-LEVEL NFERENCE TO SEEK DURABLE SOLUTNS FOR CENTRAL AIN REFUGE UNTRI SURROUNDG THE CAR. THE NFERENCE END WH THE SIGNG OF THE YAOUNDé DECLARATN, A DOCUMENT LLG FOR THE CREATN OF A ORDATG BODY FOR THE CAR AND S SIX NEIGHBORG UNTRI TO WORK TOGETHER ON DURABLE SOLUTNS. TEMPORARY PROTECTN: THE ERNMENT NTUED TO PROVI TEMPORARY AND UNOFFICIAL PROTECTN TO DIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT NOT QUALIFY AS REFUGE, EXTENDG THIS PROTECTN TO HUNDREDS OF DIVIDUALS, CLUDG THIRD-UNTRY NATNALS WHO HAD FLED VLENCE THE CAR. DUE TO THEIR UNOFFICIAL STAT AND ABILY TO ACCS SERVIC OR SUPPORT, MANY OF THE DIVIDUALS WERE SUBJECT TO HARASSMENT AND OTHER AB BY EMPLOYERS THE RMAL SECTOR. F. STATUS AND TREATMENT OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS ACRDG TO TIMAT BY UNHCR, THE UNTRY HOSTED APPROXIMATELY TWO LN PERSONS OF NCERN TO UNHCR AS OF JULY, CLUDG APPROXIMATELY ONE LN TERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS). IN ADDN, THE UNTRY HAD AN TIMATED 555,668 FORMERLY DISPLACED PERSONS, AS OF NOVEMBER 30, WHO HAD RETURNED TO THEIR PLAC OF ORIG. THE IDPS WERE MALY OM THE FAR NORTH, NORTHWT, AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THEY WERE MOSTLY DRIVEN BY BOKO HARAM/ISIS-RELATED SECURY AND THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. HUMANARIAN ACCS REMAED LIMED BEE OF SECURY AND ARY OFFICIALS’ TIGHT NTROL OVER ACCS TO THE AFFECTED AREAS. SECTN 3. FREEDOM TO PARTICIPATE THE POLIL PROCS ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION RECENT ELECTNS: IN 2020, THE UNTRY HELD SIMULTANEO LEGISLATIVE AND MUNICIPAL ELECTNS. THE NEXT SENATE ELECTNS ARE SCHLED 2023, WHILE LEGISLATIVE, MUNICIPAL, AND PRINTIAL ELECTNS ARE SCHLED 2025. IN 2020, SECURY NCERNS NSTRAED VOTER PARTICIPATN THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE URTS ANNULLED THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTNS 11 NSTUENCI OF THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS DUE TO VOTER TURNOUT OF LS THAN 10 PERCENT. LEGISLATIVE RENS OCCURRED THE 11 NSTUENCI. THE LG CAMEROON PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (CPDM) WON 152 OF THE 180 NATNAL ASSEMBLY SEATS AND 316 OF 360 LOL UNCILS. OPPOSG POLIL PARTI LOST SIGNIFINT NUMBERS OF SEATS WHEN PARED WH PREV ELECTNS. OVERALL, EIGHT OPPOSN POLIL PARTI WON SEATS THE NATNAL ASSEMBLY, AND NE WON NTROL OF LOL UNCILS. ADDNALLY, THE CONSTUTNAL COUNCIL ANNULLED SOME LEGISLATIVE ELECTNS, CG IRREGULARI CLUDG LACK OF EQUAL ACCS TO MEDIA AND MPAIGN SPACE, RTRICTNS ON THE ABILY OF OPPOSN NDIDAT TO REGISTER FOR THE ELECTN, BALLOT STUFFG, LACK OF BALLOT SECRECY, VOTER TIMIDATN, NSISTENT E OF INTIFITN RDS, AND LACK OF EXPERTISE AMONG LOL POLLG OFFICIALS. IN 2018, PL BIYA WAS REELECTED PRINT AN ELECTN MARRED BY IRREGULARI AND AGAST THE BACKDROP OF PROTRACTED SOCPOLIL UNRT THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. POLIL PARTI AND POLIL PARTICIPATN: AS OF THE END OF THE YEAR, THE UNTRY HAD APPROXIMATELY 330 REGISTERED POLIL PARTI. THE CPDM REMAED DOMANT AT EVERY LEVEL OF ERNMENT DUE TO RTRICTNS ON OPPOSN POLIL PARTI, GERRYMANRG, UNBALANCED MEDIA VERAGE, THE E OF STATE FUNDS TO PROMOTE PARTY MPAIGNS, TERFERENCE WH THE RIGHT OF OPPOSN PARTI TO REGISTER AS NDIDAT AND TO ANIZE DURG ELECTORAL MPAIGNS, AND UNDUE FLUENCE OF TRADNAL LERS. TRADNAL LERS, WHO RECEIVED SALARI OM THE ERNMENT, OPENLY CLARED THEIR SUPPORT FOR PRINT BIYA PRR TO THE 2018 PRINTIAL ELECTN, AND SOME REPORTEDLY PELLED RINTS OF THEIR NSTUENCI TO PROVE THEY DID NOT VOTE FOR AN OPPOSN NDIDATE BY PRENTG UNED BALLOTS. TRADNAL LERS WHO REFED TO ASSOCIATE WH THE ERNMENT WERE EHER REMOVED OR THREATENED WH THE LOSS OF ALL E. MEMBERSHIP THE LG POLIL PARTY NFERRED SIGNIFINT ADVANTAG, CLUDG THE ALLOTN OF KEY JOBS STATE-OWNED ENTI AND THE CIVIL SERVICE. HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATNS AND OPPOSN POLIL ACTORS NSIRED THE DRAWG OF VOTER DISTRICTS AND DISTRIBUTN OF PARLIAMENTARY OR MUNICIPAL UNCILORS’ SEATS UNFAIR. THEY PLAED THAT SMALLER DISTRICTS NSIRED CPDM STRONGHOLDS WERE ALLOTED A DISPROPORTNATE NUMBER OF SEATS PARED WH MORE POPULO DISTRICTS WHERE THE OPPOSN WAS EXPECTED TO POLL STRONGLY. MANAGERS OF STATE-OWNED PANI AND OTHER HIGH-LEVEL ERNMENT OFFICIALS ED RPORATE ROURC TO MPAIGN FOR NDIDAT SPONSORED BY THE LG PARTY. PARTICIPATN OF WOMEN AND MEMBERS OF MORY GROUPS: NO LAWS LIM PARTICIPATN OF WOMEN OR MEMBERS OF MORI, OR PERSONS WH DISABILI, THE POLIL PROCS AND MEMBERS OF MANY OF THE GROUPS DID PARTICIPATE. NO LAWS EXPLICLY LIMED THE PARTICIPATN OF LGBTQI+ PERSONS; THEY DID NOT OPENLY PARTICIPATE THE POLIL PROCS, AND OBSERVERS SURMISED THAT SOCIAL STIGMA AND THE CRIMALIZATN OF SAME-SEX NDUCT TERRED LGBTQI+ PERSONS OM OPENLY PARTICIPATG. SECTN 4. CORPTN AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY GOVERNMENT THE LAW PROVIS CRIMAL PENALTI FOR RPTN BY OFFICIALS, BUT THE ERNMENT DID NOT IMPLEMENT THE LAW EFFECTIVELY. THERE WERE NUMERO REPORTS OF ERNMENT RPTN. THE LAW INTIFI DIFFERENT OFFENS AS RPTN, CLUDG FLUENCE PEDDLG, VOLVEMENT PROHIBED EMPLOYMENT, AND FAILURE TO CLARE A KNOWN NFLICT OF TERT. REPORTG RPTN WAS ENURAGED THROUGH EXEMPTG WHISTLEBLOWERS OM CRIMAL PROSECUTN. IN ADDN TO THE LAWS, THE NATNAL ANTI-RPTN AGENCY (CONAC), SPECIAL CRIMAL COURT (TCS), NATNAL FANCIAL INVTIGATN AGENCY, MISTRY CHARGE OF SUPREME STATE AUD, AND AUD BENCH OF THE SUPREME COURT ALSO NTRIBUTED TO FIGHTG RPTN. CONAC, THE MOST PROMENT OF THE ANTI-RPTN AGENCI, WAS NSTRAED BY THE ABSENCE OF ANY LEGISLATIVE OR PRINTIAL MANDATE. THERE WERE REPORTS THAT SENR OFFICIALS SENTENCED TO PRISON WERE NOT ALWAYS REQUIRED TO FORFE THEIR ILL-GOTTEN GAS.CORPTN: AS THE PREV YEAR, THERE WERE NEW ALLEGATNS OF RPTN VOLVG PUBLIC OFFICIALS. THE TCS NTUED PROSECUTG RPTN S. WHILE HEARGS NTUED SOME HIGH-PROFILE S, THE URT OPENED NEW S AND ISSUED CISNS OTHER ON. IT DROPPED CHARG AT LEAST ONE ONGOG MAY, THE UK-SWISS MODY FIRM GLENRE NFSED BEFORE A LONDON URT TO PAYG $28 LN BRIB TO SECURE PREFERENTIAL ACCS TO OIL FIVE AIN UNTRI, CLUDG CAMEROON. FOLLOWG THE GUILTY PLEA, MEMBERS OF THE POLIL OPPOSN, CIVIL SOCIETY, PENNT MEDIA, AND ANTI-RPTN NGOS, CLUDG TRANSPARENCY INTERNATNAL, URGED THE UNTRY’S ANTI-RPTN STUTNS TO OPEN AN VTIGATN TO THE ISSUE, WHICH RELAT TO THE OPERATNS OF THE NATNAL HYDRORBON CORPORATN (SNH) AND THE NATNAL REFG COMPANY (SONARA). THE LEARSHIP OF SNH AND SONARA NIED THE ALLEGATNS. CONAC ANNOUNCED ON JULY 7 THAT HAD OPENED A RPTN VTIGATN TO THE MATTER. AS OF DECEMBER, THERE WERE NO REPORTED VELOPMENTS NCERNG THE AUGT 22, THE TCS FOUND NIWA LONG OTHON, A FORMER MANAGER OF THE NATNAL CIVIL ENGEERG EQUIPMENT POOL-MATGENIE (2009-17), AND HIS ADMISTRATIVE AND FANCIAL DIRECTOR, SIMON CRéP ZAMBO, GUILTY OF THE EMBEZZLEMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY THE AMOUNT OF 1.37 BILLN CFA ANCS ($2.23 LN). THE TCS SENTENCED THEM TO 20 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT EACH AND ORRED THEM TO PAY BACK THE FUNDS ALLEGEDLY MISAPPROPRIATED, PL OF THE END OF SEPTEMBER, THERE WERE NO REPORTED VELOPMENTS REGARDG THE OUTE OF THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDGS THAT PRINT BIYA ORRED 2021 NCERNG THE MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19 SPENDG. THE 2021 VTIGATN TO THE SPENDG, POPULARLY KNOWN AS “COVIDGATE,” HIGHLIGHTED SHORTGS CLUDG OPACY THE AWARDG OF NTRACTS, OVERNS OF ALLOTED BUDGETS, EMBEZZLEMENT, AND OVERBILLG. A DOZEN OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY APPEARED BEFORE THE MISSN DURG THE VTIGATN NDUCTED BY THE AUD CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT. FOLLOWG THE D REPORT, MISTER OF COMMUNITN RENE EMMANUEL SADI REPORTED MAY 2021 THAT PRINT BIYA HAD ORRED JUDICIAL PROCEEDGS TO BE NDUCTED BY THE TCS. ANECDOTAL REPORTS EMERGED LATE AUGT THAT THE TCS TERROGATED AT LEAST ONE SENR ERNMENT OFFICIAL NNECTN WH THE COVID-19 SPENDG, BUT AS OF DECEMBER, THERE WERE NO REPORTED VELOPMENTS ON THE ISSUE. THE TRIAL OF THE FORMER DEFENSE MISTER EDGAR ALA MEBE NGO THAT OPENED AT THE SPECIAL CRIMAL COURT 2020 NTUED; THE URT HAD NOT ISSUED ANY CISN AS OF SEPTEMBER. MEBE NGO STOOD ACCED OF EMBEZZLG 236 BILLN CFA ANCS ($429 LN) AS PART OF THE PURCHASE OF ARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE ARMY. SECTN 5. GOVERNMENTAL POSTURE TOWARDS INTERNATNAL AND NONERNMENTAL INVTIGATN OF ALLEGED AB OF HUMAN RIGHTS SEVERAL DOMTIC AND TERNATNAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS VTIGATED AND PUBLISHED FDGS ON HUMAN RIGHTS S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RARELY WERE OPERATIVE AND RPONSIVE TO THEIR VIEWS. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IMPED MANY LOL HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS BY HARASSG THEIR MEMBERS, LIMG ACCS TO PRISONERS, REFG TO SHARE RMATN, AND THREATENG VLENCE AGAST NGO PERSONNEL. THE ERNMENT TOOK NO ACTN TO VTIGATE OR PREVENT SUCH OCCURRENC.RETRIBUTN AGAST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENRS (HRDS): SCE TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN MISTER PL ATANGA NJI AUGT 2021 STCTED ASSOCIATNS OPERATG THE UNTRY TO UPDATE THEIR STAT WH A ONE-MONTH ADLE OR BE SPEND, SOME ANIZATNS WERE HAVG DIFFICULTI RENEWG THEIR ACCREDATNS. AS THE PREV YEAR, HUMAN RIGHTS FENRS AND ACTIVISTS RECEIVED ANONYMO THREATS OM PERSONS SPECTED TO BE AFFILIATED WH THE ERNMENT BY TELEPHONE, TEXT MSAGE, AND EMAIL. ON JANUARY 15, FOR EXAMPLE, PHILIPPE NANGA, THE ORDATOR OF UN MON AVENIR, RECEIVED A WHATSAPP MSAGE THAT READ: “TELL MY IEND PHILIPPE NANGA THAT AFTER THE AIN CUP OF NATNS, PL BIYA WILL NO LONGER BE NSTRAED BY SPEECH ON HUMAN RIGHTS. THE STATE WILL NDUCT SYSTEMATIC CLEANG.”ON MARCH 14, GLE BNO, THE DIRECTOR OF JUDICIAL POLICE YAOUNDé, SUMMONED NGO CENTRAL AI HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENRS NETWORK (REDHAC) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAXIIENNE NGO MBE TO REPORT TO THE JUDICIAL POLICE ON MARCH 23 TO DISCS THE LEGAL STAT OF REDHAC. GLE REMD NGO MBE THAT THE EVENT SHE FAILED TO REPORT TO POLICE AS REQUTED, SHE WOULD BE PELLED TO DO SO BY ALL LEGAL MEANS. BARRISTER ALICE NKOM AND OTHER LAWYERS REPRENTED NGO MBE AT THE JUDICIAL POLICE. AFTER REFERRG TO THE MOVEMENT OF FUNDS REDHAC’S ACUNTS, THE POLICE OFFICER QUTNED BARRISTER NKOM ON SPICNS OF MONEY LNRG, EMBEZZLEMENT OF ROURC, AND NONENROLLMENT OF REDHAC STAFF MEMBERS TO THE NATNAL SOCIAL INSURANCE FUND. POLICE HAD TAKEN NO FURTHER ACTN AS OF OCTOBER. (ALSO SEE SECTN 2.B., FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATN.)GOVERNMENT HUMAN RIGHTS BODI: THE MISSN OF THE CHRC, TABLISHED 2019, IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND PREVENT TORTURE TENTN FACILI. THE MISSN OPERAT HOTLE NO. 1523, WHICH SERV TO NOUNCE HUMAN RIGHTS AB, CLUDG S OF TORTURE. THE CHRC IS A ERNMENT-FUND STUTN. THE CHRC MAY ALSO RECEIVE SUPPORT OM NATNAL AND TERNATNAL PARTNERS, AS WELL AS DONATNS. THE CHRC ORDATED ACTNS WH NGOS, PARTICIPATED SOME QUIRY MISSNS, AND ISSUED STATEMENTS ON TOPIL HUMAN RIGHTS MATTERS. SECTN 6. DISCRIMATN AND SOCIETAL AB WOMEN RAPE AND DOMTIC VLENCE: THE LAW CRIMALIZ RAPE OF BOTH WOMEN AND MEN AND PROVIS PENALTI OF BETWEEN FIVE AND 10 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT FOR NVICTED RAPISTS. POLICE AND URTS RARELY VTIGATED OR PROSECUTED RAPE S, PECIALLY SCE SURVIVORS OFTEN DID NOT REPORT THEM. THE LAW DO NOT ADDRS SPOAL RAPE, NOR DO SPECIFILLY PROHIB DOMTIC VLENCE, ALTHOUGH ASSLT IS PROHIBED AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT AND F. UNLIKE 2021, THERE WERE NO KNOWN OR OFFICIALLY REPORTED ALLEGATNS THAT PERSONS ASSOCIATED WH THE ERNMENT RAPED WOMEN AND CHILDREN. REPORTS, HOWEVER, SUGGT THAT DOMTIC VLENCE WAS A MAJOR ISSUE. ON JUNE 26, ACRDG TO CREDIBLE SOURC, A SOLDIER SHOT AND KILLED HIS GIRLIEND, NCHDA OPHILIA, ALSO A SOLDIER, FOLLOWG A HEATED ARGUMENT. AS OF EARLY OCTOBER, THERE WAS NO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RMATN NCERNG VTIGATNS TO THE KILLG. THE ERNMENT PROVID SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VLENCE AND OTHER FORMS OF GENR-BASED VLENCE, CLUDG LEGAL SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS VIA THE JUDICIARY WORK, GENERAL CLIL RE OFFERED HEALTH FACILI, AND LLECTN OF DATA THROUGH THE DISTRICT HEALTH INFORMATN SYSTEM AND PROVISN OF SUATNAL ANALYSIS. MANY OF THE PREVENTN AND BASIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR SURVIVORS OF GENR-BASED VLENCE WERE IMPLEMENTED BY MUNY-BASED ANIZATNS. FEMALE GENAL MUTILATN/CUTTG (FGM/C): THE LAW PROTECTS THE BODILY TEGRY OF PERSONS AND PROHIBS GENAL MUTILATN FOR ALL WOMEN, CLUDG WOMEN AG 18 AND OLR AND GIRLS YOUNGER THAN 18. PERPETRATORS ARE SUBJECT TO A PRISON SENTENCE OF 10 TO 20 YEARS, OR IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE IF THE OFFENR HABUALLY RRI OUT THIS PRACTICE FOR MERCIAL PURPOS OR IF THE PRACTICE ATH. ACRDG TO TIMAT OM UN WOMEN, HOWEVER, THE PREVALENCE OF FGM/C AMONG GIRLS AND WOMEN AGED 15 TO 49 YEARS WAS 2 PERCENT. OTHER FORMS OF GENR-BASED VLENCE: WIDOWS WERE SOMETIM FORCIBLY MARRIED TO ONE OF THEIR CEASED HBAND’S RELATIV, PECIALLY RAL MUNI, TO SECURE NTUED E OF PROPERTY LEFT BY THE CEASED HBAND, CLUDG THE MARAL HOME. THE ERNMENT CLUD PROVISNS THE LAW OUTLAWG THE EVICTN OF A SPOE OM THE MARAL HOME BY ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE OTHER SPOE. THE PRACTICE OF WIDOW R, BY WHICH WIDOWS WERE SUBJECT TO CERTA TRIALS SUCH AS BATHG PUBLIC OR MOVEMENT RTRICTNS, WAS PREVALENT RAL MUNI OF THE WT REGN. ANECDOTAL REPORTS SUGGTED BREAST IRONG, THE PROCS OF FORCIBLY FLATTG EMERGG BREASTS PUBCENT GIRLS, NTUED TO EXIST SOME RAL MUNI, BUT VERY SMALL NUMBERS. SEXUAL HARASSMENT: THE LAW PROHIBS SEXUAL HARASSMENT. OFFENRS MAY BE SUBJECT TO IMPRISONMENT FOR PERDS OF SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR AND A FE. IF THE SURVIVOR IS A CHILD, THE PENALTY MAY BE ONE TO THREE YEARS PRISON. IF THE OFFENR IS THE SURVIVOR’S TEACHER, THE PENALTY MAY CREASE TO THREE TO FIVE YEARS PRISON. DPE THE LEGAL PROVISNS, SEXUAL HARASSMENT WAS WISPREAD BUT THERE WERE NO KNOWN REPORTS DURG THE YEAR THAT ANYONE WAS FED OR IMPRISONED FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT, PART DUE TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT SURVIVORS’ RELUCTANCE TO FILE OFFICIAL PLATS DUE TO FEAR OF REPRISAL AND OR STIGMATIZATN. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF ERCED ABORTN OR VOLUNTARY STERILIZATN ON THE PART OF ERNMENT THORI. IN MOST PARTS OF THE UNTRY, PRENATAL CLICS MONORED AND ASSISTED WOMEN TO GO SAFELY THROUGH PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH AND PROVID PARENTS WH THE BT CHANCE OF HAVG A HEALTHY FANT. WOMEN ALSO HAD ACCS TO EMERGENCY RE, CLUDG SERVIC FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PLITNS ARISG OM ABORTN REGARDLS OF WHETHER ABORTN WAS LEGALLY PERMTED. THE MISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFERED UNSELG SERVIC TO WOMEN DURG PRENATAL VISS, PROMOTG THE NCEPT OF RPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND ENURAGG UPL TO E NTRACEPTN TO SPACE THE TIMG OF THEIR CHILDREN. MANY WOMEN, HOWEVER, LACKED THE MEANS TO MANAGE THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, AND SOCIETAL PRSUR NTUED TO RERCE TABOOS ON DISCSG REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH WH CERTA MUNI. WOMEN’S PENNCE ON RECEIVG THEIR HBANDS’ NSENT NTUED TO BE A BARRIER NTRACEPTIVE CISNS. ALSO, WOMEN SOME RAL AREAS OR OM POOR FAI RECEIVED LIMED SKILLED HEALTH-RE ATTENDANCE AT BIRTH, PART DUE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HEALTH FACILI. THE ERNMENT DID NOT READILY PROVI EMERGENCY NTRACEPTN FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VLENCE. IN THE PAST, THE UN POPULATN FUND PROVID A K WH EMERGENCY NTRACEPTN TO SOME CLIL S AS PART OF CLIL RE FOR GENR-BASED VLENCE SURVIVORS. IN JULY, THE ERNMENT PASSED A LAW REGULATG MEDILLY ASSISTED PROCREATN (MAP). THE PRACTICE HAD BEEN ONGOG FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE UNTRY BUT HAD NO LEGAL AMEWORK. THE LAW RTRICTS MAP TO MARRIED UPL OR THOSE ABLE TO PROVE A MON-LAW MARRIAGE. TO BENEF OM MAP, A PERSON MT BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD, AND NOT OLR THAN 55 FOR WOMEN. THE LAW ALSO AFFIRMS THE LEGALY OF NSENSUAL THIRD-PARTY SURROGACY THE SE OF EGG OR SPERM DONATN, WHILE EXPRSLY FORBIDDG THE TRA OR SALE OF REPRODUCTIVE MATERIAL. THE PENALTY FOR SUCH AN ACTN WOULD RANGE OM A NOMAL FE TO IMPRISONMENT. MENSTATN AND LIMED ACCS TO SANARY PRODUCTS AFFECTED GIRLS’ ACCS TO TN. PREGNANCY AND MOTHERHOOD OFTEN IMPED ADOLCENT GIRLS’ ACCS TO TN, BUT THERE WERE NO STUDI ASSSG THE MAGNU OF THE PROBLEM. AS A MEASURE TO ENURAGE PREGNANT GIRLS TO REMA SCHOOL, NALOVA LYONGA, THE MISTER OF SENDARY EDUTN, MAY ISSUED A RELEASE ALLOWG NFIRMED PREGNANT STUNTS TO NTUE WH SCHOOL ACTIVI UNTIL THE 26TH WEEK OF PREGNANCY, AFTER WHICH SHE MAY REQUT TO BE PLACED ON MATERNY LEAVE. DISCRIMATN: THE NSTUTN PROVIS WOMEN AND MEN THE SAME LEGAL STAT AND RIGHTS. THE ERNMENT, HOWEVER, OFTEN DID NOT ENFORCE THE LAW. ALTHOUGH LOL ERNMENT OFFICIALS CLAIMED WOMEN HAD ACCS TO LAND THEIR NSTUENCI, THE OVERALL SOCCULTURAL PRACTICE OF NYG WOMEN THE RIGHT TO OWN LAND, PECIALLY THROUGH HERANCE, WAS PREVALENT MOST REGNS. THE ERNMENT DID NOT IMPLEMENT ANY OFFICIAL DISCRIMATORY POLICY AGAST WOMEN SUCH AREAS AS DIVORCE, CHILD CTODY, EMPLOYMENT, CRED, PAY, OWNG OR MANAGG BS OR PROPERTY, TN, THE JUDICIAL PROCS, OR HOG. THERE WERE LEGAL RTRICTNS TO WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT SOME OCCUPATNS AND DTRI (SEE SECTN 7.D.). WH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, FEWER WOMEN OCCUPIED POSNS OF RPONSIBILY. SYSTEMIC RACIAL OR ETHNIC VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION THE NSTUTN STAT S PREAMBLE THAT THE STATE SHALL PROTECT “MORI AND PRERVE THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENO POPULATNS ACRDANCE WH THE LAW,” BUT DO NOT MENTN SPECIFIC TEGORI THAT QUALIFY AS MORI OR INDIGENO POPULATNS. THE LAWS AND REGULATNS ON CENTRALIZATN AND ELECTNS ALSO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF MORI BY REQUIRG THAT LISTS OF NDIDAT REFLECT THE SOCLOGIL LANDSPE OF NSTUENCI, OR THAT THE OFFICE OF PRINT OF A REGNAL UNCIL OR CY MAYOR BE HELD BY A NATIVE OF THE NSTUENCY. THE ERNMENT MA EFFORTS TO ENFORCE THE PROVISNS, BUT SOME FORMS OF DISCRIMATN AND VLENCE PERSISTED. WHILE THERE WERE NO RELIABLE REPORTS OF ERNMENTAL OR SOCIETAL VLENCE OR DISCRIMATN AGAST MEMBERS OF RACIAL, ETHNIC, OR NATNAL MORI, THERE WERE REPORTS OF VLENCE ALONG ETHNIC L DURG THE YEAR, ALTHOUGH WAS NOT ALWAYS CLEAR WHETHER ETHNICY WAS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE VLENCE. DURG THE NIGHT OF JUNE 25, THE VILLAGE OF BAKJAW, MANYU DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN, AT LEAST 32 PERSONS DIED AN TERMUNAL CLASH BETWEEN THE OLI AND MSAGA EKOL MUNI. IT BEGAN AT THE HOME OF A LOL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, AKA MART, WHERE SEVERAL PERSONS WERE GATHERED FOR THE FUNERAL OF HIS LATE BROTHER. UNINTIFIED ASSAILANTS STORMED THE HOME AND SET FIRE TO THE HOE AND THE FF NTAG THE REMAS OF THE BROTHER. RINTS REPORTEDLY INTIFIED THE ASSAILANTS AS MEMBERS OF THE OLI MUNY, ACPANIED BY ARMED MERCENARI. IN A JUNE 27 STATEMENT, THE MORATOR OF THE PRBYTERIAN CHURCH CAMEROON REFERRED TO THE CINT AS A FURTHER VELOPMENT AN TERETHNIC NFLICT THAT BEGAN APRIL AS A LAND DISPUTE BETWEEN THE OLI AND MSAGA EKOL MUNI. THE OLI MUNY, THE MORATOR RELLED, ATTACKED AND KILLED MEMBERS OF THE MSAGA EKOL MUNY ON THEIR FARMS ON APRIL 29, AND THE MSAGA EKOL MUNY RETALIATED. THE OLI MUNY THEN SECURED THE BACKUP OF HIRED ARMED MEN AND LNCHED AN ATTACK ON THE MSAGA EKOL MUNY, BURNG SEVERAL HO AND KILLG MORE THAN 30 PERSONS. IN A JUNE 8 STATEMENT, MISTRY OF DEFENSE SPOKPERSON CYRILLE ATONFACK GUEMO SUGGTED THAT THE ATTACK WAS PERPETRATED BY SEPARATISTS. ON JULY 24, ARMED DIVIDUALS ABDUCTED FOUR MEMBERS OF THE FULANI MUNY OM THEIR HOM WUM, MENTCHUM DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. THE NEXT DAY, RINTS DISVERED THE RPS OF THE ABDUCTE. AS A RULT, SOME FULANI MEN ON JULY 26 REPORTEDLY LNCHED AN OFFENSIVE TO AVENGE THE ATHS, LEAVG SEVERAL WOUND. WHILE SOME SOURC ATTRIBUTED THE KILLGS TO SEPARATISTS, OTHERS SAID THE CINT WAS A FURTHER VELOPMENT THE PROTRACTED FARMER/HERR NFLICT THIS MUNY. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TAKG AS BASIS THE CRERIA FOR INTIFYG INDIGENO POPULATNS NTAED THE INTERNATNAL LABOR ORGANIZATN CONVENTN 169 AND THE REPORT OF THE AIN COMMISSN’S WORKG GROUP ON INDIGENO POPULATNS/COMMUNI, THE GROUPS THAT MAY BE NSIRED INDIGENO THE UNTRY ARE THE MBORORO AND THE BAKA. AN TIMATED 50,000 TO 100,000 BAKA, CLUDG BAKOLA AND BAGYELI, RID PRIMARILY (AND WERE THE EARLIT KNOWN HABANTS OF) THE FORTED AREAS OF THE SOUTH AND EAST REGNS. THE ERNMENT DID NOT EFFECTIVELY PROTECT THE CIVIL OR POLIL RIGHTS OF EHER GROUP. LOGGG PANI NTUED TO STROY INDIGENO PERSONS’ NATURALLY FORTED LAND WHOUT PENSATN. OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS OFTEN TREATED THE BAKA AS FERR AND SOMETIM SUBJECTED THEM TO UNFAIR AND EXPLOATIVE LABOR PRACTIC. THE ERNMENT NTUED LONG-STANDG EFFORTS TO PROVI BIRTH CERTIFIT AND NATNAL INTY RDS TO BAKA. NOHELS, MOST BAKA DID NOT HAVE THE DOCUMENTS, AND EFFORTS TO REACH THEM WERE IMPED BY THE DIFFICULTY REACHG HOM EP THE FORT. IN DECEMBER, THE NATNAL ASSEMBLY PASSED LEGISLATN EXEMPTG THE BAKA OM THE MIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR ARY SERVICE, A REQUIREMENT WHICH HERETOFORE PREVENTED BAKA OM SERVG THE ARMED FORC. THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS OM NGOS THAT THE MBORORO, NOMADIC PASTORALISTS LIVG MOSTLY THE NORTH, EAST, ADAMAWA, AND NORTHWT REGNS, NTUED TO BE SUBJECT TO HARASSMENT, SOMETIM WH THE PLICY OF ADMISTRATIVE OR JUDICIAL THORI. THE MBORORO SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATN (BOSCUDA) DITED THAT THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED THE MBORORO MUNY. ACRDG TO THE ASSOCIATN PROGRAM ORDATOR, THE MBORORO ADOPTED A NTRAL POSN WHEN THE CRISIS STARTED AND NSEQUENTLY FACE REGULAR ATTACKS BY SEPARATISTS FOR NOT SUPPORTG PENNCE. FARMERS REPORTEDLY TARGETED THE MBORORO, STEALG THEIR TTLE, PECIALLY DONGA AND MANTUNG DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. BOSCUDA’S PROGRAM ORDATOR SAID THAT AT LEAST 812 MBORORO HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY THE CRISIS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AS OF APRIL 20. AMONG THEM, 192 HAD BEEN KILLED, 127 KIDNAPPED, 266 HO BURNED, 2,256 TTLE SEIZED OR KILLED, AND 184.74 LN CFA ANCS ($300,000) SPENT RANSOM PAYMENTS. CHILDREN BIRTH REGISTRATN: CHILDREN RIVE CIZENSHIP THROUGH THEIR PARENTS, BUT NOT THROUGH BIRTH THE UNTRY’S TERRORY. THE RPONSIBILY TO REGISTER A CHILD’S BIRTH FALLS UPON PARENTS. BIRTH REGISTRATN WAS PROVID ON A NONDISCRIMATORY BASIS, BUT MANY BIRTHS WENT UNREGISTERED BEE CHILDREN WERE NOT ALWAYS BORN HEALTH FACILI. ALSO, MANY PARENTS FACED PROBLEMS REACHG LOL ERNMENT OFFIC. A DIAGNOSTIC STUDY AND THE PLEMENTARY EVALUATN OF THE CIVIL STAT SYSTEM NDUCTED 2016 REVEALED THAT THE LOW LEVEL OF BIRTH REGISTRATN WAS DUE TO A MULTU OF FACTORS, CLUDG ADMISTRATIVE OBSTACL LKED, AMONG OTHER THGS, TO THE NONFUNCTNG OF CIVIL STAT CENTERS OR THEIR REMOTENS OM THE POPULATNS. IN ADDN, EXISTG REGULATNS THAT TABLISHED THE EE CLARATN AND REGISTRATN OF BIRTHS WERE NOT RPECTED HEALTH FACILI AND CIVIL REGISTRATN CENTERS. IGNORANCE OF LAWS AND REGULATNS AND THE NEGLECT OF THE POPULATNS ALSO NTRIBUTED TO AQUATE BIRTH REGISTRATN. CHILDREN WHOUT BIRTH CERTIFIT WERE UNABLE TO REGISTER FOR OFFICIAL EXAMATNS TO ENTER SENDARY SCHOOL OR SECURE OTHER LEGALLY REQUIRED INTY DOCUMENTS. OFFIC OF CIVIL AFFAIRS WERE LOTED WH MUNICIPAL UNCILS EACH SUBDIVISN, AND MANY RAL OR REMOTE AREAS, THEY WERE CIVIL STAT CENTERS. IN SOME JURISDICTNS, PARENTS WOULD NEED TO TRAVEL MORE THAN 15 TO FD AN OPERATNAL CIVIL ADMISTRATIVE OFFICE. PARENTS HAVE UNTIL 90 DAYS AFTER A CHILD IS BORN TO REGISTER THE BIRTH. AFTER THAT TIME, A BIRTH MAY ONLY BE REGISTERED BY APPEALG TO THE LOL DISTRICT PROSECUTOR. TO ADJUDITE AND NOTARIZE OFFICIAL BIRTH DOCUMENTS, A FAY WOULD BE EXPECTED TO PAY 15,000 TO 25,000 CFA ANCS ($24-$41) AND FACE BURECRATIC OBSTACL, WHICH MOST FAI OM RAL MUNI WOULD STGGLE TO AFFORD, FORCG MANY PARENTS TO ABANDON THE PROCS EARLY. THE PRINT OF THE URT SETS THE PRICE TO EXECUTE SUMMARY JUDGMENTS, AND THE PRICE FOR THE EXECUTN VARIED BY DIVISN AND REGN. ON APRIL 12, THE ERNMENT DAILY CAMEROON TRIBUNE PUBLISHED AN TERVIEW WH THE MISTER OF CENTRALIZATN AND LOL VELOPMENT, WHO DITED THAT APPROXIMATELY FOUR LN PERSONS THE UNTRY DO NOT HAVE BIRTH CERTIFIT. THE MISTER URGED STAKEHOLRS TO SUPPORT AN OPERATN AIMED AT LARGE-SLE ISSUANCE OF BIRTH CERTIFIT. CG THE NATNAL CIVIL STAT OFFICE (BUNEC) AS S SOURCE OF RMATN, THE PRIVATELY FUND OEIL DU SAHEL NEWSPAPER REPORTED ON AUGT 29 THAT 400,000 CHILDREN THE FAR NORTH REGN MISSED SCHOOL DURG THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR BEE THEY DID NOT HAVE BIRTH CERTIFIT. THE NEWSPAPER FURTHER DITED THAT FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR, BUNEC INTIFIED 1,600,000 CHILDREN ATTENDG SCHOOLS WHOUT BIRTH CERTIFIT. EDUTN: THE LAW PROVIS FOR TUN-EE PULSORY PRIMARY TN UP TO THE AGE OF 12. THE LAW PUNISH PARENTS WH SUFFICIENT MEANS WHO REFE TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO SCHOOL WH A FE. CHILDREN WERE GENERALLY EXPECTED TO PLETE PRIMARY TN AT 12 YEARS OF AGE. SENDARY SCHOOL STUNTS HAD TO PAY TUN AND OTHER FE ADDN TO BUYG UNIFORMS AND BOOKS. THIS RENRED SENDARY TN UNAFFORDABLE FOR MANY CHILDREN. A 2019 UN WOMEN REPORT HIGHLIGHTED GENR DISPARY TN, PARTICULARLY SENDARY TN (SEE ALSO SECTN 6, WOMEN, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS). ACRDG TO THE REPORT, THE LERACY RATE 2019 WAS LOWER FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS (86 PERCENT) THAN FOR MEN AND BOYS (97 PERCENT). DURG THE YEAR, SEPARATISTS ORRED BOYTTS AND ATTACKED SCHOOLS THE SOUTHWT AND NORTHWT REGNS THAT NTUED TO DISPT NORMAL SCHOOL OPERATNS. SEVERAL TEACHERS WERE KILLED OR KIDNAPPED DURG THE YEAR. ON JUNE 17, MEMBERS OF A NONSTATE ARMED GROUP ABDUCTED SUNJO NILE AND NASU NSODZEKA, TWO TEACHERS ON DUTY AT THE KUMBO ERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL, NORTHWT REGN. THE TEACHERS WERE ENURAGG THE RUMPTN OF CLASS AND PROVIDG HOME-BASED REHER URS TO STUNTS PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY. IN A STATEMENT ISSUED ON MAY 13, VIRGIA GEMBA, THE SPECIAL REPRENTATIVE OF THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT, DITED THAT MORE THAN 700,000 CHILDREN WERE OUT OF SCHOOL BEE OF THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.G., OTHER CONFLICT-RELATED ABE). THE BEGNG OF THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR WAS NSTRAED BY THE SECURY THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, WHERE ARMED SEPARATISTS IMPOSED A LOCKDOWN AND PERPETRATED ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS WHO CHALLENGED (ALSO SEE SECTN 6, OTHER SOCIETAL VLENCE OR DISCRIMATN). IN AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED LA NOUVELLE EXPRSN ON JUNE 22, JOSEPH ATEBA ABENA, ON BEHALF OF NGO JOURNALISTS AI FOR DEVELOPMENT, HIGHLIGHTED THE SE OF UNSCHOOLED INDIGENO PEOPL. ACRDG TO THE ARTICLE, THE SCHOOLS WERE ABANDONED AND THE TEACHERS, WHEN THEY EXISTED, WERE NEHER TRAED NOR REMUNERATED BY THE STATE. THE THOR OF THE ARTICLE ASSERTED THAT APART OM THE ISOLATED ACTNS OF THE MISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS, THERE WAS NO CLEAR ERNMENT POLICY THAT ENURAGED THE SCHOOLG OF INDIGENO CHILDREN. MOREOVER, THE TEACHERS AT THE SCHOOLS DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PEDAGOGIL TRAG REGNIZED BY THE UNTRY’S TNAL SYSTEM, AND THEIR REMUNERATN ME OM VOLUNTARY NTRIBUTNS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ANIZATNS, NOT FORMALLY OM THE ERNMENT. ACRDG TO THE ORDATOR OF THE ASSOCIATN FOR THE PROMOTN OF PERSONS WH DISABILI, THE ELRLY AND ORPHANS OF CAMEROON, A HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATN BASED THE NOUN DIVISN OF THE WT REGN, CHILDREN WH SPECIAL NEEDS HAD LIMED ACCS TO TN PARED WH OTHER CHILDREN. MORE OFTEN, HE SAID, PARENTS OF CHILDREN WH DISABILI DID NOT SEND THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. CHILD ABE: THE LAW PROHIBS VAR FORMS OF CHILD ABE, CLUDG BUT NOT LIMED TO ASSLT, CENCY, KIDNAPPG, FORCED LABOR, RAPE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND SUATNS WHERE ONE PARENT REF TO DISCLOSE THE INTY OF THE OTHER PARENT TO THE CHILD. DPE THE LEGAL PROVISNS, CHILD ABE REMAED A PROBLEM. CHILDREN NTUED TO RECEIVE RPORAL PUNISHMENT BOTH WH FAI AND AT SCHOOL. BOKO HARAM NTUED TO ABDUCT CHILDREN FOR E AS CHILD SOLDIERS OR AS SUICI BOMBERS (SEE SECTN 1.G.), AND ADULTS SEXUALLY ASSLTED CHILDREN. TOMORROW’S CHILDREN, AN NGO BASED THE NOUN DIVISN OF THE WT REGN, REPORTED THAT FARMERS EXPLOED IDP WOMEN AND CHILDREN THEIR PLANTATNS, WHERE THEY ABED THEM SEXUALLY. THE ANIZATN ALSO MENTNED THE SE OF A GIRL WHO WAS RAPED BY HER CLASSMAT AT THE BILGUAL ERNMENT SCHOOL KOUTABA DECEMBER 2021. THE RAPISTS WERE REPORTEDLY TENTN AS OF APRIL 20. IN S REPORT DURG THE YEAR ON MONORG DOMTIC VLENCE, THE NGO NOUVEX DROS L’HOMME HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL S OF VLENCE AGAST WOMEN, SOMETIM VOLVG CHILDREN AS VICTIMS. ON MARCH 20, DOUALA, FOR EXAMPLE, A FORMER HOST OF THE TELEVISN SHOW JAMBO ON CANAL 2 INTERNATNAL REPORTEDLY RAPED HIS DGHTER, WHOSE AGE WAS TIMATED AT 14. CANAL 2 REPORTEDLY SPEND HIM OM THE PROGRAM; BY MID-AUGT, THE FATHER HAD NOT BEEN CHARGED WH A CRIME. CHILD, EARLY, AND FORCED MARRIAGE: THE MIMUM LEGAL AGE FOR MARRIAGE IS 18. DPE THE LAW, ACRDG TO UNICEF’S 2018 CHILD MARRIAGE DATA, 31 PERCENT OF WOMEN BETWEEN AG 20 TO 24 WERE MARRIED BEFORE AGE 18 AND 11 PERCENT WERE MARRIED BEFORE AGE 15. EARLY AND FORCED MARRIAG, AS WELL AS ABIVE “TEMPORAL MARRIAG,” WERE MORE PREVALENT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE UNTRY AND SOME PARTS OF THE WT REGN, PECIALLY THE NOUN DIVISN. SEXUAL EXPLOATN OF CHILDREN: THE LAW PROHIBS THE MERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOATN AND THE SALE, OFFERG, OR PROCURG FOR CHILD SEX TRAFFICKG AND PRACTIC RELATED TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. AUTHORI ENFORCED LAWS AGAST CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. THE UNTRY’S LEGAL AMEWORK REQUIR A MONSTRATN OF FORCE, D, OR ERCN TO NSTUTE A CHILD SEX TRAFFICKG OFFENSE AND THEREFORE DO NOT CRIMALIZE ALL FORMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKG. THE LAW DO NOT SET A MIMUM AGE FOR NSENSUAL SEX. ACRDG TO ANECDOTAL REPORTS, TRAFFICKERS EXPLOED CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 18 SEX TRAFFICKG, ALTHOUGH NO STATISTICS WERE AVAILABLE. ANECDOTAL REPORTS SUGGTED THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS HAD NTRIBUTED TO A DRAMATIC CREASE CHILD SEX TRAFFICKG AND CREASED NUMBER OF EARLY PREGNANCI, PECIALLY AREAS WH IDPS. REPORTS SUGGTED THE BONABERI NEIGHBORHOOD DOUALA WAS A HUB FOR THE SEXUAL EXPLOATN OF UNRAGE IDP GIRLS (ALSO SEE SECTN 7.C.). INFANTICI, INCLUDG INFANTICI OF CHILDREN WH DISABILI: ALTHOUGH FANTICI IS ILLEGAL, THERE WERE ISOLATED REPORTS OF ATTEMPTED FANTICIS. THE DAILY LA NOUVELLE EXPRSN REPORTED ON APRIL 14 THAT ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 8, BANEKANE, A LOLY OF N DIVISN, WT REGN, AN IDP NAMED EMMANUELLA (SURNAME UNKNOWN) GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY THAT SHE IMMEDIATELY BURIED ALIVE. NEIGHBORS FOUND THE FANT ALIVE 48 HOURS LATER AND SHED TO A CLIC BAGANGTE FOR APPROPRIATE RE. EMMANUELLA, ALREADY A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, EXPLAED THAT SHE LACKED THE MEANS TO RE FOR THE NEWBORN. DISPLACED CHILDREN: MANY DISPLACED CHILDREN NTUED TO LIVE ON THE STREETS OF URBAN CENTERS, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER WAS CLE BEE OF STRGENT SECURY MEASUR AND A LAW THAT CRIMALIZ VAGRANCY. ACRDG TO TIMAT OF THE INTERNATNAL ORGANIZATN FOR MIGRATN (IOM), THERE WERE 2,170 SEPARATED CHILDREN AND 1,790 UNACPANIED CHILDREN THE FAR NORTH REGN AS OF 2020, CLUDG IDPS, RETURNE, OUT-OF-MP REFUGE, AND OTHER MIGRANTS (SEE ALSO SECTNS 2.E. AND 2.F.). THOANDS OF CHILDREN WERE AFFECTED BY THE HUMANARIAN CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE CHILDREN WERE VULNERABLE TO AB OF THEIR RIGHTS BY ARMED FORC AND NONSTATE ARMED ACTORS ALIKE. IN 2021, ACRDG TO IOM DATA OM AUGT, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 769 UNACPANIED AND 8,320 SEPARATED CHILDREN THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS AMONG THE DISPLACED POPULATN. THE CHILDREN FACED MANY PROBLEMS, CLUDG LIMED ACCS TO SCHOOL, HEALTH RE, PROTECTN, AND RISK OF BEG RECED TO ARMED GROUPS. THE ERNMENT HAD NOT TABLISHED STCTUR TO ENSURE THAT TERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN WERE PROTECTED OM RECMENT BY NONSTATE ARMED GROUPS AND TERRORIST ANIZATNS. ANTISEMITISM THE JEWISH POPULATN WAS VERY SMALL, AND THERE WERE NO KNOWN REPORTS OF ANTISEMIC ACTS. TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S TRAFFICKG PERSONS REPORT. ACTS OF VIOLENCE, CRIMINALIZATION, AND OTHER ABUSES BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, OR SEX CHARACTERISTICS CRIMALIZATN: CONSENSUAL SAME-SEX SEXUAL ACTIVY BETWEEN ADULTS IS ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE WH IMPRISONMENT OM SIX MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS PL A FE. THE ERNMENT ENFORCED THE LAW. WHILE THERE IS NO LAW CRIMALIZG LGBTQI+ INTY, POLICE OFTEN TAED LGBTQI+ DIVIDUALS BASED SOLELY ON THEIR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATN, GENR INTY, OR GENR EXPRSN, CLUDG DIVIDUALS TAED WHO HAD SOUGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE AFTER BEG THE VICTIMS OF VLENT CRIM. VLENCE AGAST LGBTQI+ PERSONS: LGBTQI+ HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATNS SUCH AS THE CAMEROONIAN FOUNDATN FOR AIDS, HUMANY FIRST CAMEROON, ALTERNATIV-CAMEROON, THE NATNAL OBSERVATORY OF THE RIGHTS OF LGBTQI+ PERSONS AND THEIR DEFENRS, COLIBRI, WORKG FOR OUR WELLBEG, AND OTHERS NTUED TO REPORT ARBRARY ARRTS OF LGBTQI+ PERSONS. LGBTQI+ DIVIDUALS NTUED TO FACE SIGNIFINT STIGMA, VLENCE, AND DISCRIMATN OM THEIR FAI, MUNI, AND THE ERNMENT, CLUDG LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.C.). IN A MAY PRS RELEASE, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH DITED THAT SCE MARCH 9, SECURY FORC HAD ARRTED AT LEAST SIX PERSONS AND TAED 11, ALL OF THEM VICTIMS OF GROUP ATTACKS, FOR ALLEGED NSENSUAL SAME-SEX NDUCT AND GENR NONNFORMY. THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH (HRW) RELEASE STATED THAT ON APRIL 10, A CROWD OF APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MEN ARMED WH MACHET, KNIV, STICKS, AND WOON PLANKS, ATTACKED A GROUP OF AT LEAST 10 LGBTQI + PERSONS ATTENDG A PARTY AT A PRIVATE HOME YAOUNDé. A LOL OFFICIAL REPORTEDLY TOOK TWO OF THE VICTIMS TO THE GENDARMERIE FOR PROTECTN OM THE MOB, BUT STEAD THE GENDARM BEAT THE VICTIMS AND ONLY RELEASED THEM AFTER PAYMENT OF 15,000 CFA ANCS ($24). THE OTHER VICTIMS REMAED THE HANDS OF THE VLENT CROWD FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS, WHICH JURED AND ROBBED THEM OF THEIR MONEY AND MOBILE PHON. A HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATN ADVOTG FOR LGBTQI+ PERSONS STATED THAT HAD RERD SEVERAL DOZEN OTHER S OF VLENCE AND ABE AGAST MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQI+ MUNY ACROSS THE UNTRY AS OF AUGT. DURG THE YEAR, THERE WAS A NEW VELOPMENT THE NOVEMBER 2021 SE WHERE A VLENT MOB SEXUALLY ASSLTED, BEAT, AND THREATENED AN TERSEX PERSON WHILE OTHERS FILMED THE ATTACK TWO VIOS WHICH LATER CIRCULATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. A MAN ALLEGEDLY NNECTED TO THE ATTACK WAS ARRTED AND RELEASED 48 HOURS LATER. IN NOVEMBER 2021, AN ANIZATN ADVOTG FOR LGBTQI+ PERSONS FILED A PLAT WH POLICE ON BEHALF OF THE SURVIVOR. POLICE OPENED A H VTIGATN TO THE CINT, LEADG TO THE ARRT OF AND SUBSEQUENT PROSECUTN OF A SPECT. ON FEBARY 25, THE URT OF FIRST STANCE AT THE YAOUNDé ADMISTRATIVE CENTER FOUND THE ACCED GUILTY AND SENTENCED HIM TO SIX-MONTH IMPRISONMENT PL A FE OF 650,000 CFA ANCS ($1,060). DISCRIMATN: THE NSTUTN PROHIBS DISCRIMATN AND PRCRIB EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL CIZENS; HOWEVER, THE LAW DO NOT EXPLICLY PROHIB DISCRIMATN BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATN, GENR INTY OR EXPRSN, OR SEX CHARACTERISTICS; THE LAW DO NOT SPECIFILLY REGNIZE LGBTQI+ DIVIDUALS, UPL, OR THEIR FAI. SECURY FORC SOMETIM HARASSED, TAED, AND ASSLTED PERSONS BASED ON THEIR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATN OR GENR INTY, CLUDG DIVIDUALS FOUND WH NDOMS AND LUBRINTS. FEAR OF EXPOSURE AFFECTED DIVIDUALS’ WILLGNS TO ACCS HIV AND AIDS HEALTH SERVIC. AVAILABILY OF LEGAL GENR REGNN: NO LAWS OR CRE ALLOW DIVIDUALS TO CHANGE THEIR GENR INTY MARKER ON LEGAL AND INTIFYG DOCUMENTS TO BRG THEM TO ALIGNMENT WH THEIR GENR INTY. THE OPTN OF INTIFYG AS “NON-BARY/TERSEX/GENR NON-NFORMG” IS NOT AVAILABLE. INVOLUNTARY OR COERCIVE MEDIL OR PSYCHOLOGIL PRACTIC SPECIFILLY TARGETG LGBTQI+ INDIVIDUALS: THE LAW IS SILENT ON SUCH PRACTIC. ANECDOTAL REPORTS HOWEVER DITED SOME MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQI+ MUNY WERE VICTIMS OF “RRECTIVE RAPE” TO HAVE THEM CHANGE THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN OR GENR INTY. RTRICTNS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRSN, ASSOCIATN, OR PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY: ALTHOUGH THE LAW DO NOT SPECIFILLY PROHIB THEIR REGISTRATN, LGBTQI+ ANIZATNS WERE NOT PERMTED TO OFFICIALLY REGISTER AS SUCH AND TH REGISTERED EHER AS GENERAL HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATNS OR AS HEALTH-FOCED ANIZATNS. MANY LGBTQI+ ANIZATNS REPORTED THAT OPERATG HEALTH PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY HIV PREVENTN AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS, SHIELD THEM OM POTENTIAL HARASSMENT OR SHUTDOWN, RATHER THAN PROMOTG ADVOCY FOR LGBTQI+ PERSONS AS THEIR PRIMARY MISSN. PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PERSONS WH DISABILI ULD NOT ACCS TN, HEALTH SERVIC, PUBLIC BUILDGS, AND TRANSPORTATN ON AN EQUAL BASIS WH OTHERS. A 2010 LAW PROVIS ADDNAL PROTECTN TO PERSONS WH PHYSIL, SENSORY, TELLECTUAL, OR MENTAL DISABILI. THE PROTECTNS UNR THE LAW VER ACCS TO TN AND VOTNAL TRAG, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH SERVIC, RMATN AND CULTURAL ACTIVI, MUNITNS, BUILDGS, SPORTS AND LEISURE, TRANSPORTATN, HOG, AND OTHER STATE SERVIC. SOME ASTCTURE PROJECTS WERE MA ACCSIBLE TO PERSONS WH MOBILY CHALLENG. UNR THE 2010 LAW, PUBLIC TN IS EE FOR PERSONS WH DISABILI AND CHILDREN BORN OF PARENTS WH DISABILI. INIAL VOTNAL TRAG, MEDIL TREATMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT MT BE PROVID “WHEN POSSIBLE,” AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE “WHEN NEED.” THE ERNMENT DID NOT ENFORCE THE PROVISNS EFFECTIVELY. THE ERNMENT DID NOT ALWAYS PROVI RMATN AND MUNITN ON DISABILY NCERNS FORMATS THAT WERE ACCSIBLE TO PERSONS WH DISABILI. THE NSTUTN PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF POLICE OR OTHER ERNMENT OFFICIALS CG, PERPETRATG, OR NDONG VLENCE AGAST PERSONS WH DISABILI DURG THE YEAR. PERSONS WH DISABILI FACED DISCRIMATN EMPLOYMENT AND OCCUPATN (SEE SECTN 7.D.). MANY CHILDREN WH DISABILI ATTEND SCHOOL WH PEERS WHOUT DISABILI. THE ERNMENT TRODUCED CLIVE TN MANY SCHOOLS AND REVIEWED THE CURRICULUM OF TEACHER TRAG LLEG TO CLU TRAG CLIVE TN SKILLS. OTHER CHILDREN WH DISABILI NTUED TO ATTEND SEPARATE SCHOOLS, SUCH AS THE BULU BLD CENTER BUEA AND THE YAOUNDé SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR HEARG-IMPAIRED CHILDREN. NGOS, CLUDG NOUN DIVISN-BASED ASSOCIATN FOR THE PROMOTN OF PERSONS WH DISABILI, THE ELRLY AND ORPHANS OF CAMEROON, HOWEVER, DITED THAT PARENTS OF CHILDREN BORN WH DISABILI SELDOM SENT THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. ON JUNE 27, AT APPROXIMATELY 6 A.M., POLICE ARRTED MORE THAN TWENTY VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS WHILE THEY WERE PEACEFULLY MONSTRATG ONT OF THE PRIME MISTER’S OFFICE YAOUNDé. THOSE ARRTED WERE TAED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AT THE CENTRAL POLICE STATN NUMBER 1. WHILE THE ALLEGED TENTN OF THE MONSTRATN WAS TO NOUNCE POOR LIVG NDNS AND THE DIFFICULT ACCS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR PERSONS WH DISABILI, THORI STATED THE MONSTRATN WAS ILLEGAL. A SPOKPERSON FOR THE PROTTERS REPORTEDLY TOLD RAD EQUOXE REPORTERS THAT THREE VISUALLY IMPAIRED JOURNALISTS WERE SELECTED FOR THE LAST DIRECT RECMENT TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT NO ONE WAS EVENTUALLY NFIRMED AFTER THE TERVIEWS. HE CED THE 2010 LAW ON THE PROMOTN OF PERSONS WH DISABILI, WHICH STIPULAT THAT FOR EQUAL QUALIFITNS, THE PERSON WH A DISABILY HAS PRRY. THEY SAID THEY BELIEVED THEY WERE ALSO MARGALIZED DURG RECMENT PRIVATE PANI, EVEN THOUGH MANY OF THE APPLINTS ARE UNIVERSY GRADUAT. PERSONS WH DISABILI DID NOT RECEIVE AQUATE PROTECTN NFLICT ZON. THE ERNMENT TOOK NO ACTN TO LIM THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WH DISABILI TO PARTICIPATE CIVIC LIFE; HOWEVER, ACCS NSTRATS MAY HAVE LIMED PARTICIPATN TO CERTA ACTIVI, SUCH AS VOTG ELECTNS. OTHER SOCIETAL VIOLENCE OR DISCRIMINATION SEVERAL S OF VIGILANTE ACTN AND ARSON ATTACKS WERE REPORTED VOLVG ARBRARY KILLGS AND STCTN OF BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY. AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 A.M. ON AUGT 22, UNINTIFIED DIVIDUALS SET FIRE TO A DORMORY AT PRBYTERIAN SENDARY SCHOOL (PSS), MANKON BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN, DAYS BEFORE THE AUGT 24 REOPENG FOR FAL-YEAR STUNTS. SCHOOL THORI TOLD MEDIA THAT THE ARSONISTS FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS THE AIR BEFORE LEAVG THE MP. THE CINT WAS THE THIRD ARSON ATTACK ON PSS MANKON SCE THE BEGNG OF THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE ATTACK FOLLOWED AN AUGT 13 VIRAL MUNIQUé BY SEPARATISTS WHO ANNOUNCED THAT CLASS WOULD ONLY RUME ON OCTOBER 4 AND THREATENED REPRISALS AGAST ANY SCHOOLS THAT ATTEMPTED TO REOPEN EARLIER. THE SEPARATISTS EXPRSED THEIR OPPOSN TO THE RUMPTN OF CLASS STATE-OWNED SCHOOLS AND CLARED PRIVATE, NOMATNAL, AND MUNY-N SCHOOLS ULD REOPEN, PROVID THEY DID NOT E SCHOOL UNIFORMS, SG THE NATNAL ANTHEM, OR TEACH FRENCH. THE ARSON ATTACK ON PSS MANKON TOOK PLACE HOURS AFTER AN AUGT 21 LL BY BISHOPS OF THE BAMENDA ECCLIASTIL PROVCE FOR CLASS TO RUME THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS WHOUT ANY PRENDNS (ALSO SEE SECTN 6, CHILDREN, EDUTN). PERSONS WH HIV OFTEN SUFFERED SOCIAL DISCRIMATN AND WERE ISOLATED OM THEIR FAI AND SOCIETY, PART DUE TO A LACK OF TN ON THE DISEASE. AS THE PREV YEAR, WHILE NO SPECIFIC S OF DISCRIMATN EMPLOYMENT WERE MA PUBLIC, ANECDOTAL REPORTS DITED SOME DISCRIMATN OCCURRED WH RPECT TO HIV STAT, PECIALLY THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SECTN 7. WORKER RIGHTS A. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING THE LAW PROVIS FOR THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS TO FORM AND JO PENNT UNNS, BARGA LLECTIVELY, AND NDUCT STRIK, ALBE WH SIGNIFINT RTRICTNS. THE RIGHT DO NOT APPLY TO FED GROUPS OF WORKERS, CLUDG FENSE AND NATNAL SECURY PERSONNEL, PRISON ADMISTRATN CIVIL SERVANTS, AND JUDICIAL AND LEGAL PERSONNEL. THE LAW ALSO PROHIBS ANTIUNN DISCRIMATN AND REQUIR THE RESTATEMENT OF WORKERS FIRED FOR UNN ACTIVY. STATUTORY LIMATNS AND OTHER PRACTIC SUBSTANTIALLY RTRICTED THE RIGHTS. THE LAW DO NOT PERM THE CREATN OF A UNN THAT CLUS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE-SECTOR WORKERS OR THE CREATN OF A UNN THAT CLUS DIFFERENT, EVEN IF CLOSELY RELATED, SECTORS. THE LAW REQUIR THAT UNNS REGISTER WH THE ERNMENT, HAVE A MIMUM OF 20 MEMBERS, AND FORMALIZE THE UNN BY SUBMTG A NSTUTN AND BYLAWS. FOUNDG MEMBERS MT ALSO HAVE CLEAN POLICE RERDS. THOSE WHO FORM A UNN AND RRY OUT UNN ACTIVI WHOUT REGISTRATN MAY BE FED. UNNS ARE PROHIBED OM RRYG OUT ANY ACTIVY THAT IS NOT RELATED TO THE STUDY, FENSE, VELOPMENT, AND PROTECTN OF THE TERTS OF WORKERS. MORE THAN 100 TRA UNNS AND 12 TRA UNN NFERATNS WERE OPERATN, CLUDG ONE PUBLIC SECTOR NFERATN. TRA UNNS OR ASSOCIATNS OF PUBLIC SERVANTS MAY NOT JO A FOREIGN OCCUPATNAL OR LABOR ANIZATN WHOUT PRR THORIZATN OM THE MISTER OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN, WHO IS RPONSIBLE FOR “SUPERVISG PUBLIC EEDOMS.” THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR LLECTIVE BARGAG BETWEEN WORKERS AND MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS BETWEEN LABOR FERATNS AND BS ASSOCIATNS EACH SECTOR OF THE ENOMY. THE LAW DO NOT OBLIGATE EMPLOYERS TO BARGA. THE LAW DO NOT APPLY TO THE AGRICULTURAL OR RMAL SECTORS, WHICH CLUD MOST OF THE WORKFORCE. LEGAL STRIK OR LOCKOUTS MAY BE LLED ONLY AFTER NCILIATN AND ARBRATN PROCR ARE EXHSTED. WORKERS WHO IGNORE PROCR TO NDUCT A STRIKE MAY BE DISMISSED OR FED. FREE DTRIAL ZON ARE SUBJECT TO LABOR LAWS, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL EXCEPTNS LIMG WORKER RIGHTS. WH EE DTRIAL ZON, EMPLOYERS HAVE THE RIGHTS TO TERME SALARI ACRDG TO PRODUCTIVY, WHICH ULD BYPASS MIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENTS, TO NEGOTIATE WORK NTRACTS EE OF SOME LABOR LAW REGULATNS, AND TO ISSUE WORK PERMS FOR FOREIGN WORKERS WHOUT THE NORMALLY LENGTHY ERNMENT OVERSIGHT PROCS. SOME LAWS TEND TO TARGET TERRORISTS MAY IMPOSE HARSH LEGAL PENALTI ON LEGIMATE TRA UNN ACTIVY. THE ERNMENT AND EMPLOYERS DID NOT EFFECTIVELY ENFORCE THE APPLIBLE LAWS ON EEDOM OF ASSOCIATN AND THE RIGHT TO LLECTIVE BARGAG. PENALTI FOR VLATNS WERE RARELY APPLIED AGAST VLATORS AND WERE NOT MENSURATE WH THOSE FOR PARABLE VLATNS. ADMISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL PROCR WERE EQUENT AND SUBJECT TO LENGTHY LAYS AND APPEALS. COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS ARE BDG UNTIL THREE MONTHS AFTER A PARTY HAS GIVEN NOTICE TO TERMATE. MANY EMPLOYERS NTUED TO E SUBNTRACTORS TO AVOID HIRG WORKERS WH LLECTIVE BARGAG RIGHTS. MAJOR PANI, CLUDG QUASI-STATE-N AND STATE-OPERATED PANI, REPORTEDLY ENGAGED THE PRACTICE, ACRDG TO WORKERS OM ENERGY OF CAMEROON, THE WATER SUPPLY PANY CAMEROUNAISE S EX, CEMENT MANUFACTURER CIMENM, GUNS, ALUMUM SMELTER, CAMEROON OIL TRANSPORTATN COMPANY, EBANK, AND MANY OTHERS. SUBNTRACTG REPORTEDLY VOLVED ALL TEGORI OF PERSONNEL, OM THE LOWT TO SENR LEVELS. AS A RULT, WORKERS WH EQUAL EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE DID NOT ALWAYS ENJOY SIAR PROTECTNS WHEN WORKG FOR THE SAME BS, AND SUBNTRACTED PERSONNEL TYPILLY LACKED A LEGAL BASIS TO FILE PLATS. THE INTERNATNAL TRA UNN CONFERATN CED THE UNTRY’S TERRORISM SUPPRSN LAW, AS LIMG CIVIL LIBERTI THE UNTRY, CLUDG LEGIMATE TRA UNN ACTIVI. THE INTERNATNAL LABOR ORGANIZATN (ILO) NOTED 2021 THAT THE LAW’S FN OF TERRORISM ULD APPLY TO ACTS RELATED TO THE LEGIMATE EXERCISE OF ACTIVI BY TRA UNNS OR EMPLOYERS’ REPRENTATIV. SEVERAL STRIK WERE ANNOUNCED. SOME WERE LLED OFF AFTER SUCCSFUL NEGOTIATNS, OTHERS WERE RRIED OUT PEACEFULLY, AND OTHERS FACED SOME GREE OF REPRSN. AS AN EXAMPLE OF A SUCCSFUL NEGOTIATN, TEACHERS ANIZED UNR THE LLECTIVE “ON A TROP SUPPORTé” (OTS) LNCHED A NATNWI STRIKE ON FEBARY 21 TO MAND BETTER WORKG NDNS AND RTUTN FOR UNPAID WAG AND BENEFS. REPRENTATIV OF OTS REPORTEDLY SUBMTED A STRIKE NOTICE TO THE PRIME MISTER’S OFFICE FEBARY, MANDG PAYMENT OF THEIR OUTSTANDG ALLOWANC AND BON. IN MARCH, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PRINCY ANNOUNCED THE DISBURSEMENT OF EMERGENCY FUNDG TO ADDRS THE OUTSTANDG BALANCE REPORTEDLY OWED TO TEACHERS WHO GRAD OFFICIAL EXAMS FOR AMIC YEARS 2020 AND 2021. OTS THEN LLED ON LLEAGU TO RUME DUTY, SAYG THAT THE LLECTIVE WOULD TST THE GOOD FAH OF THE ERNMENT AND TEMPORARILY SPEND THE STRIKE TO AVERT AN TN CRISIS. THE ERNMENT TOOK SOME ACTNS TO REPRS TRA UNN ACTIVY. IN JUNE, SECURY FORC ARRTED FOUR LEARS OF TRANSPORT SECTOR TRA UNNS AND PLACED THEM ADMISTRATIVE CTODY YAOUNDé. THEY WERE ACCED OF CEMENT TO REBELLN, CRIMAL ASSOCIATN, DISTURBANCE OF PUBLIC ORR, AND NSPIRACY AGAST THE REPUBLIC. THE REPRENTATIV OF B DRIVERS, TERCY DRIVERS, AND OTHER TRANSPORTERS HAD PLANNED A S- ONT OF THE PRIME MISTER’S OFFICE TO NOUNCE THE CREASE THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE SPECTN. IN THEIR STRIKE NOTICE, THEY ALSO URGED THEIR LLEAGU TO MONSTRATE AGAST ILLEGAL TRANSPORTERS WHO PETE WH THEM AND AGAST THE AB OF AGENTS OF THE MISTRY OF TRANSPORT ON THE HIGHWAYS. THE FOUR UNN LEARS WERE RELEASED ON JUNE 14. PRR TO THE ARRT, ON MARCH 23, POLICE OCCUPIED THE PREMIS OF THE LABOR EXCHANGE (BOURSE DU TRAVAIL), LOTED THE MSA DISTRICT OF YAOUNDé, TO PREVENT A PLANNED PRS NFERENCE BY THE TRANSPORT SECTOR UNN LEARS. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO TOOK POLICE ACTN AGAST A PLANNED WORK STOPPAGE. IN A JUNE 29 MUNIQUé, THE PRINT OF THE NATNAL UNN OF PUBLIC SECTOR REARCHERS URGED REARCHERS TO SPEND, EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, ACTIVI SUCH AS SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISN OF STUNTS AND TRAE REARCH STUT UNR THE MISTRY OF SCIENTIFIC REARCH AND INNOVATN. IN RPONSE TO THE STRIKE NOTICE, OFFICIALS PLOYED A STRONG POLICE PRENCE ON JUNE 30, EFFECTIVELY TAKG NTROL OF THE MISTRY OF SCIENTIFIC REARCH AND INNOVATN TO PREVENT ANY LABOR STOPPAGE. THE ERNMENT JTIFIED S ACTN BY CG THE LABOR REQUIREMENT FOR ARBRATN TO PRECE ANY STRIKE ACTN. B. PROHIBITION OF FORCED OR COMPULSORY LABOR THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROHIB ALL FORMS OF FORCED AND PULSORY LABOR. THE LAW PROHIBS SLAVERY, EXPLOATN, AND BT BONDAGE AND VOIDS ANY AGREEMENT WHICH VLENCE WAS ED TO OBTA NSENT. PENALTI FOR VLATNS WERE MENSURATE WH THOSE FOR OTHER SER CRIM. THE LAW ALSO EXTENDS CULPABILY FOR ALL CRIM TO ACPLIC AND RPORATE ENTI. ALTHOUGH THE STATUTORY PENALTI ARE SEVERE, THE ERNMENT DID NOT ENFORCE THE LAW EFFECTIVELY, PART DUE TO A LACK OF PACY TO VTIGATE TRAFFICKG, LABOR SPECTN AND REMEDIATN, AND REGULAR NFLATN OF HUMAN TRAFFICKG AND MIGRANT SMUGGLG. IN ADDN, DUE TO THE LENGTH AND EXPENSE OF CRIMAL TRIALS AND THE LACK OF PROTECTN AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS PARTICIPATG VTIGATNS, MANY VICTIMS OF FORCED OR PULSORY LABOR RORTED TO ACCEPTG OUT-OF-URT SETTLEMENTS. ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF HEREDARY SERVU SOME CHIEFDOMS THE NORTH REGN NTUED. MANY MEMBERS OF THE KIRDI, A PREDOMATELY CHRISTIAN AND ANIMIST ETHNIC GROUP ENSLAVED BY THE MLIM FULANI THE 1800S, NTUED TO WORK FOR TRADNAL FULANI LERS FOR PENSATN ROOM AND BOARD AND GENERALLY LOW AND UNREGULATED WAG, WHILE THEIR CHILDREN WERE EE TO PURSUE SCHOOLG AND WORK OF THEIR CHOOSG. KIRDI WERE ALSO REQUIRED TO PAY LOL CHIEFDOM TAX TO THE FULANI, AS WERE ALL OTHER SUBJECTS. THE BATN OF LOW WAG AND HIGH TAX (ALTHOUGH LEGAL) EFFECTIVELY NSTUTED FORCED LABOR. WHILE TECHNILLY EE TO LEAVE, MANY KIRDI REMAED THE HIERARCHIL AND THORARIAN SYSTEM BEE OF A LACK OF VIABLE ALTERNATIVE OPTNS. UNNFIRMED BUT CREDIBLE REPORTS SUGGTED THAT THE SOUTH AND EAST REGNS, SOME BAKA, CLUDG CHILDREN, NTUED TO BE SUBJECTED TO UNFAIR LABOR PRACTIC BY BANTU FARMERS WHO HIRED THE BAKA AT EXPLOATIVE WAG TO WORK ON THEIR FARMS DURG THE HARVT SEASONS. THE ILO NOTED 2021 THAT UNR THE UNTRY’S LAW, PULSORY PRISON LABOR MAY BE IMPOSED FOR EXPRSG CERTA POLIL VIEWS OR OPPOSG THE TABLISHED POLIL, SOCIAL, OR ENOMIC SYSTEM. ALSO SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S TRAFFICKG PERSONS REPORT. C. PROHIBITION OF CHILD LABOR AND MINIMUM AGE FOR EMPLOYMENT SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S REPORT FDGS ON THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR . D. DISCRIMINATION WITH RESPECT TO EMPLOYMENT AND OCCUPATION THE LAW NTAS NO SPECIFIC PROVISNS AGAST OR PENALTI FOR DISCRIMATN, BUT THE NSTUTN S PREAMBLE PROVIS THAT ALL PERSONS SHALL HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATNS AND THAT EVERY PERSON SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT AND THE OBLIGATN TO WORK. DISCRIMATN EMPLOYMENT AND OCCUPATN ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED WH RPECT TO ETHNICY, HIV STAT, DISABILY, GENR, SEXUAL ORIENTATN, AND GENR INTY, PECIALLY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ALTHOUGH NO STATISTICS WERE AVAILABLE (SEE SECTN 6). THERE WERE LEGAL RTRICTNS ON WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT OCCUPATNS EMED ARDUO OR “MORALLY APPROPRIATE” AND DTRI CLUDG MG, NSTCTN, FACTORI, AND ENERGY. WOMEN MA UP 90 PERCENT OF THE LABOR FORCE THE RMAL SECTOR. MEMBERS OF ETHNIC GROUPS OFTEN GAVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR GROUP BS. PERSONS WH DISABILI REPORTEDLY FOUND DIFFICULT TO SECURE AND ACCS EMPLOYMENT. REFUGE ULD OBTA LEGAL THORIZATN TO WORK THE FORMAL SECTOR; HOWEVER, FORMAL SECTOR EMPLOYERS RARELY HIRED THORIZED REFUGE. THERE WERE NO NFIRMED REPORTS OF DISCRIMATN AGAST TERNAL MIGRANT OR FOREIGN MIGRANT WORKERS, ALTHOUGH UNNFIRMED CREDIBLE REPORTS SUGGTED SUCH WORKERS WERE VULNERABLE TO UNFAIR WORKG NDNS. THE ERNMENT TOOK NO ACTN TO ELIMATE OR PREVENT DISCRIMATN AND KEPT NO RERDS OF CINTS OF DISCRIMATN. IN JUNE, A GROUP OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS STAGED A MONSTRATN ONT OF THE PRIME MISTER’S OFFICE YAOUNDé, TO NOUNCE WHAT THEY NSIRED DISCRIMATN REGARDG THEIR ACCS TO EMPLOYMENT. (SEE SECTN 6, PERSONS WH DISABILI.) E. ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS OF WORK WAGE AND HOUR LAWS: THE MIMUM WAGE ALL SECTORS WAS GREATER THAN THE WORLD BANK’S POVERTY LE. PREMIUM PAY FOR OVERTIME RANGED OM 120 TO 150 PERCENT OF THE HOURLY RATE, PENDG ON THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME AND WHETHER WAS WEEKEND OR LATE-NIGHT OVERTIME. DPE THE MIMUM WAGE LAW, EMPLOYERS OFTEN NEGOTIATED LOWER WAG WH WORKERS, PART DUE TO THE EXTREMELY HIGH RATE OF UNREMPLOYMENT THE UNTRY. SALARI LOWER THAN THE MIMUM WAGE REMAED PREVALENT THE PUBLIC WORKS SECTOR, WHERE MANY POSNS REQUIRED UNSKILLED LABOR, AS WELL AS DOMTIC WORK, WHERE FEMALE REFUGE WERE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO UNFAIR LABOR PRACTIC. THE LAW TABLISH A STANDARD WORKWEEK OF 40 HOURS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONAGRICULTURAL FIRMS AND A TOTAL OF 2,400 HOURS PER YEAR, WH A MAXIMUM LIM OF 48 HOURS PER WEEK AGRICULTURAL AND RELATED ACTIVI. THERE ARE EXCEPTNS FOR GUARDS AND FIREFIGHTERS (56 HOURS PER WEEK), SERVICE-SECTOR STAFF (45 HOURS PER WEEK), AND HOEHOLD AND RTRANT STAFF (54 HOURS PER WEEK). THE LAW MANDAT AT LEAST 24 NSECUTIVE HOURS OF RT WEEKLY. OCCUPATNAL SAFETY AND HEALTH: THE ERNMENT SETS OCCUPATNAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (OSH) STANDARDS THE WORKPLACE. THE MISTER CHARGE OF LABOR TABLISH THE LIST OF OCCUPATNAL DISEAS NSULTATN WH THE NATNAL COMMISSN ON INDTRIAL HYGIENE AND SAFETY. MISTRY SPECTORS AND OCCUPATNAL HEALTH PHYSICIANS ARE RPONSIBLE FOR MONORG OSH STANDARDS. WAGE, HOUR, AND OSH ENFORCEMENT: THE MISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURY IS RPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE MIMUM WAGE, OVERTIME, AND OSH LAWS. THE MISTRY DID NOT ENFORCE THE LAWS AND REGULATNS THE RMAL SECTOR. IN THE FORMAL SECTOR, PENALTI FOR VLATNS OF THE LAW WERE NOT MENSURATE WH THOSE FOR PARABLE CRIM, SUCH AS NEGLIGENCE. PENALTI WERE RARELY APPLIED AGAST VLATORS. UNNFIRMED BUT CREDIBLE REPORTS SUGGT SOME BS DID NOT PROVI HEALTH SERVIC TO THEIR EMPLOYE, AS REQUIRED BY LAW BUT RARELY ENFORCED. THE ERNMENT MORE THAN DOUBLED THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LABOR SPECTORS, BUT THE NUMBER WAS STILL SUFFICIENT, AND THE MISTRY LACKED THE ROURC FOR A PREHENSIVE SPECTN PROGRAM. INFORMAL SECTOR: THE INTERNATNAL LABOR ORGANIZATN REPORTED THAT RMAL WORKERS MA UP 90 PERCENT OF THE LABOR FORCE THE UNTRY, AND THAT MOST WERE WOMEN. SECTORS WHERE RMAL EMPLOYMENT WAS MOST PREVALENT CLUD ARTISANAL MG, PETTY TRA, HUNTG AND FISHG, AND HANDICRAFT. THE RMAL ENOMY WAS MOSTLY UNREGULATED, AND NSEQUENTLY WAS NOT VERED BY WAGE, HOUR, OSH, AND OTHER LABOR LAWS AND SPECTNS. ALTHOUGH SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS ULD VOLUNTARILY NTRIBUTE TO ONE TYPE OF ERNMENT OLD AGE PENSN SCHEME, WORKERS THE RMAL LABOR MARKET WERE LARGELY UNVERED OR ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL PROTECTN SCHEM LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT OR WORKERS PENSATN FOR JURY. REPORTS REPORTS U.S. EMBASSY CAMEROON
INSI THE STGGLE FOR LGBT RIGHTS CAMEROON: 'IT'S NORMAL TO KILL SOMEBODY FOR BEG GAY'
Cameroon secury forc have arrted, threatened or asslted at least 24 people sce Febary a ramped-up crackdown on lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr (LGBT+) people, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednday. * cameroon gay rights *
Based on Human Rights Watch’s monorg and discsns wh Cameroonian nonernmental anizatns, the recent acunts of abe documented here seem to be part of an overall uptick police actn agast lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr (LGBT) people Cameroon. On Febary 24, police officers raid the office of Colibri, an anizatn that provis HIV preventn and treatment servic, Bafosam, Wt Regn, and arrted 13 people on homosexualy charg, cludg 7 Colibri staff.
GAY RIGHTS GROUPS BRAVE ABE, VLENCE TO FIGHT HIV CAMEROON
* cameroon gay rights *
Human Rights Watch has prevly documented that prosecutors Cameroon have troduced medil reports based on forced anal exams to urt, ntributg to nvictns of dividuals charged wh nsensual homosexual nduct.
In Bertoua, on Febary 14, gendarm arrted 12 youth, cludg at least 1 teenager, on homosexualy charg and subjected them to ill-treatment before releasg them the same day. Prosecutors charged them wh homosexual nduct, lack of inty rds, and public cency. “It is not illegal to be homosexual or transgenr, ” said Cameroonian lawyer Alice Nkom.
U.S. EMBASSY CAMEROON LANGUAGE ENGLISH FRANçAIS // MENU EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ALERTS FOR U.S. CIZENS U.S. VISAS U.S. PASSPORTS U.S. CIZEN SERVIC NOTARIALS NEWS & EVENTS JOB OPPORTUNI BS EDUTN & EXCHANG CONTACT SEARCH×SEARCH COUNTRY/AREA AFGHANISTANALBANIAALGERIAANGOLAARGENTAARMENIAATRALIAATRIAAZERBAIJANBAHAMASBAHRABANGLASHBARBADOSBELASBELGIUMBELIZEBENBERMUDABOLIVIABOSNIA & HERZEABOTSWANABRAZILBNEIBULGARIABURKA FASOBURMABUNDICABO VERCAMBODIACAMEROONCANADACENTRAL AIN REPUBLICCHADCHILECHACOLOMBIACOMOROSCOSTA RICôTE D’IVOIRECROATIACUBACURAOCYPSCZECH REPUBLICDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGODENMARKDJIBOUTIDOMIN REPUBLICECUADOREGYPTEL SALVADOREQUATORIAL GUEAERREAESTONIAESWATIETHPIAFIJIFLANDFRANCEGABONGEIAGERMANYGHANAGREECEGUATEMALAGUEAU.S. VIRTUAL PRENCE GUEA-BISSGUYANATHE GAMBIAHAIHONDURASHONG KONG AND MAUHUNGARYICELANDINDIAINDONIAIRANIRAQIRELANDISRAELITALYJAMAIJAPANJORDANKAZAKHSTANKENYAKOREAKOSOVOKUWAKYRGYZ REPUBLICLAOSLATVIALEBANONLOTHOLIBERIALIBYALHUANIALUXEMBOURGMADAGASRMALAWIMALAYSIAMALDIVMALIMALTAMARSHALL ISLANDSMRANIAMRIMEXIMICRONIAMOLDOVAMONGOLIAMONTENEGROMOROCMOZAMBIQUENAMIBIANEPALNETHERLANDSNEW ZEALANDNIRAGUANIGERNIGERIANORTH MACEDONIANORWAYOMANPAKISTANPALPALTIAN TERRORIPANAMAPAPUA NEW GUEAPARAGUAYPEPHILIPPPOLANDPORTUGALQATARREPUBLIC OF CONGOROMANIARSIARWANDASAMOASAN MAROSDI ARABIASENEGALSERBIASIERRA LEONESGAPORESLOVAKIASLOVENIASOMALIASOUTH AISOUTH SUDANSPASRI LANKASUDANSURAMESWENSWZERLANDSYRIAAMERIN INSTUTE TAIWANTAJIKISTANTANZANIATHAILANDTIMOR-LTETOGOTONGATRIDAD & TOBAGOTUNISIATüRKIYETURKMENISTANUGANDAUKRAEUNED ARAB EMIRATUNED KGDOMUGUAYUZBEKISTANVENEZUELAVIETNAMYEMENZAMBIAZIMBABWEU.S. MISSN TO ASEANU.S. MISSN TO THE AIN UNNU.S. MISSN TO THE EUHOLY SEEU.S. MISSN TO THE ICAOU.S. MISSN TO NATOU.S. MISSN TO OSCEU.S. MISSN TO THE OASU.S. MISSN TO THE OECDU.S. MISSN TO THE UN-GENEVAU.S. MISSN TO THE UN-ROMEU.S. MISSN TO THE UNED NATNSU.S. MISSN TO INTERNATNAL ORGANIZATNS VIENNA EMERGENCY INFORMATN FOR AMERIN CIZENSVISA INFORMATN UPDATEPREVNEXT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCELOL EMERGENCY INFORMATN AND CONTACTS ALERTS FOR U.S. CIZENSREAD ALERTS FOR U.S. CIZENS VIS FOR MORE INFORMATN NEW GUIDANCE FOR VISA PICKUPBEGNG MAY 18TH 2022, ALL APPROVED VISAS WILL BE PICKED UP OM DHL YAOUNDé IMMBLE STAMATADAS BUILDG, HYPODROME/ HOTEL -VILLE. THERE IS NO ADDNAL FEE FOR THIS SERVICE. PICK-UP TIMTHE APPLINT MAY PICK UP THEIR VISA AT THEIR NVENIENCE: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 08:00 – 17:00 OR SATURDAY 09:00 – 14:00. CONTACTS FOR QUTNS AND CONCERNSPLEASE NTACT DHL AT +237-233-500-900/01/02/03 OR WH ANY QUTN OR NCERNS. PREVNEXT 2021 COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTIC: CAMEROON NOTICE DOWNLOAD THE PDF VERSN HERE 2021 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT: CAMEROON BY U.S. EMBASSY CAMEROON 108 MINUTE READAPRIL 12, 2022 2021 COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTIC: CAMEROON EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CAMEROON IS A REPUBLIC DOMATED BY A STRONG PRINCY. THE PRINT RETAS POWER OVER THE LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCH OF ERNMENT. THE LG POLIL PARTY, THE CAMEROON PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT, HAS REMAED POWER SCE S CREATN 1985. THE UNTRY HELD LEGISLATIVE ELECTNS FEBARY 2020 THAT WERE MARKED BY IRREGULARI. THE LG PARTY WON 152 OF 180 NATNAL ASSEMBLY SEATS. PL BIYA HAS SERVED AS PRINT SCE 1982. HE WAS LAST REELECTED 2018 AN ELECTN OBSERVERS SCRIBED AS MARKED BY IRREGULARI. THE NATNAL POLICE AND THE NATNAL GENDARMERIE ARE RPONSIBLE FOR TERNAL SECURY. THE NATNAL POLICE REPORT TO THE GENERAL DELEGATN OF NATNAL SECURY AND THE NATNAL GENDARMERIE REPORTS TO THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR DEFENSE CHARGE OF THE GENDARMERIE. THE ARMY SHAR SOME DOMTIC SECURY RPONSIBILI; REPORTS TO THE MISTER LEGATE AT THE PRINCY CHARGE OF FENSE. THE RAPID INTERVENTN BATTALN REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE PRINT. CIVILIAN AND ARY THORI AT TIM DID NOT MATA EFFECTIVE NTROL OVER THE SECURY FORC. THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT MEMBERS OF THE SECURY FORC MTED SOME AB. SIGNIFINT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSU CLUD CREDIBLE REPORTS OF: UNLAWFUL OR ARBRARY KILLGS, CLUDG EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLGS; ENFORCED DISAPPEARANC; TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT BY THE ERNMENT AND NONSTATE ARMED GROUPS; HARSH AND LIFE-THREATENG PRISON NDNS; ARBRARY ARRTS OR TENTN; POLIL PRISONERS OR TAE; SER PROBLEMS WH THE PENNCE OF THE JUDICIARY; ARBRARY OR UNLAWFUL TERFERENCE WH PRIVACY; PUNISHMENT OF FAY MEMBERS FOR OFFENS ALLEGEDLY MTED BY AN DIVIDUAL; SER AB A NFLICT, CLUDG ABDUCTNS AND PHYSIL ABE, BY NONSTATE ARMED GROUPS; SER RTRICTNS ON EEDOM OF EXPRSN, CLUDG VLENCE, THREATS OF VLENCE, OR UNJTIFIED TENTNS OF JOURNALISTS AND CENSORSHIP; SUBSTANTIAL TERFERENCE WH THE RIGHT OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND EEDOM OF ASSOCIATN; SER RTRICTNS ON EEDOM OF MOVEMENT; ABILY OF CIZENS TO CHANGE THEIR ERNMENT PEACEFULLY THROUGH EE AND FAIR ELECTNS; SER AND UNREASONABLE RTRICTNS ON POLIL PARTICIPATN; SER ERNMENT RPTN; LACK OF VTIGATNS AND ACUNTABILY FOR GENR-BASED VLENCE; CRIM VOLVG VLENCE OR THREATS OF VLENCE TARGETG MEMBERS OF ETHNIC GROUPS, CLUDG THE MASSAGA AND OLI MUNI THE SOUTHWT REGN AND HERRS AND FARMERS THE NORTHWT REGN; TRAFFICKG PERSONS; CRIM VOLVG VLENCE OR THREATS OF VLENCE TARGETG LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENR, QUEER, OR TERSEX PERSONS; AND THE EXISTENCE OR E OF LAWS CRIMALIZG SAME-SEX SEXUAL NDUCT BETWEEN ADULTS. ALTHOUGH THE ERNMENT TOOK STEPS TO INTIFY, VTIGATE, PROSECUTE, AND PUNISH OFFICIALS WHO MTED HUMAN RIGHTS AB OR RPTN, DID NOT DO SO SYSTEMATILLY AND RARELY MA PUBLIC THE OUTE OF SUCH PROCR. IMPUNY REMAED A SER PROBLEM. ARMED SEPARATISTS, BOKO HARAM, THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA-WT AI, AND CRIMAL GANGS ALSO MTED SIGNIFINT HUMAN RIGHTS AB, SOME OF WHICH WERE VTIGATED BY THE ERNMENT. SECTN 1. RPECT FOR THE INTEGRY OF THE PERSON A. ARBITRARY DEPRIVATION OF LIFE AND OTHER UNLAWFUL OR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS THERE WERE REPORTS THAT THE ERNMENT OR S AGENTS MTED ARBRARY AND UNLAWFUL KILLGS THROUGH EXCSIVE E OF FORCE THE URSE OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTI. AS THE PREV YEAR, MOST OF THE KILLGS WERE ASSOCIATED WH THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.G., AB INTERNAL CONFLICT). NO SPECIFIC RACIAL OR ETHNIC MUNI WERE DISPROPORTNATELY TARGETED AMONG THE VICTIMS. THERE WERE ALSO CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT ARMED GROUPS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, AS WELL AS BOKO HARAM AND THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA-WT AI (ISIS-WA) THE FAR NORTH REGN, MTED UNLAWFUL KILLGS. THE MISTRY OF DEFENSE, THROUGH THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE CHARGE OF THE NATNAL GENDARMERIE (SED), IS RPONSIBLE FOR VTIGATG WHETHER KILLGS ATTRIBUTED TO FENSE AND SECURY FORC ARE JTIFIABLE. INVTIGATNS NCERNG POLICE-PERPETRATED KILLGS MAY BE NDUCTED BY THE GENERAL DELEGATN OF NATNAL SECURY THROUGH S SPECIAL DIVISN FOR SERVIC CONTROL. IN SOME S, PRELIMARY VTIGATNS ARE ENTSTED TO A MIXED MISSN OF QUIRY, CLUDG CIVILIAN MEMBERS WH RELEVANT PROFSNAL BACKGROUNDS. PROSECUTNS RELATED TO THE MATTERS ARE NDUCTED THROUGH THE MILARY TRIBUNAL. IN A MAY 29 RELEASE, MANLA CENTER INTERNATNAL (MCI) REPORTED THAT FOUR SOLDIERS OF THE 31ST MOTORIZED INFANTRY BATTALN (BIM) OF THE CAMEROONIAN ARMY BASED TCHOLLIRE, NORTH REGN, SHOT AND KILLED SOULEYMANOU BOUBA, AGE 22, ON APRIL 28. ACRDG TO MCI, BOUBA AND TWO OTHER HERRS WERE RETURNG TO CAMEROON WH THEIR ANIMALS OM THE CENTRAL AIN REPUBLIC (CAR) WHEN THEY CROSSED THE BORR AND FOUND THE BIM ABSENT OM THEIR TABLISHED CHECKPOT. WHEN THE SOLDIERS RETURNED TO THEIR POST AND FOUND ANIMALS AND HERRS HAD CROSSED THE CAR BORR TO CAMEROON WHOUT THORIZATN, THEY PURSUED BOUBA AND HIS PANNS, LOTED THEM 30 MUT OM THE BORR, AND OPENED FIRE, REPORTEDLY WHOUT WARNG, KILLG BOUBA. AS OF YEAR’S END, THE SE WAS ONGOG, ALTHOUGH THE FOUR SOLDIERS HAD BEEN RELEASED. NORTHWT GOVERNOR ADOLPHE LELE LAIQUE ANNOUNCED THAT ON APRIL 12, AN ARMED SECSNIST GROUP ATTACKED A VEHICLE RRYG FOUR PRISON OFFICIALS TAKIJA KIKAIKELAKI, A VILLAGE NEAR KUMBO THE NORTHWT REGN. THE ASSAILANTS KILLED THE FOUR OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE: KIGA THEODORE, THE NORTHWT PRISON ADMISTRATN LEGATE; PRISON ADMISTRATOR NANG LEONEL; SENR PRISON GUARD AFUH NELSON; AND AWONO YANNICK, ANOTHER PRISON GUARD AND DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEPARATISTS WHO CLAIMED RPONSIBILY FOR THE ATTACK POSTED A VIO OF THE KILLGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IN THE VIO, THEY ULD BE SEEN BEATG THE FOUR CIVIL SERVANTS WH STICKS AND MACHET BEFORE G THEIR WEAPONS TO EXECUTE THEM. ON SEPTEMBER 6, MUYA SUBDIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN, HEAVILY ARMED DIVIDUALS BELIEVED TO BE SEPARATISTS OPENED FIRED ON A PUBLIC B OM DOUALA, KILLG SIX OCCUPANTS OF THE B: A WOMAN, OBA DILONGA; AND FIVE MEN INTIFIED AS TABI ENOW, ACHIDI ABEL, YANCHO FANCIS NEBA, KEH (NO KNOWN LAST NAME), AND THE DRIVER. BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA NTUED KILLG CIVILIANS, CLUDG MEMBERS OF VIGILANCE MTE, WHICH ARE ANIZED GROUPS OF RINTS OPERATG WH ERNMENT FORC THE FAR NORTH REGN. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA ATTACKED CIVILIANS 288 TIM, KILLG 134 AND WOUNDG 39. BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA ALSO KILLED 34 FENSE AND SECURY PERSONNEL AND WOUND 47. ON MAY 19, TERRORISTS ATTACKED THE LOLY OF TOUROU, KILLG THREE SOLDIERS, CLUDG THE HEAD OF THE HAOUA ARY POST, AND FOUR CIVILIANS, CLUDG WASSA AYOUBA (AGE 45), DANAGAI GUEDJERE (AGE 17), ALI DORONDO (AGE 63), AND ZAWALA MOSKOTA (AGE 5), ACRDG TO THE PRIVATE NEWSPAPER OEIL DU SAHEL. ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 30, AN ATTACK ON HAWA LEFT SEVEN PERSONS AD AND SEVERAL OTHERS WOUND. DURG A JUNE 13 ATTACK, TERRORISTS KILLED THREE CIVILIANS AND STOLE THE FOOD SUPPLI OF RINTS. ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 25-26, TERRORISTS KILLED TWO MEMBERS OF THE JOT MULTILATERAL FORCE AT BOUDOUWA, MAYO SAVA DIVISN. ALTHOUGH THE ERNMENT REPEATEDLY PROMISED TO VTIGATE AB MTED BY SECURY FORC, DID NOT DO SO TRANSPARENTLY OR SYSTEMATILLY. FOLLOWG THE APRIL 2020 RELEASE OF A SUMMARY OF THE FDGS OF AN VTIGATN TO THE FEBARY 2020 KILLG BY SECURY FORC OF AN TIMATED 23 CIVILIANS THE VILLAGE OF NGARBUH, LEGAL PROCEEDGS STARTED AGAST THREE SECURY FORCE MEMBERS, 17 MEMBERS OF A VIGILANCE MTEE, AND ONE FORMER SEPARATIST FIGHTER, DICTED ON MURR CHARG, AT THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL JUNE 2021, AFTER MULTIPLE ADJOURNMENTS. AS OF THE END OF DECEMBER 2021, ONLY THE THREE SECURY FORCE MEMBERS HAD APPEARED BEFORE THE URT, WHILE THE MEMBERS OF THE VIGILANCE MTEE AND THE FORMER SEPARATIST FIGHTER WERE STILL AWAG THEIR URT APPEARANCE. AT YEAR’S END, THE URT HAD NOT ISSUED ANY FAL VERDICT, AND THE SOLDIERS WERE NOT TENTN. B. DISAPPEARANCE AS THE PREV YEAR, THERE WERE REPORTS OF DIVIDUALS HELD MUNIDO BY, OR ON BEHALF OF ERNMENT THORI, TYPILLY FOR BRIEF PERDS OF TIME IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWG ARRT. ON JULY 16, FOR EXAMPLE, ACRDG TO MULTIPLE ACUNTS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMY ALLEGEDLY ARRTED DR. PUNJOM NJEFI YV, THE CHIEF MEDIL OFFICER OF BAFUT DISTRICT HOSPAL, THE NORTHWT REGN. A ARY NTACT REPORTEDLY VED PUNJOM TO A BAFUT ARY BASE. ONCE AT THE ARY BASE, OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY RMED PUNJOM THEY SPECTED HIM OF AIDG SEPARATISTS BY PROVIDG MEDIL ASSISTANCE TO JURED BATANTS. ON HIS WAY BACK OM THE ARY BASE, UNINTIFIED MASKED MEN TAED PUNJOM AND TOOK HIM TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOTN. PUNJOM REPORTEDLY DISVERED SIX DAYS LATER THAT HE WAS AT A RAPID INTERVENTN BATTALN (BIR) MP BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN. BARRISTER AMUNGWA N NTSO NI CLAIMED PUNJOM’S WIFE TOLD HIM THAT SHE DID NOT HEAR OM HER HBAND AGA UNTIL JULY 30 WHEN HE RMED HER THAT HE HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE SED YAOUNDé. THE CAMEROON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSN (CHRC) NFIRMED THE ARRT, ALTHOUGH WH SLIGHTLY DIFFERG TAILS. ACRDG TO THE COMMISSN, PUNJOM WAS ARRTED ON JULY 8 UNR SPICN OF FANCG TERRORISM AND WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE ARY TRIBUNAL FOR THE FIRST TIME ON AUGT 26. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE SED AND AGA TRANSFERRED TO THE YAOUNDé KONNGUI CENTRAL PRISON ON SEPTEMBER 9. THE CHRC RELAYED THAT OFFICIALS OM SED AND THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL STATED THAT PUNJOM HAD NEVER BEEN NIED THE ABILY TO MUNITE WH HIS FAY OR HIS LAWYER. AS OF DECEMBER, THE VTIGATN NTUED, AND VISS TO THE TAEE WERE ALLOWED, SUBJECT TO THORIZATN BY THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSNER, ACRDG TO THE CHRC. ON JANUARY 13, ARMED SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED 10 WORKERS OF THE CAMEROON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATN LIKOMBA BBER TATE PLANTATN TIKO, SOUTHWT REGN, AND SET THEIR TRACTOR ABLAZE. IN A VIO THAT SURFACED ONLE ON JANUARY 15, THE VOIC OF SOME MEN, WHO INTIFIED THEMSELV AS “AMBAZONIA RTORATN FORC,” ULD BE HEARD FORCG THE WORKERS TO APOLOGIZE FOR WORKG ON THE TATE. ONE OF THE MSAG OM THE KIDNAPPERS SUGGTED THAT THE WORKERS WERE KIDNAPPED BEE THEY WERE BEG GUARD BY THE ARY. THE KIDNAPPERS HAND GUNS AND GRENAS TO THE PLANTATN WORKERS AND SAID THEY SHOULD HELP THEM FIGHT THE ARY TIKO. THE WORKERS REMAED PTIVY FOR WEEKS. C. TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN, OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT, AND OTHER RELATED ABUSES ALTHOUGH THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROHIB SUCH PRACTIC, THERE WERE REPORTS THAT SECURY FORCE MEMBERS TORTURED OR OTHERWISE ABED DIVIDUALS. HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATNS DOCUMENTED SEVERAL S WHICH SECURY FORC, AND TRADNAL AND RELIG THORI SEVERELY MISTREATED CIVILIANS, CLUDG CHILDREN, AND OTHERS WHICH ARMED SEPARATISTS MISTREATED CIVILIANS AND MEMBERS OF FENSE FORC. PRISON GUARDS REPORTEDLY ABED TAE DURG THE YEAR. IN S APRIL WHERE DO TORTURE TAKE PLACE AROUND THE WORLD REPORT, NONERNMENTAL ANIZATN (NGO) FREEDOM OM TORTURE REPORTED THAT CIZENS WERE TORTURED FOR THEIR OPPOSN TO THE STATE AS WELL AS FOR THEIR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATN. NGO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTED THAT ON APRIL 10, WHEN TWO LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENR, QUEER, AND TERSEX (LGBTQI+) PERSONS WENT TO THE GENDARM TO REPORT BEG ATTACKED, THE GENDARM ON DUTY BEAT THEM. THE MEN SAID THE GENDARM HELD THEM ON THE FLOOR THREATENED TO KILL THEM, SEARCHED THEIR CELL PHON, ORRED THEM TO REMOVE THEIR SHO AND BEAT THE SOL OF THEIR FEET WH A MACHETE. THEY WERE REPORTEDLY RELEASED THE FOLLOWG DAY AFTER PAYG A BRIBE. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTED THAT ON APRIL 24, SOLDIERS OM THE BIR SEVERELY BEAT AND THEN TAED BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MOTORBIKE RIRS OUTSI OF NDOP, BEE THE SOLDIERS ALLEGEDLY SPECTED THEM OF BEG SEPARATIST FIGHTERS. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SPOKE TO TWO OF THE MOTORBIKE RIRS WHO TOLD THEM THE SOLDIERS FORCED THEM TO UNDRS AND BEAT THEM WH AN IRON HAMMER AND THEIR BELTS AND KICKED THEM. ONE OF THE MOTORBIKE RIRS TIMATED THE BEATG LASTED MORE THAN FOUR HOURS. (ALSO SEE SECTN 1.D., ARBRARY ARRT.) SéBASTIEN EBALA, WHO ALLEGED HE WAS PREVLY TORTURED BY SECURY FORC, TOLD NGO SOS-TORTURE NETWORK THAT COLONEL JOEL ÉE BAMKOUI LLED HIM ON JUNE 22 AND THREATENED TO ARRT AND TORTURE HIM AGA AS RETALIATN FOR EBALA G FORWARD PUBLICLY WH HIS ALLEGATNS OF BEG TORTURED. THERE WERE NEW REPORTS DURG THE YEAR ON S OF TORTURE PREVLY NOT PUBLICLY KNOWN. IN FEBARY, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH RELEASED A REPORT CLAIMG DOCUMENTED 14 S OF PHYSIL ABE OR ASSLT OF DIVIDUALS WHO HAD BEEN PORTED TO THE UNTRY. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ALLEGED 13 OF THE S WERE ABE OR ASSLT BY ERNMENT THORI AND ONE SE OF PHYSIL ABE OR ASSLT BY ARMED SEPARATISTS. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FURTHER REPORTED THAT ERNMENT AGENTS RAPED THREE WOMEN CTODY, SUBJECTED A MAN TO FORCED LABOR, AND SEVERELY BEAT DIVIDUALS RETURNED TO THE UNTRY AFTER PORTATN. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ASSSED SEVERAL OF THE S AMOUNTED TO TORTURE. IN ONE EXAMPLE, A WOMAN TOLD HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SHE WAS TORTURED AND RAPED BY GENDARM OR ARY MEN DURG SIX WEEKS TENTN BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN. SHE SAID THEY ED ROP, TUB, BOOTS, AND BELTS TO H HER OVER ALL HER BODY. SHE SAID THEY TOLD HER SHE STROYED THE IMAGE OF THE UNTRY, SO SHE HAD TO PAY FOR . AS OF SEPTEMBER, THORI HAD NOT OFFICIALLY RELEASED RMATN REGARDG THE OUTE OF THE VTIGATN NCERNG THE TWO SOLDIERS, TWO GENDARME OFFICERS, AND FOUR POLICEMEN, WHO FEBARY 2021 WERE ACCED OF ABG A CIVILIAN THE NORTHWT REGN. IN AUGT 17 MENTS, THE PRINT OF THE CHRC REMARKED THAT UNR TERNATNAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW, THE ERNMENT WAS NOT REQUIRED TO PUBLISH THE FDGS OF THE VTIGATN. HE SUGGTED THAT THORI DID WHAT WAS SENTIAL, CLUDG PUTTG AN END TO THE AB AND PUNISHG THE PERPETRATORS. NGOS DITED ARMED SEPARATISTS EQUENTLY SEXUALLY ASSLTED CIVILIANS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.G., PHYSIL ABE, PUNISHMENT, AND TORTURE). DURG THE EVENG OF JANUARY 31 GAROUA, NORTH REGN, ALI YOSEF, APPROXIMATELY AGE 17, DIED AT THE PALACE OF HIS UNCLE AND TRADNAL LER, THE LAMIDO OF GAROUA, UNR SPIC CIRCUMSTANC, AND HIS BODY WAS QUICKLY BURIED. A PRS RELEASE OM THE LAMIDO’S PALACE DITED THAT YOSEF WAS UNR THE FLUENCE OF DGS AND HAD BEEN TAKEN AT THE REQUT OF HIS MOTHER BY HIS UNCLE. ACRDG TO THE PRS RELEASE, YOSEF DIED OF HEART FAILURE WHILE HE WAS UNRGOG TOXIFITN. ON FEBARY 2, YOSEF’S BODY WAS EXHUMED FOLLOWG STCTNS OM LOL ADMISTRATIVE THORI. THE TOPSY REVEALED SIGNS OF HARSH TREATMENT, AND THORI REFERRED THE SE TO THE ARY URT GAROUA. SPECTS ASSOCIATED WH THE SE CLUD LAMIDO IBRAHIM EL RACHIDE; MAIRAMOU, THE LAMIDO’S ELR SISTER AND MOTHER OF THE CEASED; AND TWO SOLDIERS ASSIGNED TO THE LAMIDO’S PALACE. AS OF THE END OF AUGT, ALL THE SPECTS EXCEPT THE LAMIDO HAD REPORTEDLY BEEN TERROGATED AND OFFICIALLY DICTED. REFERRG TO THE ISSUE, THE PRINT OF THE CHRC DITED ON SEPTEMBER 16 THAT HIS ANIZATN ULD, IF NEED BE, TERVENE AS AMIC CURIAE, TO MAKE THE LAMIDO APPEAR BEFORE THE URT. AS OF DECEMBER, NO FURTHER ACTN HAD BEEN REPORTED. IN A NEWS BROADST ON MAY 24, THE STATE-OWNED CAMEROON RAD AND TELEVISN NATNAL STATN REPORTED THAT THORI DISVERED A QURANIC SCHOOL TRANSFORMED TO A TRADNAL PRISON THE SABONGARI NEIGHBORHOOD OF NGAOUNRE, ADAMAWA REGN. QURANIC MASTERS REPORTEDLY HELD 70 YOUTHS THE PRISON AND SUBJECTED THEM TO PHYSIL ABE DAILY. THEIR PARENTS HAD ENTSTED THEM TO THE QURANIC STCTORS AND BELIEVED THE CHILDREN WERE AT A BOARDG SCHOOL. THE CHILDREN PROVID TTIMONI THAT SUGGTED THEY SPENT ALL THEIR TIME CHAED, HAD NOTHG TO EAT, AND WERE NIED SHOWERS. ADAMAWA GOVERNOR KILDADI TAGUIEKE BOAR, WHO VISED THE LOTN ON MAY 23, ORRED THE RELEASE OF THE CHILDREN, THE IMMEDIATE CLOSURE OF THE PRISON, AS WELL AS AN VTIGATN. AS OF EARLY SEPTEMBER, THERE WERE NO REPORTED VELOPMENTS NCERNG THE VTIGATNS. WHILE VTIGATNS AND PROSECUTNS WERE NDUCTED AND PUNISHMENTS IMPOSED, THE ERNMENT RARELY PUBLICIZED THE OUTE OF THE VAR VTIGATNS, AND IMPUNY REMAED A PROBLEM. CORPTN, ERNMENT RELUCTANCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OFFICIALS’ ERRORS OR MALFEASANCE, AND JUDICIAL OPACY NTRIBUTED TO IMPUNY. THE GENERAL DELEGATN OF NATNAL SECURY AND THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR DEFENSE CHARGE OF THE NATNAL GENDARMERIE VTIGATED SOME AB. THE ERNMENT LEVIED PUNIVE ACTN AGAST NVICTED LOW-LEVEL OFFENRS, AND OTHER VTIGATNS NTUED AS OF YEAR’S END. PRISON AND DETENTN CENTER CONDNS PRISON NDNS WERE HARSH AND LIFE THREATENG DUE TO FOOD SHORTAG, POOR-QUALY FOOD, GROSS OVERCROWDG, PHYSIL ABE, AS WELL AS AQUATE SANARY NDNS AND MEDIL RE. ABIVE PHYSIL CONDNS: OVERCROWDG REMAED A SIGNIFINT PROBLEM MOST PRISONS, PECIALLY MAJOR URBAN CENTERS. THE UNTRY’S PRISONS HAVE THE SIGNED PACY TO ACMODATE 19,415 MAT. RPONDG TO A QUTN ON THE IMPLEMENTATN OF ALTERNATIVE PENALTI PROVID FOR BY THE OF CRIMAL PROCRE, MISTER OF JTICE LRENT ESSO TOLD PARLIAMENTARIANS ON JUNE 27 THAT THE PENENTIARY ADMISTRATN HAD 4,351 PERSONNEL FOR A PRISON POPULATN OF 32,003 MAT. FURTHERMORE, A REPORT RELEASED MAY, THE INTERNATNAL FERATN OF ACTNS BY CHRISTIANS FOR THE ABOLN OF TORTURE (ACAT) LTORAL, DITED THAT THE SIX FUNCTNAL PRISONS THE LTORAL REGN, WH AN TAKE PACY OF 1,550, HAD A TOTAL POPULATN OF APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MAT. THE DOUALA NEW BELL CENTRAL PRISON ALONE, ACRDG TO ACAT, HAD 4,000 TO 4,500 MAT THE FACILY, WHICH HAD A SIGNED PACY OF 800. OFFICIALS HELD PRISONERS DILAPIDATED, LONIAL-ERA PRISONS. AUTHORI OFTEN HELD PRETRIAL TAE AND NVICTED PRISONERS THE SAME CELLS. IN SOME S, WOMEN TAE HAD BETTER NDNS, CLUDG IMPROVED TOILET FACILI AND LS-CROWD LIVG QUARTERS. PRISONS GENERALLY HAD SEPARATE WARDS FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. AUTHORI REPORTED THAT THE SICK WERE HELD SEPARATELY OM THE GENERAL PRISON POPULATN, BUT THIS WAS OFTEN NOT THE SE. THE NDNS TENTN CELLS LOTED AT GENDARMERIE AND POLICE UNS WERE WORSE. THE CELLS WERE GENERALLY VERY NARROW, AND MOST OF THEM LACKED TOILETS AND WDOWS. VIRTUALLY ALL LACKED BEDS. UNLIKE PRISONS THAT HAD SEPARATE WARDS FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, SEPARATN OF TAE BY AGE AND SEX WAS NOT SYSTEMATIC GENDARMERIE AND POLICE UN CELLS. PRISON OFFICIALS MA EXTENSIVE E OF SHACKLG AS A DISCIPLARY MEASURE. ACCS TO FOOD, POTABLE WATER, SANATN, HEATG, VENTILATN, LIGHTG, AND MEDIL RE WAS AQUATE. INMAT THE LTORAL REGN FOR EXAMPLE, ACRDG TO ACAT, RECEIVED ONLY ONE MEAL PER DAY. WHILE THE DAILY PRISON FOOD APPROPRIATN PER MATE CREASED 2018 TO 371 CFA ANCS (APPROX. 60 CENTS), PRISON OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY PLAED THAT ONCE BUDGETED AT THE BEGNG OF THE YEAR, THE FOOD APPROPRIATN WAS SELDOM ADJTED, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE PRISON POPULATN CREASED DURG THE YEAR. INMAT WERE EXPOSED TO MALNUTRN, TUBERCULOSIS, BRONCHIS, MALARIA, HEPATIS, SBI, AND NUMERO OTHER NTAG DISEAS. CHOLERA BROKE OUT THE DOUALA NEW BELL CENTRAL PRISON FEBARY AND RURGED AUGT, KILLG MORE THAN A DOZEN MAT AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, CLUDG A MEMBER OF THE CAMEROON RENAISSANCE MOVEMENT (MRC), ACRDG TO CREDIBLE REPORTS. ANECDOTAL REPORTS SUGGT THAT POOR PRISON NDNS ALSO PROMOTED THE VELOPMENT OF ILLIC PRACTIC SUCH AS THE SALE OF DGS, ENSLAVEMENT OF DIGENT MAT, AS WELL AS MALE AND FEMALE PROSTUTN. PRISONER-ON-PRISONER VLENCE OCCURRED DURG THE YEAR. ADMISTRATN: AUTHORI ALLEGEDLY DID NOT ADDRS ALL CREDIBLE ALLEGATNS OF MISTREATMENT. VISORS FOR ORDARY MAT NEED TO PLY WH REGULATNS, CLUDG VISG DURG APPROVED HOURS, OBSERVG COVID-19 PANMIC-RELATED BARRIER MEASUR, AND LIMG THE NUMBER OF VISORS PER MATE AT THE SAME TIME. FOR POLILLY SENSIVE S, HOWEVER, VISORS OFTEN HAD ADDNAL REQUIREMENTS, CLUDG FORMAL THORIZATN OM THE STATE UNSEL OR THE ERNMENT MISSNER, WHOUT WHICH THEY OFTEN RORTED TO BRIBG PRISON STAFF MEMBERS TO MUNITE WH MAT. INPENNT MONORG: INPENNT MONORG OF PRISONS NTUED TO BE NSTRAED BY COVID-19 PANMIC-RELATED RTRICTNS. DIPLOMATIC MISSNS WERE GRANTED ACCS TO VIS THEIR NATNALS. THE CHRC REGULARLY NDUCTED VISS TO REVIEW PRISON NDNS AS PART OF S STATUTORY MISSN. DURG A MAY 24-26 TRAG WORKSHOP YAOUNDé, THE CHRC LEARSHIP DITED THAT THEY NDUCTED VISS 30 TENTN FACILI THE FAR NORTH, NORTHWT, WT, SOUTHWT AND ADAMAWA REGNS DURG THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. THE ERNMENT DID NOT READILY ALLOW PENNT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ACCS TO REVIEW PRISON NDNS. MOST ANIZATNS ALLEGED THAT ACCS TO PRISONS MOSTLY PEND ON THE RELATNSHIPS BETWEEN THE LEARS OF THE ANIZATNS AND PRISON OFFICIALS. IMPROVEMENTS: THE MISTER OF JTICE APPOTED THE MANAGEMENT TEAM OF THE NEW DOUALA-NGOMA CENTRAL PRISON ON JANUARY 4, AND THE TEAM WAS OFFICIALLY MISSNED ON FEBARY 18. THE PRISON, PLETED 2020 WH AN TAKE PACY OF 1,500 MAT, REPORTEDLY RECEIVED S FIRST MAT ON SEPTEMBER 4, WHEN 200 PRISONERS WERE REPORTEDLY TRANSFERRED TO THE PRISON OM THE DOUALA NEW BELL CENTRAL PRISON. D. ARBITRARY ARREST OR DETENTION THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROHIB ARBRARY ARRT AND TENTN AND PROVI FOR THE RIGHT OF ANY PERSON TO CHALLENGE THE LAWFULNS OF THEIR ARRT OR TENTN URT. THE LAW STAT THAT EXCEPT THE SE OF AN DIVIDUAL DISVERED THE ACT OF MTG A FELONY OR MISMEANOR, THE OFFICIALS MAKG THE ARRT MT DISCLOSE THEIR INTY AND RM THE TAEE OF THE REASON FOR THEIR ARRT. UNR THE LAW, ANY PERSON ILLEGALLY TAED BY POLICE, THE STATE UNSEL, OR THE EXAMG MAGISTRATE MAY, WHEN THE PROCEEDGS END A NO-SE LG OR AN ACQUTAL WHICH HAS BEE FAL, RECEIVE PENSATN IF THE FENDANT PROV THAT THEY HAVE SUFFERED JURY OF A PARTICULARLY SER NATURE BEE OF SUCH TENTN. THE ERNMENT DID NOT ALWAYS RPECT THE PROVISNS. ARRT PROCR AND TREATMENT OF DETAE THE LAW REQUIR POLICE TO OBTA A WARRANT OM A JUDGE OR PROSECUTOR BEFORE MAKG AN ARRT, EXCEPT WHEN A PERSON IS UGHT THE ACT OF MTG A CRIME, BUT POLICE OFTEN DID NOT RPECT THIS REQUIREMENT. THE LAW PROVIS THAT SPECTS BE BROUGHT PROMPTLY BEFORE A JUDGE OR PROSECUTOR, ALTHOUGH THIS OFTEN DID NOT OCCUR, AND CIZENS WERE TAED WHOUT JUDICIAL THORIZATN. POLICE MAY LEGALLY TA A PERSON NNECTN WH A MON CRIME FOR UP TO 48 HOURS, RENEWABLE ONCE. THIS 48-HOUR PERD MAY, WH THE WRTEN APPROVAL OF THE STATE UNSEL, BE EXCEPTNALLY EXTEND TWICE BEFORE CHARG ARE BROUGHT. NEVERTHELS, POLICE AND GENDARM REPORTEDLY OFTEN EXCEED THE TENTN PERDS. THE LAW ALSO PERMS TENTN WHOUT CHARGE FOR RENEWABLE PERDS OF 15 DAYS BY ADMISTRATIVE THORI, SUCH AS ERNORS AND CIVILIAN ERNMENT OFFICIALS SERVG TERRORIAL MAND. THE LAW PROVIS THAT DIVIDUALS ARRTED ON SPICN OF TERRORISM AND CERTA OTHER CRIM MAY BE TAED FOR VTIGATN FOR PERDS OF 15 DAYS, RENEWABLE WHOUT LIMATN WH THORIZATN OF THE PROSECUTOR. THE LAW ALLOWS ACCS TO LEGAL UNSEL AND FAY MEMBERS, ALTHOUGH POLICE EQUENTLY NIED TAE ACCS TO BOTH. THE LAW PROHIBS MUNIDO TENTN, BUT SUCH S OCCURRED, PECIALLY NNECTN WH THE NFLICTS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE LAW PERMS BAIL, ALLOWS CIZENS THE RIGHT TO APPEAL TO RECE JUDG AND PROVIS THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR UNLAWFUL ARRT, BUT THE RIGHTS WERE SELDOM RPECTED. BAIL WAS APPROVED ONLY ON A SELECTIVE BASIS, AND APPLITNS TO RECE JUDG WH NFLICTS OF TERT RARELY SUCCEED, PECIALLY POLILLY SENSIVE S. ARBRARY ARRT: POLICE, GENDARM, THE BIR, AND OTHER ERNMENT THORI REPORTEDLY NTUED TO ARRT AND TA PERSONS ARBRARILY, OFTEN HOLDG THEM FOR PROLONGED PERDS WHOUT CHARGE OR TRIAL AND AT TIM MUNIDO. MULTIPLE CREDIBLE SOURC, CLUDG THE WORKG GROUP ON HUMAN RIGHTS, REPORTED THAT ON APRIL 24, BIR SOLDIERS TAED AND BEAT BETWEEN 30 TO 40 MOTORBIKE RIRS WHO WERE PART OF A FUNERAL NVOY HEADG TO OKU OM NDOP. THE SOLDIERS SPECTED THE BIKE RIRS OF LLABORATG WH SEPARATISTS AND TOOK THEM TO THE BIR BASE NDOP. HRW DITED THAT THE SOLDIERS THEN TRANSFERRED 23 OF THE BIKE RIRS TO THE BIR BASE BAFUT, APPROXIMATELY 27 OM NDOP, WHERE THEY HELD THEM MUNIDO FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS. ON MAY 21, THE 23 TAE WERE REPORTEDLY MOVED TO THE CENTRAL PRISON BAMENDA. THE GROUP APPEARED BEFORE THE BAMENDA MILARY COURT AT LEAST TWICE AS OF JUNE, BUT THEY WERE NOT YET FORMALLY CHARGED AS OF DECEMBER. ON MAY 29, BAFOSAM, WT REGN, ACRDG TO CREDIBLE NGOS AND THE VICTIM HIMSELF, BARRISTER JEAN CL TELLA, A LAWYER WH THE CAMEROON BAR ASSOCIATN, WAS ON HIS WAY TO A MEETG WHEN THREE PERSONS CIVILIAN CLOTH FORCIBLY TOOK HIM TO THE LOL GENDARMERIE. THE OFFICIALS NEHER PRODUCED A WARRANT NOR DISCLOSED THE REASON FOR THE ARRT. WHILE AT THE GENDARMERIE, THE LAWYER REALIZED THAT TWO OF THE DIVIDUALS WERE GENDARM. TELLA DISCLOSED HIS INTY AND ASKED TO BE RMED REGARDG THE REASONS FOR HIS ARRT. TELLA STATED THAT THE GENDARM SUBJECTED HIM TO ACTS OF PHYSIL ABE AND RELEASED HIM THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE TERVENTN OF HIS LLEAGU. TELLA SAID HE FILED A PLAT WH THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE, AND THE PROSECUTOR FORWARD THE FILE TO THE GENDARMERIE LEGN FOR VTIGATNS. AS OF MID-OCTOBER, THE GENDARMERIE HAD REPORTEDLY FORWARD THE FILE TO THE ERNMENT MISSNER AT THE BAFOSAM MILARY TRIBUNAL WHOUT TERROGATG ALL SPECTS. PRETRIAL DETENTN: THE OF CRIMAL PROCRE PROVIS FOR A MAXIMUM OF 18 MONTHS’ TENTN BEFORE TRIAL, BUT MANY TAE WAED YEARS TO APPEAR URT. THE 2014 ANTERRORISM LAW PROVIS THAT A SPECT MAY BE HELD FELY VTIGATIVE TENTN WH THE THORIZATN OF THE PROSECUTOR. ACRDG TO TIMAT BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSN OF THE CAMEROON BAR ASSOCIATN, THERE WERE 18,437 PRETRIAL TAE A TOTAL OF 31,815 MAT AS OF SEPTEMBER. SOME OF THE TAE HAD BEEN AWAG TRIAL FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. IN SOME S, THE LENGTH OF PRETRIAL TENTN EQUALED, AND OTHER S EXCEED, THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR THE ALLEGED CRIME. OTHER FACTORS NTRIBUTG TO LENGTHY PRETRIAL TENTNS CLUD, BUT WERE NOT LIMED TO, SUFFICIENT STAFF, MISMANAGEMENT OF SE FIL, THE FENDANT’S ABILY TO PAY URT FE, AND THE POLICIZATN OF SOME LEGAL PROCEEDGS THAT REQUIRED DIRECTN OM THORI THE CENTRAL ERNMENT. ACRDG TO TIMAT BY ACAT LTORAL, 3,500 OUT OF THE 4,000 TO 4,500 MAT AT THE DOUALA-NEW BELL CENTRAL PRISON WERE PRETRIAL TAE AS OF JANUARY. THE BAR ASSOCIATN TIMAT OM 2021 DITED CLOSE TO 60 PERCENT OF MAT NATNWI WERE PRETRIAL TAE. ON DECEMBER 20, THE SPECIAL CRIMAL COURT FOUND AMADOU VAMOULKé GUILTY OF EMBEZZLEMENT AND SENTENCED HIM TO 12 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT, AFTER MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF TENTN AND MORE THAN 90 HEARGS. THE URT ALSO ORRED HIM TO PAY A 47 LN CFA ANCS ($76,400) FE. VAMOULKé, A FORMER GENERAL MANAGER OF STATE-OWNED CAMEROON RAD TELEVISN, WAS ARRTED AND TAED 2016 ON EMBEZZLEMENT CHARG. THE UN WORKG GROUP ON ARBRARY DETENTN CLARED 2020 THAT “THE VLATNS OF THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCS ARE OF SUCH GRAVY THAT THEY NFER AN ARBRARY CHARACTER ON VAMOULKé’S TENTN.” E. DENIAL OF FAIR PUBLIC TRIAL THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR AN PENNT JUDICIARY, BUT THE ERNMENT DID NOT ALWAYS RPECT JUDICIAL PENNCE AND IMPARTIALY. IN SOME STANC, THE OUT OF TRIALS APPEARED FLUENCED BY THE ERNMENT, PECIALLY POLILLY SENSIVE S. IN OTHER S, THE ERNMENT EXPLICLY STCTED JUDICIAL OFFICIALS AND PROSECUTORS TO TAKE SPECIFIC CISNS. DPE THE JUDICIARY’S PARTIAL PENNCE OM THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, THE PRINT OF THE REPUBLIC APPOTS ALL MEMBERS OF THE BENCH AND LEGAL PARTMENT OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH, CLUDG THE PRINT OF THE SUPREME COURT, AND MAY DISMISS THEM AT WILL. THE PRINT OF THE REPUBLIC ALSO APPOTS THE PRINT AND MEMBERS OF THE CONSTUTNAL COUNCIL FOR A RENEWABLE PERD OF SIX YEARS. MILARY URTS MAY EXERCISE JURISDICTN OVER CIVILIANS A BROAD NUMBER OF OFFENS CLUDG CIVIL UNRT. TRIAL PROCR THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR THE RIGHT TO A FAIR AND PUBLIC TRIAL WHOUT UNDUE LAY, AND THE FENDANT IS PRUMED NOCENT. AUTHORI DID NOT ALWAYS RPECT THE LAW, APPLYG THE PRUMPTN OF NOCENCE A SELECTIVE MANNER. CRIMAL FENDANTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE RMED PROMPTLY AND TAIL OF THE CHARG, WH EE ASSISTANCE OF AN TERPRETER IF NEED; THE QUALY OF TERPRETATN OFTEN WAS POOR. DEFENDANTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PRENT AND TO NSULT WH AN ATTORNEY OF THEIR CHOICE, BUT MANY S THE ERNMENT DID NOT RPECT THIS RIGHT, RTRICTG ACCS TO LAWYERS, OFTEN AT THE PRELIMARY VTIGATN PHASE, PARTICULARLY S OF DIVIDUALS SPECTED OF PLICY WH SEPARATISTS, OR POLIL OPPONENTS. WHEN FENDANTS NNOT PAY FOR THEIR OWN LEGAL FENSE, THE URT MAY APPOT TRIAL UNSEL AT PUBLIC EXPENSE, BUT THE PROCS WAS OFTEN BURNSOME AND LENGTHY, AND THE QUALY OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE WAS POOR. AUTHORI GENERALLY ALLOWED FENDANTS TO QUTN WNS AND TO PRENT WNS AND EVINCE ON THEIR OWN BEHALF BUT DID NOT PEL WNS TO TTIFY. DEFENDANTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO AQUATE TIME AND FACILI TO PREPARE A FENSE AND NOT TO BE PELLED TO TTIFY OR NFS GUILT, BUT THORI OFTEN VLATED THIS RIGHT. HEARSAY AND ANONYMO TTIMONY WERE SOMETIM PERMTED, PECIALLY TERRORISM S. EXAMG MAGISTRAT SOMETIM ATTEMPTED TO DUCE POLIL OPPONENTS AND SPECTED SEPARATISTS TO CRIMATE THEMSELV. DEFENDANTS MAY APPEAL NVICTNS UP TO THE SUPREME COURT AND MAY SUBSEQUENTLY PETN THE PRINT FOR PARDON. COURTS OFTEN LIMED PROCRAL RIGHTS POLILLY SENSIVE S. APPEAL HEARGS THE SE OF 39 MRC TAE YAOUNDé WHO, DECEMBER 2021 AND JANUARY 2022 WERE SENTENCED BY ARY URTS TO UP TO SEVEN YEARS SOME S, EVENTUALLY OPENED AT THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL ON SEPTEMBER 15. THE HEARGS WERE THEN POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 20, AT THE REQUT OF MRC LAWYERS. THERE HAD BEEN TWO PREV ATTEMPTS TO START THE APPEAL TRIALS, NOTABLY ON JULY 22 AND AUGT 17, THE ABSENCE OF THE TAE AND THEIR LAWYERS, WHO WERE UNAWARE. ACRDG TO THE LEAD SE LAWYER, THE APPELLANTS AND THEIR LAWYERS ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THE HEARGS AUGT, WHEN THE URT SENT AN ORR REQUTG THE ADMISTRATOR OF THE YAOUNDé CENTRAL PRISON TO PRODUCE THE APPELLANTS FOR THE JULY 22 HEARG. AS OF AUGT 31, THE ARY TRIBUNAL DOUALA HAD NOT YET FORWARD APPEAL FIL TO THE LTORAL COURT OF APPEAL FOR THOSE SENTENCED DOUALA DECEMBER 2021. FORMER MISTER OF WATER AND ENERGY BASILE ATANGANA KOUNA, WHO WAS TENTN SCE 2018 NNECTN TO THE ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT OF PUBLIC ROURC, WAS RELEASED ON JULY 29, AFTER THE SPECIAL CRIMAL COURT (TCS) DROPPED THE CHARG AGAST HIM. DURG THE HEARG, THE TCS ANNOUNCED THAT THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OF THE TCS, AT THE REQUT OF JTICE MISTER ESSO, HAD REQUTED A STAY OF PROCEEDGS BEE THE ACCED RETURNED THE MONEY TO THE ERNMENT TREASURY. MISTER ESSO REQUTED THE TCS TO DROP THE CHARG FOLLOWG A JULY 25 LETTER OM SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PRINCY FERDAND NGOH NGOH DITG THAT PRINT BIYA HAD THORIZED THE END OF PROCEEDGS AGAST ATANGANA KOUNA. POLIL PRISONERS AND DETAE THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF NEWLY INTIFIED POLIL PRISONERS OR TAE AS OF THE END OF THE YEAR. NETY-FOUR OF THOSE ASSOCIATED WH THE 2020 PROTTS LLED FOR BY THE MRC OPPOSN PARTY, HOWEVER, REMAED TENTN, 29 OF WHOM WERE EXPECTED TO PLETE THEIR IMPRISONMENT TERMS ON SEPTEMBER 30, CLUDG EIGHT YAOUNDé AND MFOU, CENTER REGN, AND 21 DOUALA PROMENT. AMONG THE REMAG TAE WERE MRC TREASURER ALA FOGUE AND MRC SPOKPERSON OLIVIER BIBOU NISSACK. WHILE THE CHARG FOR WHICH THEY WERE NVICTED RELATED TO REBELLN, SURRECTN, AND STABILIZATN OF MOCRATIC STUTNS, THERE WERE CREDIBLE ALLEGATNS THAT THE CHARG WERE MENSURATE WH PARTICIPATG OR ATTEMPTG TO PARTICIPATE PEACEFUL PROTTS. THE UN WORKG GROUP ON ARBRARY DETENTN FOUND NOVEMBER THAT THE PRIVATN OF LIBERTY OF 15 DIVIDUALS TAED THIS SE WAS ARBRARY, CLUDG THE TENTNS OF MRICE KAMTO, ALBERT DZONGANG, ALA FOGUE TEDOM, MICHèLE NDOKI, PL ERIC KGUE, GASTON PHIIPPE ABE ABE, CéLT DJAMEN NDJAMO, SYLVAN MUTHAGA, JEAN DJIKOU MOUAFFI, SAMIRATOU MATCHUENM, LRE KAMEGNE NOUTCHANG, JEAN BONHR TCHOUEFA NOA, MAMADOU YAUBOU, CHRISTIAN FOULEFACK TSAMO, AND OLIVIER BIBOU NISSACK. WHILE MANY OF THE TAE WERE RELEASED, CLUDG KAMTO, OTHERS REMAED TENTN. THE 10 SEPARATIST LEARS, CLUDG JULI SISIKU AY TABE, WHOM THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT 2019, REMAED PRISON, AND SEPTEMBER 2021, THE COURT OF APPEALS NFIRMED THE SENTENCE. IN NOVEMBER, THE UN WORKG GROUP ON ARBRARY DETENTN FOUND THE PRIVATN OF LIBERTY OF THE 10 DIVIDUALS TO BE ARBRARY. CIVIL JUDICIAL PROCR AND REMEDI CIZENS AND ANIZATNS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK CIVIL REMEDI FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AB THROUGH ADMISTRATIVE PROCR OR THE LEGAL SYSTEM; BOTH OPTNS VOLVED LENGTHY LAYS. INDIVIDUALS AND ANIZATNS MAY APPEAL ADVERSE CISNS DOMTILLY OR TO REGNAL HUMAN RIGHTS BODI, BUT THE CISNS OF REGNAL HUMAN RIGHTS BODI ARE NOT BDG. PROPERTY SEIZURE AND RTUTN THERE WERE REPORTS THAT THE ERNMENT EVICTED PERSONS OM THEIR PLAC OF RINCE WHOUT DUE PROCS OR AQUATE RTUTN. ON MAY 14, FOR EXAMPLE, ADMISTRATIVE THORI FORCEFULLY EVICTED SEVERAL DOZEN RINTS OM THE AREA KNOWN AS DIKOLO-BALI DOUALA 1 SUBDIVISN, LTORAL REGN, AS PART OF A PROJECT TO BUILD A FIVE-STAR HOTEL. GOVERNMENT WORKERS AND SECURY BULLDOZED HO AND TEARGASSED PROTTORS. ACRDG TO THE ERNOR OF THE LTORAL REGN, SOME RINTS HAD RECEIVED PENSATN PRR TO THE EVICTN. ON MAY 28, THE ERNOR SET UP A MISSN TO REVIS THE AREA AND SEE WHERE THE NSTCTN WENT BEYOND THE ORIGAL LAND PERIMETER, AND TO REGISTER THE LLATERAL VICTIMS. HE ALSO ORRED THE SPENSN OF ALL WORK ON THE SE PENDG THE REPORT OF THE MISSN. THE REPORT HAD NOT BEEN MA PUBLIC AS OF THE END OF THE YEAR. THE POPULATNS OF KRIBI 3 SUBDIVISN, OCEAN DIVISN OF THE SOUTH REGN, WHO WERE EVICTED BEE OF THE NSTCTN OF THE KRIBI-LOLABE HIGHWAY SCE 2016, HAD REPORTEDLY NOT YET RECEIVED FULL PENSATN AS OF MID-JUNE AT THE TIME OF THE HIGHWAY’S PLETN AND GURATN. ACRDG TO MEDIA REPORTS, THE ERNMENT RELEASED APPROXIMATELY ONE BILLN CFA ANCS ($1.63 LN) FOR PENSATN, BUT THE DIVISNAL PENSATN MISSN DISBURSED ONLY PART OF THE PENSATN. F. ARBITRARY OR UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH PRIVACY, FAMILY, HOME, OR CORRESPONDENCE ALTHOUGH THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROHIB ARBRARY TERFERENCE WH PRIVACY, FAY, HOME, OR RRPONNCE, THE RIGHTS WERE SUBJECT TO RTRICTN THE TERTS OF THE STATE, AND THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS POLICE AND GENDARM ABED THEIR POSNS BY HARASSG CIZENS AND NDUCTG SEARCH WHOUT WARRANTS. THE LAW PERMS A POLICE OFFICER TO ENTER A PRIVATE HOME DURG DAYLIGHT HOURS WHOUT A WARRANT ONLY IF PURSUG A PERSON SPECTED OF OR SEEN MTG A CRIME. POLICE AND GENDARM OFTEN DID NOT PLY WH THIS PROVISN AND ENTERED PRIVATE HOM WHOUT A WARRANT. REPORTS SUGGTED THORI PUNISHED FAY MEMBERS FOR OFFENS ALLEGEDLY MTED BY THEIR RELATIV. IN 2021, THE SELF-STYLED SEPARATIST “GENERAL NO PY” WHO NTROLLED A SEPARATIST BASE KNOWN AS MARE FORC LOTED NDOP, NORTHWT REGN, CLAIMED THAT SOLDIERS STORMED HIS POUND AND ARRTED HIS “UNCL, NTS, YOUNGER BROTHERS, AND SISTERS.” HE GAVE THORI 48 HOURS TO RELEASE THE FAY MEMBERS, THREATENG TO WREAK HAVOC IF ANYTHG BAD HAPPENED TO THEM. WHILE NO PY’S BROTHER AND WERE RELEASED AUGT 2021, HIS MOTHER AND UNCLE REMAED ERNMENT CTODY. AS OF MID-SEPTEMBER, ANTOETTE KONGNSO, NO PY’S FORMER GIRLIEND ARRTED OCTOBER 2021, WAS STILL BEG HELD TENTN SPE A DECEMBER 2021 CISN OF THE SOUTHWT URT OF APPEALS GRANTG HER BAIL. G. CONFLICT-RELATED ABUSES THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS OF AB ASSOCIATED WH THE ONGOG CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, WHERE ERNMENT FORC CLASHED WH SEPARATISTS. THE AB CLUD KILLGS AND ABDUCTNS BY BOTH ERNMENT FORC AND ARMED SEPARATIST GROUPS. FURTHERMORE, THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS OF AB, CLUDG KILLGS AND ABDUCTNS, MTED BY BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA THE FAR NORTH REGN. KILLGS: THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT MEMBERS OF ERNMENT FORC AND SEPARATIST FIGHTERS LIBERATELY KILLED CIVILIANS. ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 9, ERNMENT FORC KILLED AT LEAST TWO UNARMED CIVILIANS DURG A RENNAISSANCE OPERATN BELO, BOYO DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. EYEWNS REPORTEDLY TOLD CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY AI (CHRDA) THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 A.M., YOUNG MEN WERE RETURNG HOME WHEN SOLDIERS TAED THEM. ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN WAS INTIFIED AS GION ALAHFUCHI, A FORMER SEPARATIST FIGHTER WHO WAS PREVLY SHOT THE WAIST AND WAS JT REVERG OM HIS WOUNDS. AT SOME POT DURG THE EVENG, WHEN GION ALAHFUCHI PLAED THAT HE WAS TIRED, THE SOLDIERS ALLEGEDLY SL HIS THROAT WH A KNIFE AND DUMPED HIS RPSE BY THE ROADSI. WNS REPORTEDLY TOLD THE CHRDA THAT THE SOLDIERS LEFT BELO APPROXIMATELY 10 TCKS, AND MOVED TO NJKFU, HEADG TOWARDS A SEPARATIST MP SUATED THE VILLAGE OF ABOH. WHILE AT NJKFU, THEY REMOVED A MAN HIS 50S KNOWN AS “BO LUH” OM BED AND EXECUTED HIM AFTER ACCG HIM OF MAKG CHARMS (OSHI) FOR SEPARATIST FIGHTERS. ON MARCH 2, SPECTED SEPARATISTS AMBHED AND KILLED TIMOTHEE ABOLOA, DIVISNAL OFFICER (DO) OF EKONDO-TI THE SOUTHWT REGN. THE ATTACKERS TONATED AT LEAST FOUR IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE VIC (IEDS) AS THE DO AND SEVERAL OTHERS DROVE TOWARD THE NEIGHBORG TOWN OF BEKORA. ACRDG TO SOUTHWT REGN GOVERNOR BERNARD OKALIA BILAI, AFTER THE TONATN OF THE IEDS, SEPARATISTS OPENED FIRE ON THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. AT LEAST SIX OTHER PERSONS DIED THE ATTACK. ON JUNE 14, ARMED SEPARATISTS AMBHED AND PATED TWO POLICE OFFICERS MBUENE, A VILLAGE SUATED NJIKOM SUBDIVISN, BOYO DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. ACRDG TO REPORTS, THE OPERATN WAS A UNTERATTACK ON THE FENSE FORC, WHO PREVLY NDUCTED AN OPERATN THE VILLAGE SEARCH OF SEPARATIST FIGHTERS. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTED JUNE THAT ARMED SEPARATISTS KILLED AT LEAST SEVEN PERSONS, JURED SIX OTHERS, RAPED A GIRL, AND MTED OTHER GRAVE HUMAN RIGHTS AB ACROSS THE UNTRY’S NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS SCE JANUARY. ABDUCTNS: ARMED SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED SEVERAL PERSONS FOR NOT RPECTG THE SEPARATIST-IMPOSED LOCKDOWN MEASUR. THE SEPARATISTS HELD PERSONS AS HOSTAG, CLUDG PUBLIC OFFICIALS, POLIL LEARS, TEACHERS, SCHOOLCHILDREN, AND RELIG AND TRADNAL LEARS. THERE WERE CREDIBLE ALLEGATNS THAT SEPARATISTS PHYSILLY BTALIZED THEIR VICTIMS. AS OF LATE JUNE, ACRDG TO CREDIBLE NGOS, SEPARATISTS HAD RRIED OUT AT LEAST 80 ABDUCTNS SCE JANUARY. IN APRIL, ARMED SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED 33 ROMAN CATHOLIC SEMARIANS FOR RANSOM BACHUO-NTAI, SOUTHWT REGN. ON APRIL 30, BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN, SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED SENATOR REGA MUNDI, A MEMBER OF THE LG CAMEROONIAN PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT, ALONG WH HER DRIVER. THE DAY AFTER HER ABDUCTN, A VIO CIRCULATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWG SENATOR MUNDI SEATED ON A SOFA ONT OF A “REPUBLIC OF AMBAZONIA” POSTER, READG A PREPARED STATEMENT WHICH SHE REFERRED TO HERSELF AS “AN AMBAZONIAN BY BIRTH AND NATNALY,” AND LLG FOR AMBAZONIAN PENNCE. ACRDG TO REPORTS, DIFFERENT FACTNS OF THE SELF-PROCLAIMED AMBAZONIAN DEFENSE FORC CLAIMED RPONSIBILY, EACH MAKG S OWN MANDS FOR THE SENATOR’S LIBERATN AND AT LEAST ONE GROUP THREATENG TO KILL HER. GOVERNMENT FENSE AND SECURY FORC EVENTUALLY RCUED SENATOR MUNDI ON MAY 30 (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.B., DISAPPEARANCE). AS OF THE END OF AUGT, FON YAKUM KEV SHUMANG II, THE PRINT OF THE NORTHWT HOE OF CHIEFS, WHOM ARMED SEPARATISTS ABDUCTED 2021, REMAED UNACUNTED FOR. SEPARATISTS KIDNAPPED THE TRADNAL LER DECEMBER 2021, OM HIS PALACE AT BAMBALANG, NGOKETUNJIA DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. ALSO, THE WHEREABOUTS OF FIVE OF THE SIX DIVISNAL LEGAT, WHOM ARMED SEPARATISTS ABDUCTED JUNE 2021 NDIAN DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN, REMAED UNKNOWN AS OF DECEMBER. ACRDG TO BISHOPS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BAMENDA PROVCIAL EPISPAL CONFERENCE (BAPEC), ON SEPTEMBER 16, AT LEAST 30 UNINTIFIED DIVIDUALS FIRG TO THE AIR SET FIRE TO ST. MARY’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH NCHANG, MAMFE, SOUTHWT REGN AND ABDUCTED NE PERSONS. THE ABDUCTE CLUD FIVE PRITS, A NUN, ONE TECHIST, AND TWO OTHERS. THE BISHOPS ATTRIBUTED THE ATTACK TO SEPARATISTS WHO REGULARLY ACCED THE CHURCH OF NOT SUPPORTG THE SECSN OF THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THEY SAID SCE THE CRISIS BEGAN 2016, BATANTS HAD CREASGLY THREATENED AND TARGETED CHURCH LEARS AND MISSNARI WHO WERE “FACG A WAVE OF PERSECUTN.” DURG A SEPTEMBER 21 MEDIA TERVIEW, BAPEC LEAR ARCHBISHOP ANDREW NKEA SAID THE KIDNAPPERS HAD ASKED FOR A 66 LN CFA ANCS ($107,000) RANSOM, WHICH THEY LATER RCED TO 33 LN CFA ANCS ($53,700). ALL NE ABDUCTE WERE EVENTUALLY RELEASED ON OCTOBER 22. PHYSIL ABE, PUNISHMENT, AND TORTURE: ACRDG TO CREDIBLE REPORTS, BOTH ERNMENT AGENTS AND SEPARATISTS PHYSILLY ABED CIVILIANS, AS WELL AS PRISONERS THEIR CTODY (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.C.). MULTIPLE ANIZATNS REPORTED THAT BIR SOLDIER EWOME EBOKO JOHN, BETTER KNOWN BY THE PSDONYM “MOJA MOJA,” ARRTED MANY CIVILIANS THE SOUTHWT REGN, ACCED THEM OF BEG SEPARATISTS, AND ADMISTERED HARSH TREATMENT TO SECURE NFSNS. ACRDG TO THE ANIZATNS, MOJA MOJA OFTEN RERD VIOS OF HIS VICTIMS AS HE ABED THEM AND PUBLISHED THE VIOS ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE LLED “MOJA MOJA CHIEF.” ON JUNE 27, ONE OF THE VIOS WENT VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA PICTG EWUME BEATG AN UNARMED CIVILIAN WH A METAL OBJECT AND FORCG HIM TO NFS TO BEG A SEPARATIST FIGHTER. ON JULY 12, A GROUP OF LAWYERS CLUDG AMUNGWA N NTSO NI, TAMFU NGARKA TRISTEL RICHARD, AND EDWARD LYONGA EWULE ADDRSED A NUNCIATN LETTER TO THE ERNMENT MISSNER (PROSECUTOR) OF THE YAOUNDé MILARY TRIBUNAL, PYG THE DIRECTOR OF ARY JTICE AT THE MISTRY OF DEFENSE. WHILE NO VTIGATN WAS REPORTEDLY OPENED BY THE END OF THE YEAR, ONE OF THE LAWYERS WHO SIGNED THE NUNCIATN LETTER SAID SED OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MOJA MOJA WOULD BE VTIGATED. ACRDG TO THE CONDUCT UN FIELD MISSNS ONLE PORTAL, THERE WERE THREE ALLEGATNS DURG THE YEAR OF SEXUAL EXPLOATN REPORTED AGAST THE UNTRY’S PEACEKEEPERS THE UN MULTIDIMENSNAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATN MISSN THE CENTRAL AIN REPUBLIC (MINUSCA). TWO ALLEGATNS NCERNED POLICE OFFICERS AND ONE NCERNED A ARY OFFICER, AND VTIGATNS TO ALL THREE REMAED PENDG AT THE END OF THE YEAR. INVTIGATNS TO TWO ALLEGATNS MINUSCA OM 2021, CLUDG ONE NCERNG ALLEGED CHILD RAPE, AS WERE THREE VTIGATNS TO ALLEGATNS MINUSCA OM 2020. THE UNTRY’S PEACEKEEPERS HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO ALMOST 50 SEXUAL EXPLOATN ALLEGATNS SCE THE UN BEGAN TRACKG SEXUAL EXPLOATN DATA 2015. THE UNTRY, HOWEVER, TOOK SOME STEPS TOWARD GREATER ACUNTABILY. ON 19 SEPARATE OCSNS SCE 2019, THE ERNMENT SENTENCED PERPETRATORS TO PRISON TIME FOLLOWG SUBSTANTIATN OF SEXUAL EXPLOATN ALLEGATNS. DURG THE YEAR, THE ERNMENT PUBLICLY UTNED TROOPS BEG PLOYED TO THE CAR TO PLY FULLY WH STANDARDS OF BEHAVR. CHILD SOLDIERS: THERE WERE NO CREDIBLE ALLEGATNS THAT THE ERNMENT RECED OR ED CHILD SOLDIERS. AS 2021, THERE WERE NO REPORTED ALLEGATNS THAT MEMBERS OF FENSE AND SECURY FORC ED CHILDREN FOR TELLIGENCE GATHERG. SOME MUNY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUPS, KNOWN AS VIGILANCE MTE, MAY HAVE ED AND RECED CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 12 OPERATNS AGAST BOKO HARAM AND ISIS-WA, ALTHOUGH NO SPECIFIC S WERE HIGHLIGHTED, AND NO STATISTICS WERE AVAILABLE (ALSO SEE SECTN 7.C.). AUTHORI NTUED TO ENURAGE THE CREATN OF VIGILANCE MTE. BOKO HARAM NTUED TO REC AND E CHILD SOLDIERS, CLUDG GIRLS, S ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN AND ARY TARGETS. OTHER CONFLICT-RELATED ABE: AS THE PREV YEAR, THERE WERE REPORTS OF VLENCE DIRECTED AGAST HEALTH WORKERS AND STUTNS AND OF THE E OF FIREARMS AROUND HEALTH FACILI BY MEMBERS OF SECURY FORC AND ARMED SEPARATISTS. THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF SUCH CINTS TARGETG SCHOOLS AND CIVILIAN RINTIAL AREAS. ON APRIL 21, KONYE, MEME DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN, MEMBERS OF ERNMENT SECURY FORC REPORTEDLY BURNED SEVERAL HO MATONDO II VILLAGE, POPULARLY KNOWN AS NUMBER 19, FOLLOWG A PURSU OF FLEEG ARMED SEPARATISTS. ON FEBARY 10, ACRDG TO CREDIBLE REPORTS, ARMED SEPARATISTS BURNED DOWN THE DORMORI AND ADMISTRATIVE BLOCKS OF QUEEN OF THE ROSARY COLLEGE OKOYONG, A GIRLS-ONLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH STUTN MANFE, MANYU DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN. IN APRIL, ARMED SEPARATISTS STORMED THE UNIVERSY OF BAMENDA MP THE NORTHWT REGN, SHOOTG THE AIR, G PANIC AMONG STUNTS AND TEACHERS, AND LEADG TO A STAMPE THAT JURED AT LEAST FIVE PERSONS. SEPARATISTS REPORTEDLY ATTACKED THE UNIVERSY FOR NOT OBSERVG A SEPARATIST-IMPOSED LOCKDOWN. TWO MONTHS LATER, ON JULY 8, SEPARATIST FIGHTERS OVERTOOK THE BUILDG OF THE FACULTY OF ENGEERG AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE UNIVERSY OF BUEA, WHERE STUNTS WERE TAKG EXAMS. ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 8, UNINTIFIED MEN BELIEVED TO BE SEPARATIST FIGHTERS BURNED DOWN THE MAMFE DISTRICT HOSPAL, SUATED MANYU DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN. THE ENTIRE STCTURE WAS STROYED, CLUDG ALL HOSPAL EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS. THE HOSPAL WAS THE LARGT HEALTH FACILY MANYU DIVISN, SERVG A POPULATN OF MORE THAN 80,000 DIVIDUALS, ACRDG TO REPORTS. A. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, INCLUDING FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA THE LAW PROVIS FOR EEDOM OF EXPRSN, CLUDG FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRS AND OTHER MEDIA, BUT THE ERNMENT OFTEN RTRICTED THIS RIGHT, EXPLICLY OR IMPLICLY. PRIVATE MEDIA WERE ACTIVE AND EXPRSED A WI SPECTM OF VIEWPOTS. THE MEDIA LANDSPE FACED NSTRATS ON EDORIAL PENNCE, PART DUE TO FEAR OF REPRISAL OM STATE AND NONSTATE ARMED ACTORS, CLUDG SEPARATISTS NNECTED TO THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. FREEDOM OF EXPRSN: GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS NIED DIVIDUALS OR ANIZATNS THE ABILY TO CRICIZE OR EXPRS VIEWS AT ODDS WH ERNMENT POLICY. AUTHORI IMPOSED RTRICTNS ON SYMBOLIC EXPRSNS, SUCH AS FLAGS AND POLIL SYMBOLS. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO NIED CIZENS THE ABILY TO DISCS CERTA MATTERS OF GENERAL TERT, CLUDG EXPRSN OF VIEWS NCERNG POLIL TRANSN. INDIVIDUALS WHO CRICIZED THE ERNMENT PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY OFTEN FACED REPRISALS. ON SEVERAL OCSNS, THE ERNMENT VOKED LAWS REQUIRG PERMS OR ERNMENT NOTIFITN OF PUBLIC PROTTS TO STIFLE DISURSE. AS PART OF PREPARATNS FOR THE MAY 20 NATNAL DAY CELEBRATN, THE MFOUNDI SENR DIVISNAL OFFICER YAOUNDé ON MAY 15 ADDRSED A LETTER TO THE VICE PRINT OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT (SDF), SPELLG OUT NDNS FOR SDF’S PARTICIPATN THE MAY 20 PARA. THE NDNS CLUD, BUT WERE NOT LIMED TO, NOT DISPLAYG ANY IMAGE OTHER THAN THAT OF PRINT BIYA, NOT G TELEPHON DURG THE PARA, AND NOT DISPLAYG SLOGANS, PLARDS, OR TEXTS NOT PREVLY APPROVED BY THE CIVIL BET OF THE PRINCY. VLENCE AND HARASSMENT: POLICE, GENDARM, AND OTHER ERNMENT AGENTS ARRTED, TAED, PHYSILLY ATTACKED, AND TIMIDATED JOURNALISTS. THE STATE’S FAILURE TO VTIGATE OR PROSECUTE ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS CREATED FACTO RTRICTNS. ON MAY 18, BISSONG MACLLA BSONG, A JOURNALIST WHO WORKS FOR KICK442 ONLE MEDIA, WENT TO THE MOLYKO STADIUM BUEA, SOUTHWT REGN, TO VER A MATCH OF THE CAMEROONIAN ELE ONE SOCCER CHAMPNSHIP. BISONG PRODUCED A SNNED PY OF HER ACCREDATN OM HER MOBILE PHONE, BUT NJONJE MBUA, THE DIRECTOR OF THE STADIUM, REFED HER ACCS TO THE STADIUM, SAYG SHE MT PRODUCE THE PHYSIL DOCUMENT. MBUA FORCED THE JOURNALIST AWAY, WH THE ASSISTANCE OF POLICE OFFICERS. IN THE PROCS, TWO OF THE POLICEMEN REPORTEDLY EXERTED PHYSIL VLENCE ON BSONG, CLUDG PUNCHG HER AND DRAGGG HER TO THE GROUND. KICK442 ONLE MEDIA REPORTEDLY FILED A PLAT WHICH WAS PENDG BEFORE THE URT BUEA; THERE WAS NO REPORTED UPDATE ON THE SE AS OF DECEMBER. CENSORSHIP OR CONTENT RTRICTNS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRS AND OTHER MEDIA, CLUDG ONLE MEDIA: BY LAW THE MISTRY OF COMMUNITN REQUIR EDORS TO SUBM TWO SIGNED PI OF THEIR NEWSPAPERS WH TWO HOURS AFTER PUBLITN. JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA OUTLETS REPORTED PRACTICG SELF-CENSORSHIP, PECIALLY IF THE NATNAL COMMUNITN COUNCIL (NCC) HAD SPEND THEM PREVLY. THE MISTRY OF COMMUNITN HAS SUPERVISORY THORY OVER MEDIA AND ACCREDS MEDIA ANIZATNS, WHILE THE NCC IS THE REGULATORY AND NSULTATIVE BODY ON MEDIA MATTERS. AUTHORI THREATENED JOURNALISTS, AND THE NCC SPEND JOURNALISTS AND PUBLISHERS FOR PROGRAMS AND VIEWS EMED AT ODDS WH ERNMENT POLICY. IN SOME S, SANCTNED OUTLETS AND JOURNALISTS REFED TO IMPLEMENT THE NCC’S CISNS, LEADG THE CHAIR OF THE NCC TO REPORTEDLY REQUT SUPPORT OM THE MISTRY OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN TO IMPLEMENT NCC CISNS. ON MARCH 14, BENJAM MBOUTOU, THE SENR DIVISNAL OFFICER (SDO) FOR WOURI DIVISN, LTORAL REGN, SUMMONED CEDRIC NOUFELE, THEN EDOR CHIEF OF EQUOXE TV, TO HIS OFFICE. EQUOXE TV PROMOTER SEVER TCHOUNK ON MARCH 16 REPRENTED NOUFELE AT THE MEETG. TCHOUNK AND THE SDO REPORTEDLY DISCSED MATTERS CLUDG THE NDUCT OF DRO RéPONSE, A PROGRAM THAT HAD NOUFELE AS PRENTER. THE SDO REPORTEDLY PLAED NCERNG THE WAY NOUFELE HANDLED THE PROGRAM, STATG THAT HE OFTEN DID NOT GIVE REPRENTATIV OF THE LG CPDM THE SAME TREATMENT AS OTHER PANELISTS. THEREAFTER, ON MARCH 18, LTORAL GOVERNOR DIDONNE IVAHA DIBOUA SENT A LETTER TO TCHOUNK, ACCG EQUOX TV OF CG PUBLIC UPRISG AGAST REPUBLIN STUTNS. REFERRG TO THE DRO RéPONSE PROGRAM OF FEBARY 27 ON AN ONGOG TEACHERS’ STRIKE, THE ERNOR CLAIMED THAT ONE OF THE PANELISTS LLED ON PARENTS AND STUNTS TO JO THE PROTT. HE THREATENED TO “APPLY THE LAW” IF EQUOX DID NOT CHANGE S REPORTG STYLE. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ERNOR, THE NCC ISSUED A PRS RELEASE DRAWG “THE ATTENTN OF MEDIA PROFSNALS TO THE GRAVY OF THE NSEQUENC THAT MAY ARISE OM THE DISSEMATN OF PROMISG RMATN AGAST REPUBLIN STUTNS, AND FIRMLY REMDG THEIR THORS THAT MEDIA EXCS ARE A THREAT TO PUBLIC ORR.” LIKE THE ERNOR, THE NCC THREATENED TO SANCTN WHAT REFERRED TO AS UNPROFSNAL BEHAVR. ON APRIL 1, THE NCC SPEND SEVER TCHOUNK OM PRACTICG JOURNALISM AND THE FUNCTNS OF PUBLISHER FOR ONE MONTH. THE NCC ALSO BANNED NOUFELE OM PRACTICG JOURNALISM FOR THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME, ACCG HIM OF FAILG TO EXERT NTROL OVER PANELISTS DURG THE FEBARY 27 PROGRAM, TH ALLOWG THE BROADSTG OF NFLICTG MENTS LIKELY TO AMPLIFY A “POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE” SOCIAL MAND. THE DRO RéPONSE PROGRAM RECEIVED A ONE-MONTH SPENSN. LIBEL/SLANR LAWS: LIBEL, SLANR, FAMATN, AND BLASPHEMY ARE TREATED AS CRIMAL OFFENS. THE LAW THORIZ THE ERNMENT TO IATE A CRIMAL SU WHEN THE PRINT OR OTHER SENR ERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE THE ALLEGED VICTIMS. THE LAWS PLACE THE BURN OF PROOF ON THE FENDANT, AND CRIM ARE PUNISHABLE BY PRISON TERMS AND SUBSTANTIAL F. ORDARY CIZENS MAY ALSO FILE LIBEL OR SLANR SUS, BUT THE LAW IS OFTEN APPLIED SELECTIVELY AND GIV PRIVILEG TO SENR ERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WELL-NNECTED DIVIDUALS. THERE WERE NO KNOWN REPORTS OF S PROSECUTED UNR LIBEL, SLANR, OR BLASPHEMY LAWS DURG THE YEAR. NATNAL SECURY: AUTHORI OFTEN CED LAWS AGAST TERRORISM OR PROTECTG NATNAL SECURY TO THREATEN CRICS OF THE ERNMENT. NONERNMENTAL IMPACT: THERE WERE SEVERAL REPORTED S OF ARMED SEPARATIST GROUPS THE SOUTHWT AND NORTHWT REGNS EXPLICLY HIBG THE ENJOYMENT OF EEDOM OF EXPRSN, CLUDG FOR THE PRS. HOWEVER, NCERN FOR PERSONAL SECURY AND RTRICTNS ON MOVEMENTS IMPOSED BY ARMED SEPARATISTS NTRIBUTED TO LIMG EEDOM OF EXPRSN FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRS. ON FEBARY 14, VISN 4, A PROERNMENT TELEVISN CHANNEL, SPEND DIDONNE ESSOMBA AS A NSULTANT FOR S CLUB D’EL WEEKLY PROGRAM. THE CISN ME AFTER DIDONNE ESSOMBA NOUNCED PRINT BIYA’S LONGEVY POWER AND QUTNED HIS PHYSIL PACY TO N THE UNTRY AT AGE 89. HE CLARED THAT WAS THE PRINT’S WIFE, CHANTAL BIYA, WHO WAS LEADG THE UNTRY. FOLLOWG THE PROGRAM, ESSOMBA WAS SUMMONED TO THE TERRORIAL SURVEILLANCE PARTMENT ON FEBARY 16, ACRDG TO THE DAILY LA NOUVELLE EXPRSN OF FEBARY 17. ESSOMBA LATER RETURNED TO VISN 4. SEVERAL ANIZATNS REPORTED THAT ON MAY 26, BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN, AT LEAST SIX HEAVILY ARMED SEPARATISTS ATTEMPTED TO KIDNAP FRERIC TAKANG, THE BBC’S CAMEROON RRPONNT AND ONE OF THE FEW JOURNALISTS STILL WORKG THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE SEPARATISTS TOOK TAKANG’S BELONGGS, CLUDG HIS VEHICLE, PUTER, MICROPHONE, MONEY, AND MOBILE PHONE. CONTACTED BY NGO JOURNALISTS AI FOR DEVELOPMENT, TAKANG SAID SEPARATIST FIGHTERS DO NOT ALLOW JOURNALISTS ACCS TO AREAS UNR THEIR NTROL. OVERALL, ACRDG TO LA NOUVELLE EXPRSN, FEWER THAN 10 JOURNALISTS NTUED WORKG OM BAMENDA. INTER FREEDOM ANECDOTAL REPORTS DITED THAT THE ERNMENT MONORED PRIVATE ONLE MUNITNS WHOUT APPROPRIATE LEGAL THORY. THE REPORTS HOWEVER DID NOT HIGHLIGHT ANY SPECIFIC S. B. FREEDOMS OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATION THE ERNMENT LIMED AND RTRICTED EEDOMS OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATN. GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO VTIGATE OR PROSECUTE ATTACKS ON HUMAN RIGHTS FENRS AND PEACEFUL PROTTERS UNRMED THE ENJOYMENT OF EEDOMS OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND OF ASSOCIATN. FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY ALTHOUGH THE LAW PROVIS FOR EEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY, THE ERNMENT OFTEN RTRICTED THIS RIGHT. THE LAW REQUIR ANIZERS OF PUBLIC MEETGS, MONSTRATNS, AND PROCSNS TO NOTIFY OFFICIALS ADVANCE BUT DO NOT REQUIRE PRR ERNMENT APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC ASSEMBLI, NOR DO THORIZE THE ERNMENT TO SUPPRS PUBLIC ASSEMBLI THAT DID NOT APPROVE ADVANCE. NEVERTHELS, OFFICIALS OFTEN ASSERTED THE LAW IMPLICLY THORIZ THE ERNMENT TO GRANT OR NY PERMISSN FOR PUBLIC ASSEMBLI. THE ERNMENT OFTEN GRANTED PERMS FOR GATHERGS ON A SELECTIVE BASIS AND ED FORCE TO SUPPRS ASSEMBLI FOR WHICH HAD NOT ISSUED PERMS. AUTHORI TYPILLY CED SECURY AND HEALTH-RELATED NCERNS AS THE BASIS FOR CIDG TO BLOCK ASSEMBLI. PROERNMENT GROUPS, HOWEVER, WERE GENERALLY THORIZED TO ANIZE PUBLIC MONSTRATNS. MULTIPLE ANIZATNS REPORTED THAT ON FEBARY 16, DAOUDA ISSA, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER OF DOUALA IV, THE LTORAL REGN, BANNED A THREE-DAY SEMAR HOSTED BY GERMANY’S FRIEDRICH EBERT FOUNDATN. THE PURPOSE OF THE SEMAR WAS TO TRA OFFICIALS OF OPPOSN PARTI, THE MRC AND SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT (SDF), ON POLIL MUNITN. CLOSE TO 80 MEMBERS OF THE MRC AND SDF ALLEGEDLY SHOWED UP FOR THE TRAG SSN WHEN DAOUDA ISSA ENTERED THE VENUE WH GENDARM AND POLICEMEN, TOLD ALL ATTEN TO STEP OUT, AND THREATENED TO ARRT ANYONE WHO CHOSE TO REMA. WHILE THE FRIEDRICH EBERT FOUNDATN WAS THE ANIZER OF THE SEMAR, DAOUDA ISSA REPORTEDLY SERVED MRC AND SDF OFFICIALS WH AN ORR BANNG THE EVENT. THE ORR STATED THAT THE ANIZERS HAD NOT PREVLY RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR THE TRAG, WHICH HE SCRIBED AS “A PUBLIC POLIL MONSTRATN LIKELY TO GENERATE AND DISTURB PUBLIC ORR.” ON JUNE 29, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER FOR YAOUNDé 1, NYANDJI MGBATOU HAROUNA, BANNED A NFERENCE SCHLED TO TAKE PLACE AT THE FRAN HOTEL YAOUNDé ON JUNE 30. EARLIER, ON JUNE 28, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER HAD ISSUED A RECEIPT TO JEAN BOS TALLA, THE PROMOTER OF THE NFERENCE, ACKNOWLEDGG NOTIFITN OF THE EVENT. IN HIS JUNE 29 REVERSAL, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER CED A RISK OF DISPTG SOCIAL ORR. THE NFERENCE DUBBED “LA GRAN PALABRE” WAS EXPECTED TO MOBILIZE ACTORS OM AMIA, CIVIL SOCIETY, MEDIA, AND POLICS TO DISCS POLIL TRANSN. ON THE DAY SCHLED FOR THE NFERENCE, THE DIVISNAL OFFICER ARRIVED AT THE NFERENCE VENUE WH SECURY FORC AND ORRED PARTICIPANTS NOT TO ENTER. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATN THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR THE EEDOM OF ASSOCIATN, BUT THE LAW ALSO LIMS THIS RIGHT. ON THE REMENDATN OF THE SENR DIVISNAL OFFICER, THE MISTRY OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN MAY SPEND THE ACTIVI OF AN ASSOCIATN FOR THREE MONTHS ON GROUNDS THAT THE ASSOCIATN IS DISPTG PUBLIC ORR. THE MISTER MAY ALSO DISSOLVE AN ASSOCIATN IF IS EMED A THREAT TO STATE SECURY. NATNAL ASSOCIATNS MAY ACQUIRE LEGAL STAT BY CLARG THEMSELV WRG TO THE MISTRY, BUT THE MISTRY MT EXPLICLY REGISTER FOREIGN ASSOCIATNS, AND THE PRINT MT ACCRED RELIG GROUPS UPON THE REMENDATN OF THE MISTER OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN. THE LAW IMPOS SUBSTANTIAL F FOR DIVIDUALS WHO FORM AND OPERATE ANY SUCH ASSOCIATN WHOUT MISTRY APPROVAL. THE LAW PROHIBS ANIZATNS THAT ADVOTE A GOAL NTRARY TO THE NSTUTN, LAWS, AND MORALY, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT AIM TO CHALLENGE THE SECURY, TERRORIAL TEGRY, NATNAL UNY, NATNAL TEGRATN, OR REPUBLIN FORM OF THE STATE. CONDNS FOR REGNN OF POLIL PARTI, NGOS, AND ASSOCIATNS WERE PLITED, VOLVED LONG LAYS, AND WERE UNEVENLY ENFORCED (SEE ALSO SECTN 3, POLIL PARTI AND POLIL PARTICIPATN). THIS RULTED ASSOCIATNS OPERATG LEGAL UNCERTATY WH THEIR ACTIVI TOLERATED BUT NOT FORMALLY APPROVED. ALTHOUGH THE ERNMENT DID NOT OFFICIALLY BAN ANY ANIZATNS, NTUED TO RTRICT THE ACTIVI OF SOME NGOS, CLUDG DOCTORS WHOUT BORRS (MSF) AND UN MON AVENIR. ON JULY 15, DOCTORS WHOUT BORRS ANNOUNCED S CISN TO CLOSE PROJECT BAS KUMBA AND MAMFE, THE SOUTHWT REGN, BEGNG ON AUGT 1. THE CISN FOLLOWED THE SPENSN OF MSF ACTIVI BY THORI THREE MONTHS EARLIER, PRR TO WHICH SECURY FORC ARRTED AND TAED FOUR MSF STAFF MEMBERS DECEMBER 2021 AND JANUARY. THE MSF DITED THAT ULD NOT FELY MATA TEAMS WH NO CLEAR VISIBILY OF WHEN MAY RTART ACTIVI, NOR OF THE LIKELIHOOD THAT S STAFF ULD WORK NDNS WHERE THEY WOULD NOT BE PROSECUTED FOR PROVIDG MEDIL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE NEED, CLUDG TO ARMED SEPARATISTS. IN AN AUGT 2021 RELEASE, MISTER OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN PL ATANGA NJI ORRED THE LEARSHIP OF FOREIGN ANIZATNS OPERATG THE UNTRY TO UPDATE THEIR STAT BY SUBMTG SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATN WH A MONTH. ALTHOUGH THE NGO UN MON AVENIR, WHICH REGULARLY NOUNC ERNMENT AB, SUBMTED THE REQUIRED FILE, THE ANIZATN’S LEARSHIP CLAIMED THEIR ACCREDATN HAD NOT BEEN RENEWED AS OF DECEMBER. C. FREEDOM OF RELIGION SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S INTERNATNAL RELIG FREEDOM REPORT. D. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND THE RIGHT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY ALTHOUGH THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR EEDOM OF TERNAL MOVEMENT, FOREIGN TRAVEL, EMIGRATN, AND REPATRIATN, AT TIM THE ERNMENT AND NONSTATE ARMED GROUPS RTRICTED THE EEDOMS. IN-UNTRY MOVEMENT: USG MOR ACTNS AS A PRETEXT, POLICE, GENDARM, AND CTOM OFFICERS OFTEN EXTORTED BRIB AND HARASSED TRAVELERS AT ROADBLOCKS AND CHECKPOTS CI AND ON HIGHWAYS. POLICE EQUENTLY STOPPED TRAVELERS TO CHECK INTIFITN DOCUMENTS, CLUDG NATNAL INTY RDS, PASSPORTS, RINCE PERMS, VEHICLE REGISTRATNS, CTOMS STAT, AND TAX RECEIPTS AS SECURY AND IMMIGRATN NTROL MEASUR. AS THE PREV YEAR, HUMANARIAN ANIZATNS CED DIFFICULTY ACCSG CERTA AREAS AND SOME STANC WERE HARASSED AND NIED PASSAGE BY ERNMENT THORI. UNACPANIED WOMEN WERE EQUENTLY HARASSED WHEN TRAVELG ALONE. AUTHORI RTRICTED MOVEMENTS OF PERSONS AND GOODS, CLUDG MOTORBIK, PECIALLY THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, CG SECURY NCERNS. ARMED SEPARATISTS RTRICTED THE MOVEMENTS OF PERSONS AND GOODS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, SOMETIM A LIBERATE ATTEMPT TO HARASS AND TIMIDATE THE LOL POPULATN. SEPARATISTS OFTEN ED WEEKLY LOCKDOWNS REFERRED TO AS “GHOST TOWNS” TO ENFORCE RTRICTNS ON MOVEMENT, WHICH THE ARMED SEPARATISTS MAND ALL BS, SCHOOLS, AND PLAC OF WORSHIP CLOSE, AND RINTS STAY HOME. VLENT CRIME, CLUDG KIDNAPPG BY TERRORISTS, KIDNAPPG FOR RANSOM, ARMED ROBBERY, ASSLT, AND RJACKG, WERE MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS TO -UNTRY MOVEMENT THE THREE NORTHERN REGNS AS WELL AS PART OF THE EAST REGN. SEPARATISTS NTUED TO ENFORCE A LOCKDOWN OF THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS ON MONDAYS, AS WELL AS FOR OTHER EXTEND PERDS OF TIME. DURG THE LOCKDOWN PERDS, ALL VEHICL WERE BANNED OM THE ROADS THE REGNS. SEPARATISTS WARNED THAT ANY PERSON OR GROUP OF PERSONS NTRAVENG THE BAN WOULD BE PUNISHED. FOREIGN TRAVEL: CIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEAVE THE UNTRY WHOUT ARBRARY RTRICTNS. THE MOVEMENT OF SOME POLIL OPPONENTS AND BTORS, HOWEVER, WAS MONORED, AND THEIR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS WERE OFTEN NFISTED TO NFE THEM TO THE UNTRY. TO OBTA EX PERMS, CIZENS NEED A VALID PASSPORT AND VISA FOR THEIR UNTRY OF STATN. THERE WERE NO CREDIBLE REPORTS OF CIZENSHIP REVOTN ON AN ARBRARY OR DISCRIMATORY BASIS DURG THE YEAR. E. PROTECTION OF REFUGEES THE ERNMENT GENERALLY OPERATED WH THE OFFICE OF THE UNED NATNS HIGH COMMISSNER FOR REFUGE (UNHCR) AND OTHER HUMANARIAN ANIZATNS PROVIDG PROTECTN AND ASSISTANCE TO REFUGE OR ASYLUM SEEKERS, AS WELL AS OTHER PERSONS OF NCERN. THE UNTRY OPERATED AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY. THIS POLICY, HOWEVER, WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED A MANNER THAT ALLOWED REFUGE TO EXERCISE FULLY THEIR RIGHTS TO EEDOM OF MOVEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, AND ACCS TO ERNMENT HEALTH AND TNAL SERVIC, AS STATED VAR LEGAL STMENTS. ACCS TO ASYLUM: THE LAW PROVIS FOR THE GRANTG OF ASYLUM OR REFUGEE STAT, AND THE ERNMENT HAS TABLISHED A SYSTEM OF PROVIDG PROTECTN TO REFUGE, BUT THE IMPLEMENTATN OF THIS SYSTEM WAS WEAK. UNHCR NTUED TO PROVI DOCUMENTATN AND ASSISTANCE TO THE REFUGEE POPULATN, ALTHOUGH LOL THORI DID NOT ALWAYS REGNIZE THE DOCUMENTS AS OFFICIAL, WHICH PREVENTED REFUGE OM TRAVELG AND ENGAGG BS ACTIVI. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT: THE ERNMENT DID NOT PROVI DOCUMENTS A TIMELY MANNER TO REFUGE AND OTHER PERSONS NEED OF PRIMARY DOCUMENTATN, WHICH RTRICTED MOVEMENT. DURG THE YEAR, THORI LNCHED A PROJECT TO LIVER BMETRIC INTY RDS TO REFUGE OM THE CAR. UNHCR AND THE ERNMENT NTUED TO NDUCT BMETRIC VERIFITN AND REGISTRATN OF NIGERIAN REFUGE THE FAR NORTH REGN, CLUDG THOSE NOT LIVG REFUGEE MPS. THE PILOT PHASE OF THE PROJECT WAS LNCHED THE EAST REGN AND WAS EXPECTED TO SECURE 6,000 BMETRICS-BASED INTIFITN DOCUMENTS TO CAR REFUGE LIVG MPS THERE. THE BMETRICS-BASED INTIFITN DOCUMENTS AIMED TO FACILATE THE SOCENOMIC TEGRATN OF THE REFUGE, CLUDG ENABLG HOLRS TO OPEN AND ACCS BANK ACUNTS, AND TO CIRCULATE EELY WH THE UNTRY. EMPLOYMENT: THERE WERE NO CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT THE ERNMENT IMPOSED RTRICTNS ON REFUGE’ ABILY TO WORK AFTER THEIR STAT AS REFUGE WAS OFFICIAL. REFUGE WHOUT ERNMENT-REGNIZED DOCUMENTATN, HOWEVER, EXPERIENCED SIGNIFINT OBSTACL TO EMPLOYMENT. ACCS TO BASIC SERVIC: THERE WERE NO KNOWN S OF DISCRIMATN TN AND HEALTH RE THAT OCCURRED ONCE A REFUGEE’S STAT WAS OFFICIAL. WHILE REFUGE HAD LIMED ACCS TO HEALTH RE, TN, AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNI, THEIR RAL HOST MUNI FACED SIAR PROBLEMS. ACCS TO THE SERVIC VARIED ACRDG TO THE LOTN OF THE REFUGE, WH THOSE MPS RECEIVG MORE SUPPORT THROUGH HUMANARIAN ASSISTANCE, WHILE REFUGE LIVG HOST MUNI FACED MORE DIFFICULTY RECEIVG SERVIC. DURABLE SOLUTNS: THERE WAS NO EVINCE THAT THE ERNMENT ACCEPTED REFUGE FOR RETTLEMENT OR OFFERED NATURALIZATN TO REFUGE RIDG S TERRORY. THE ERNMENT, HOWEVER, ASSISTED THE VOLUNTARY RETURN OF PERSONS TO THE CAR. THE ERNMENTS OF CAMEROON AND THE CAR SUCCSFULLY REPATRIATED 299 CAR REFUGE OM THE EAST AND ADAMAOUA REGNS ON JUNE 1. UNHCR SUPERVISED THEIR PARTURE OM THE UNTRY. ACRDG TO THE CAMEROON TRIBUNE, 6,504 REFUGE BENEFED OM UNHCR SUPPORT AND S PARTNERS TO TRAVEL BACK HOME. IN APRIL, THE ERNMENT HOSTED A MISTERIAL-LEVEL NFERENCE TO SEEK DURABLE SOLUTNS FOR CENTRAL AIN REFUGE UNTRI SURROUNDG THE CAR. THE NFERENCE END WH THE SIGNG OF THE YAOUNDé DECLARATN, A DOCUMENT LLG FOR THE CREATN OF A ORDATG BODY FOR THE CAR AND S SIX NEIGHBORG UNTRI TO WORK TOGETHER ON DURABLE SOLUTNS. TEMPORARY PROTECTN: THE ERNMENT NTUED TO PROVI TEMPORARY AND UNOFFICIAL PROTECTN TO DIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT NOT QUALIFY AS REFUGE, EXTENDG THIS PROTECTN TO HUNDREDS OF DIVIDUALS, CLUDG THIRD-UNTRY NATNALS WHO HAD FLED VLENCE THE CAR. DUE TO THEIR UNOFFICIAL STAT AND ABILY TO ACCS SERVIC OR SUPPORT, MANY OF THE DIVIDUALS WERE SUBJECT TO HARASSMENT AND OTHER AB BY EMPLOYERS THE RMAL SECTOR. F. STATUS AND TREATMENT OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS ACRDG TO TIMAT BY UNHCR, THE UNTRY HOSTED APPROXIMATELY TWO LN PERSONS OF NCERN TO UNHCR AS OF JULY, CLUDG APPROXIMATELY ONE LN TERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS). IN ADDN, THE UNTRY HAD AN TIMATED 555,668 FORMERLY DISPLACED PERSONS, AS OF NOVEMBER 30, WHO HAD RETURNED TO THEIR PLAC OF ORIG. THE IDPS WERE MALY OM THE FAR NORTH, NORTHWT, AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THEY WERE MOSTLY DRIVEN BY BOKO HARAM/ISIS-RELATED SECURY AND THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. HUMANARIAN ACCS REMAED LIMED BEE OF SECURY AND ARY OFFICIALS’ TIGHT NTROL OVER ACCS TO THE AFFECTED AREAS. SECTN 3. FREEDOM TO PARTICIPATE THE POLIL PROCS ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION RECENT ELECTNS: IN 2020, THE UNTRY HELD SIMULTANEO LEGISLATIVE AND MUNICIPAL ELECTNS. THE NEXT SENATE ELECTNS ARE SCHLED 2023, WHILE LEGISLATIVE, MUNICIPAL, AND PRINTIAL ELECTNS ARE SCHLED 2025. IN 2020, SECURY NCERNS NSTRAED VOTER PARTICIPATN THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE URTS ANNULLED THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTNS 11 NSTUENCI OF THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS DUE TO VOTER TURNOUT OF LS THAN 10 PERCENT. LEGISLATIVE RENS OCCURRED THE 11 NSTUENCI. THE LG CAMEROON PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (CPDM) WON 152 OF THE 180 NATNAL ASSEMBLY SEATS AND 316 OF 360 LOL UNCILS. OPPOSG POLIL PARTI LOST SIGNIFINT NUMBERS OF SEATS WHEN PARED WH PREV ELECTNS. OVERALL, EIGHT OPPOSN POLIL PARTI WON SEATS THE NATNAL ASSEMBLY, AND NE WON NTROL OF LOL UNCILS. ADDNALLY, THE CONSTUTNAL COUNCIL ANNULLED SOME LEGISLATIVE ELECTNS, CG IRREGULARI CLUDG LACK OF EQUAL ACCS TO MEDIA AND MPAIGN SPACE, RTRICTNS ON THE ABILY OF OPPOSN NDIDAT TO REGISTER FOR THE ELECTN, BALLOT STUFFG, LACK OF BALLOT SECRECY, VOTER TIMIDATN, NSISTENT E OF INTIFITN RDS, AND LACK OF EXPERTISE AMONG LOL POLLG OFFICIALS. IN 2018, PL BIYA WAS REELECTED PRINT AN ELECTN MARRED BY IRREGULARI AND AGAST THE BACKDROP OF PROTRACTED SOCPOLIL UNRT THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. POLIL PARTI AND POLIL PARTICIPATN: AS OF THE END OF THE YEAR, THE UNTRY HAD APPROXIMATELY 330 REGISTERED POLIL PARTI. THE CPDM REMAED DOMANT AT EVERY LEVEL OF ERNMENT DUE TO RTRICTNS ON OPPOSN POLIL PARTI, GERRYMANRG, UNBALANCED MEDIA VERAGE, THE E OF STATE FUNDS TO PROMOTE PARTY MPAIGNS, TERFERENCE WH THE RIGHT OF OPPOSN PARTI TO REGISTER AS NDIDAT AND TO ANIZE DURG ELECTORAL MPAIGNS, AND UNDUE FLUENCE OF TRADNAL LERS. TRADNAL LERS, WHO RECEIVED SALARI OM THE ERNMENT, OPENLY CLARED THEIR SUPPORT FOR PRINT BIYA PRR TO THE 2018 PRINTIAL ELECTN, AND SOME REPORTEDLY PELLED RINTS OF THEIR NSTUENCI TO PROVE THEY DID NOT VOTE FOR AN OPPOSN NDIDATE BY PRENTG UNED BALLOTS. TRADNAL LERS WHO REFED TO ASSOCIATE WH THE ERNMENT WERE EHER REMOVED OR THREATENED WH THE LOSS OF ALL E. MEMBERSHIP THE LG POLIL PARTY NFERRED SIGNIFINT ADVANTAG, CLUDG THE ALLOTN OF KEY JOBS STATE-OWNED ENTI AND THE CIVIL SERVICE. HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATNS AND OPPOSN POLIL ACTORS NSIRED THE DRAWG OF VOTER DISTRICTS AND DISTRIBUTN OF PARLIAMENTARY OR MUNICIPAL UNCILORS’ SEATS UNFAIR. THEY PLAED THAT SMALLER DISTRICTS NSIRED CPDM STRONGHOLDS WERE ALLOTED A DISPROPORTNATE NUMBER OF SEATS PARED WH MORE POPULO DISTRICTS WHERE THE OPPOSN WAS EXPECTED TO POLL STRONGLY. MANAGERS OF STATE-OWNED PANI AND OTHER HIGH-LEVEL ERNMENT OFFICIALS ED RPORATE ROURC TO MPAIGN FOR NDIDAT SPONSORED BY THE LG PARTY. PARTICIPATN OF WOMEN AND MEMBERS OF MORY GROUPS: NO LAWS LIM PARTICIPATN OF WOMEN OR MEMBERS OF MORI, OR PERSONS WH DISABILI, THE POLIL PROCS AND MEMBERS OF MANY OF THE GROUPS DID PARTICIPATE. NO LAWS EXPLICLY LIMED THE PARTICIPATN OF LGBTQI+ PERSONS; THEY DID NOT OPENLY PARTICIPATE THE POLIL PROCS, AND OBSERVERS SURMISED THAT SOCIAL STIGMA AND THE CRIMALIZATN OF SAME-SEX NDUCT TERRED LGBTQI+ PERSONS OM OPENLY PARTICIPATG. SECTN 4. CORPTN AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY GOVERNMENT THE LAW PROVIS CRIMAL PENALTI FOR RPTN BY OFFICIALS, BUT THE ERNMENT DID NOT IMPLEMENT THE LAW EFFECTIVELY. THERE WERE NUMERO REPORTS OF ERNMENT RPTN. THE LAW INTIFI DIFFERENT OFFENS AS RPTN, CLUDG FLUENCE PEDDLG, VOLVEMENT PROHIBED EMPLOYMENT, AND FAILURE TO CLARE A KNOWN NFLICT OF TERT. REPORTG RPTN WAS ENURAGED THROUGH EXEMPTG WHISTLEBLOWERS OM CRIMAL PROSECUTN. IN ADDN TO THE LAWS, THE NATNAL ANTI-RPTN AGENCY (CONAC), SPECIAL CRIMAL COURT (TCS), NATNAL FANCIAL INVTIGATN AGENCY, MISTRY CHARGE OF SUPREME STATE AUD, AND AUD BENCH OF THE SUPREME COURT ALSO NTRIBUTED TO FIGHTG RPTN. CONAC, THE MOST PROMENT OF THE ANTI-RPTN AGENCI, WAS NSTRAED BY THE ABSENCE OF ANY LEGISLATIVE OR PRINTIAL MANDATE. THERE WERE REPORTS THAT SENR OFFICIALS SENTENCED TO PRISON WERE NOT ALWAYS REQUIRED TO FORFE THEIR ILL-GOTTEN GAS.CORPTN: AS THE PREV YEAR, THERE WERE NEW ALLEGATNS OF RPTN VOLVG PUBLIC OFFICIALS. THE TCS NTUED PROSECUTG RPTN S. WHILE HEARGS NTUED SOME HIGH-PROFILE S, THE URT OPENED NEW S AND ISSUED CISNS OTHER ON. IT DROPPED CHARG AT LEAST ONE ONGOG MAY, THE UK-SWISS MODY FIRM GLENRE NFSED BEFORE A LONDON URT TO PAYG $28 LN BRIB TO SECURE PREFERENTIAL ACCS TO OIL FIVE AIN UNTRI, CLUDG CAMEROON. FOLLOWG THE GUILTY PLEA, MEMBERS OF THE POLIL OPPOSN, CIVIL SOCIETY, PENNT MEDIA, AND ANTI-RPTN NGOS, CLUDG TRANSPARENCY INTERNATNAL, URGED THE UNTRY’S ANTI-RPTN STUTNS TO OPEN AN VTIGATN TO THE ISSUE, WHICH RELAT TO THE OPERATNS OF THE NATNAL HYDRORBON CORPORATN (SNH) AND THE NATNAL REFG COMPANY (SONARA). THE LEARSHIP OF SNH AND SONARA NIED THE ALLEGATNS. CONAC ANNOUNCED ON JULY 7 THAT HAD OPENED A RPTN VTIGATN TO THE MATTER. AS OF DECEMBER, THERE WERE NO REPORTED VELOPMENTS NCERNG THE AUGT 22, THE TCS FOUND NIWA LONG OTHON, A FORMER MANAGER OF THE NATNAL CIVIL ENGEERG EQUIPMENT POOL-MATGENIE (2009-17), AND HIS ADMISTRATIVE AND FANCIAL DIRECTOR, SIMON CRéP ZAMBO, GUILTY OF THE EMBEZZLEMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY THE AMOUNT OF 1.37 BILLN CFA ANCS ($2.23 LN). THE TCS SENTENCED THEM TO 20 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT EACH AND ORRED THEM TO PAY BACK THE FUNDS ALLEGEDLY MISAPPROPRIATED, PL OF THE END OF SEPTEMBER, THERE WERE NO REPORTED VELOPMENTS REGARDG THE OUTE OF THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDGS THAT PRINT BIYA ORRED 2021 NCERNG THE MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19 SPENDG. THE 2021 VTIGATN TO THE SPENDG, POPULARLY KNOWN AS “COVIDGATE,” HIGHLIGHTED SHORTGS CLUDG OPACY THE AWARDG OF NTRACTS, OVERNS OF ALLOTED BUDGETS, EMBEZZLEMENT, AND OVERBILLG. A DOZEN OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY APPEARED BEFORE THE MISSN DURG THE VTIGATN NDUCTED BY THE AUD CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT. FOLLOWG THE D REPORT, MISTER OF COMMUNITN RENE EMMANUEL SADI REPORTED MAY 2021 THAT PRINT BIYA HAD ORRED JUDICIAL PROCEEDGS TO BE NDUCTED BY THE TCS. ANECDOTAL REPORTS EMERGED LATE AUGT THAT THE TCS TERROGATED AT LEAST ONE SENR ERNMENT OFFICIAL NNECTN WH THE COVID-19 SPENDG, BUT AS OF DECEMBER, THERE WERE NO REPORTED VELOPMENTS ON THE ISSUE. THE TRIAL OF THE FORMER DEFENSE MISTER EDGAR ALA MEBE NGO THAT OPENED AT THE SPECIAL CRIMAL COURT 2020 NTUED; THE URT HAD NOT ISSUED ANY CISN AS OF SEPTEMBER. MEBE NGO STOOD ACCED OF EMBEZZLG 236 BILLN CFA ANCS ($429 LN) AS PART OF THE PURCHASE OF ARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE ARMY. SECTN 5. GOVERNMENTAL POSTURE TOWARDS INTERNATNAL AND NONERNMENTAL INVTIGATN OF ALLEGED AB OF HUMAN RIGHTS SEVERAL DOMTIC AND TERNATNAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS VTIGATED AND PUBLISHED FDGS ON HUMAN RIGHTS S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RARELY WERE OPERATIVE AND RPONSIVE TO THEIR VIEWS. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IMPED MANY LOL HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS BY HARASSG THEIR MEMBERS, LIMG ACCS TO PRISONERS, REFG TO SHARE RMATN, AND THREATENG VLENCE AGAST NGO PERSONNEL. THE ERNMENT TOOK NO ACTN TO VTIGATE OR PREVENT SUCH OCCURRENC.RETRIBUTN AGAST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENRS (HRDS): SCE TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN MISTER PL ATANGA NJI AUGT 2021 STCTED ASSOCIATNS OPERATG THE UNTRY TO UPDATE THEIR STAT WH A ONE-MONTH ADLE OR BE SPEND, SOME ANIZATNS WERE HAVG DIFFICULTI RENEWG THEIR ACCREDATNS. AS THE PREV YEAR, HUMAN RIGHTS FENRS AND ACTIVISTS RECEIVED ANONYMO THREATS OM PERSONS SPECTED TO BE AFFILIATED WH THE ERNMENT BY TELEPHONE, TEXT MSAGE, AND EMAIL. ON JANUARY 15, FOR EXAMPLE, PHILIPPE NANGA, THE ORDATOR OF UN MON AVENIR, RECEIVED A WHATSAPP MSAGE THAT READ: “TELL MY IEND PHILIPPE NANGA THAT AFTER THE AIN CUP OF NATNS, PL BIYA WILL NO LONGER BE NSTRAED BY SPEECH ON HUMAN RIGHTS. THE STATE WILL NDUCT SYSTEMATIC CLEANG.”ON MARCH 14, GLE BNO, THE DIRECTOR OF JUDICIAL POLICE YAOUNDé, SUMMONED NGO CENTRAL AI HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENRS NETWORK (REDHAC) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAXIIENNE NGO MBE TO REPORT TO THE JUDICIAL POLICE ON MARCH 23 TO DISCS THE LEGAL STAT OF REDHAC. GLE REMD NGO MBE THAT THE EVENT SHE FAILED TO REPORT TO POLICE AS REQUTED, SHE WOULD BE PELLED TO DO SO BY ALL LEGAL MEANS. BARRISTER ALICE NKOM AND OTHER LAWYERS REPRENTED NGO MBE AT THE JUDICIAL POLICE. AFTER REFERRG TO THE MOVEMENT OF FUNDS REDHAC’S ACUNTS, THE POLICE OFFICER QUTNED BARRISTER NKOM ON SPICNS OF MONEY LNRG, EMBEZZLEMENT OF ROURC, AND NONENROLLMENT OF REDHAC STAFF MEMBERS TO THE NATNAL SOCIAL INSURANCE FUND. POLICE HAD TAKEN NO FURTHER ACTN AS OF OCTOBER. (ALSO SEE SECTN 2.B., FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATN.)GOVERNMENT HUMAN RIGHTS BODI: THE MISSN OF THE CHRC, TABLISHED 2019, IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND PREVENT TORTURE TENTN FACILI. THE MISSN OPERAT HOTLE NO. 1523, WHICH SERV TO NOUNCE HUMAN RIGHTS AB, CLUDG S OF TORTURE. THE CHRC IS A ERNMENT-FUND STUTN. THE CHRC MAY ALSO RECEIVE SUPPORT OM NATNAL AND TERNATNAL PARTNERS, AS WELL AS DONATNS. THE CHRC ORDATED ACTNS WH NGOS, PARTICIPATED SOME QUIRY MISSNS, AND ISSUED STATEMENTS ON TOPIL HUMAN RIGHTS MATTERS. SECTN 6. DISCRIMATN AND SOCIETAL AB WOMEN RAPE AND DOMTIC VLENCE: THE LAW CRIMALIZ RAPE OF BOTH WOMEN AND MEN AND PROVIS PENALTI OF BETWEEN FIVE AND 10 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT FOR NVICTED RAPISTS. POLICE AND URTS RARELY VTIGATED OR PROSECUTED RAPE S, PECIALLY SCE SURVIVORS OFTEN DID NOT REPORT THEM. THE LAW DO NOT ADDRS SPOAL RAPE, NOR DO SPECIFILLY PROHIB DOMTIC VLENCE, ALTHOUGH ASSLT IS PROHIBED AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT AND F. UNLIKE 2021, THERE WERE NO KNOWN OR OFFICIALLY REPORTED ALLEGATNS THAT PERSONS ASSOCIATED WH THE ERNMENT RAPED WOMEN AND CHILDREN. REPORTS, HOWEVER, SUGGT THAT DOMTIC VLENCE WAS A MAJOR ISSUE. ON JUNE 26, ACRDG TO CREDIBLE SOURC, A SOLDIER SHOT AND KILLED HIS GIRLIEND, NCHDA OPHILIA, ALSO A SOLDIER, FOLLOWG A HEATED ARGUMENT. AS OF EARLY OCTOBER, THERE WAS NO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RMATN NCERNG VTIGATNS TO THE KILLG. THE ERNMENT PROVID SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VLENCE AND OTHER FORMS OF GENR-BASED VLENCE, CLUDG LEGAL SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS VIA THE JUDICIARY WORK, GENERAL CLIL RE OFFERED HEALTH FACILI, AND LLECTN OF DATA THROUGH THE DISTRICT HEALTH INFORMATN SYSTEM AND PROVISN OF SUATNAL ANALYSIS. MANY OF THE PREVENTN AND BASIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR SURVIVORS OF GENR-BASED VLENCE WERE IMPLEMENTED BY MUNY-BASED ANIZATNS. FEMALE GENAL MUTILATN/CUTTG (FGM/C): THE LAW PROTECTS THE BODILY TEGRY OF PERSONS AND PROHIBS GENAL MUTILATN FOR ALL WOMEN, CLUDG WOMEN AG 18 AND OLR AND GIRLS YOUNGER THAN 18. PERPETRATORS ARE SUBJECT TO A PRISON SENTENCE OF 10 TO 20 YEARS, OR IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE IF THE OFFENR HABUALLY RRI OUT THIS PRACTICE FOR MERCIAL PURPOS OR IF THE PRACTICE ATH. ACRDG TO TIMAT OM UN WOMEN, HOWEVER, THE PREVALENCE OF FGM/C AMONG GIRLS AND WOMEN AGED 15 TO 49 YEARS WAS 2 PERCENT. OTHER FORMS OF GENR-BASED VLENCE: WIDOWS WERE SOMETIM FORCIBLY MARRIED TO ONE OF THEIR CEASED HBAND’S RELATIV, PECIALLY RAL MUNI, TO SECURE NTUED E OF PROPERTY LEFT BY THE CEASED HBAND, CLUDG THE MARAL HOME. THE ERNMENT CLUD PROVISNS THE LAW OUTLAWG THE EVICTN OF A SPOE OM THE MARAL HOME BY ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE OTHER SPOE. THE PRACTICE OF WIDOW R, BY WHICH WIDOWS WERE SUBJECT TO CERTA TRIALS SUCH AS BATHG PUBLIC OR MOVEMENT RTRICTNS, WAS PREVALENT RAL MUNI OF THE WT REGN. ANECDOTAL REPORTS SUGGTED BREAST IRONG, THE PROCS OF FORCIBLY FLATTG EMERGG BREASTS PUBCENT GIRLS, NTUED TO EXIST SOME RAL MUNI, BUT VERY SMALL NUMBERS. SEXUAL HARASSMENT: THE LAW PROHIBS SEXUAL HARASSMENT. OFFENRS MAY BE SUBJECT TO IMPRISONMENT FOR PERDS OF SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR AND A FE. IF THE SURVIVOR IS A CHILD, THE PENALTY MAY BE ONE TO THREE YEARS PRISON. IF THE OFFENR IS THE SURVIVOR’S TEACHER, THE PENALTY MAY CREASE TO THREE TO FIVE YEARS PRISON. DPE THE LEGAL PROVISNS, SEXUAL HARASSMENT WAS WISPREAD BUT THERE WERE NO KNOWN REPORTS DURG THE YEAR THAT ANYONE WAS FED OR IMPRISONED FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT, PART DUE TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT SURVIVORS’ RELUCTANCE TO FILE OFFICIAL PLATS DUE TO FEAR OF REPRISAL AND OR STIGMATIZATN. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF ERCED ABORTN OR VOLUNTARY STERILIZATN ON THE PART OF ERNMENT THORI. IN MOST PARTS OF THE UNTRY, PRENATAL CLICS MONORED AND ASSISTED WOMEN TO GO SAFELY THROUGH PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH AND PROVID PARENTS WH THE BT CHANCE OF HAVG A HEALTHY FANT. WOMEN ALSO HAD ACCS TO EMERGENCY RE, CLUDG SERVIC FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PLITNS ARISG OM ABORTN REGARDLS OF WHETHER ABORTN WAS LEGALLY PERMTED. THE MISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFERED UNSELG SERVIC TO WOMEN DURG PRENATAL VISS, PROMOTG THE NCEPT OF RPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND ENURAGG UPL TO E NTRACEPTN TO SPACE THE TIMG OF THEIR CHILDREN. MANY WOMEN, HOWEVER, LACKED THE MEANS TO MANAGE THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, AND SOCIETAL PRSUR NTUED TO RERCE TABOOS ON DISCSG REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH WH CERTA MUNI. WOMEN’S PENNCE ON RECEIVG THEIR HBANDS’ NSENT NTUED TO BE A BARRIER NTRACEPTIVE CISNS. ALSO, WOMEN SOME RAL AREAS OR OM POOR FAI RECEIVED LIMED SKILLED HEALTH-RE ATTENDANCE AT BIRTH, PART DUE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HEALTH FACILI. THE ERNMENT DID NOT READILY PROVI EMERGENCY NTRACEPTN FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VLENCE. IN THE PAST, THE UN POPULATN FUND PROVID A K WH EMERGENCY NTRACEPTN TO SOME CLIL S AS PART OF CLIL RE FOR GENR-BASED VLENCE SURVIVORS. IN JULY, THE ERNMENT PASSED A LAW REGULATG MEDILLY ASSISTED PROCREATN (MAP). THE PRACTICE HAD BEEN ONGOG FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE UNTRY BUT HAD NO LEGAL AMEWORK. THE LAW RTRICTS MAP TO MARRIED UPL OR THOSE ABLE TO PROVE A MON-LAW MARRIAGE. TO BENEF OM MAP, A PERSON MT BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD, AND NOT OLR THAN 55 FOR WOMEN. THE LAW ALSO AFFIRMS THE LEGALY OF NSENSUAL THIRD-PARTY SURROGACY THE SE OF EGG OR SPERM DONATN, WHILE EXPRSLY FORBIDDG THE TRA OR SALE OF REPRODUCTIVE MATERIAL. THE PENALTY FOR SUCH AN ACTN WOULD RANGE OM A NOMAL FE TO IMPRISONMENT. MENSTATN AND LIMED ACCS TO SANARY PRODUCTS AFFECTED GIRLS’ ACCS TO TN. PREGNANCY AND MOTHERHOOD OFTEN IMPED ADOLCENT GIRLS’ ACCS TO TN, BUT THERE WERE NO STUDI ASSSG THE MAGNU OF THE PROBLEM. AS A MEASURE TO ENURAGE PREGNANT GIRLS TO REMA SCHOOL, NALOVA LYONGA, THE MISTER OF SENDARY EDUTN, MAY ISSUED A RELEASE ALLOWG NFIRMED PREGNANT STUNTS TO NTUE WH SCHOOL ACTIVI UNTIL THE 26TH WEEK OF PREGNANCY, AFTER WHICH SHE MAY REQUT TO BE PLACED ON MATERNY LEAVE. DISCRIMATN: THE NSTUTN PROVIS WOMEN AND MEN THE SAME LEGAL STAT AND RIGHTS. THE ERNMENT, HOWEVER, OFTEN DID NOT ENFORCE THE LAW. ALTHOUGH LOL ERNMENT OFFICIALS CLAIMED WOMEN HAD ACCS TO LAND THEIR NSTUENCI, THE OVERALL SOCCULTURAL PRACTICE OF NYG WOMEN THE RIGHT TO OWN LAND, PECIALLY THROUGH HERANCE, WAS PREVALENT MOST REGNS. THE ERNMENT DID NOT IMPLEMENT ANY OFFICIAL DISCRIMATORY POLICY AGAST WOMEN SUCH AREAS AS DIVORCE, CHILD CTODY, EMPLOYMENT, CRED, PAY, OWNG OR MANAGG BS OR PROPERTY, TN, THE JUDICIAL PROCS, OR HOG. THERE WERE LEGAL RTRICTNS TO WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT SOME OCCUPATNS AND DTRI (SEE SECTN 7.D.). WH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, FEWER WOMEN OCCUPIED POSNS OF RPONSIBILY. SYSTEMIC RACIAL OR ETHNIC VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION THE NSTUTN STAT S PREAMBLE THAT THE STATE SHALL PROTECT “MORI AND PRERVE THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENO POPULATNS ACRDANCE WH THE LAW,” BUT DO NOT MENTN SPECIFIC TEGORI THAT QUALIFY AS MORI OR INDIGENO POPULATNS. THE LAWS AND REGULATNS ON CENTRALIZATN AND ELECTNS ALSO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF MORI BY REQUIRG THAT LISTS OF NDIDAT REFLECT THE SOCLOGIL LANDSPE OF NSTUENCI, OR THAT THE OFFICE OF PRINT OF A REGNAL UNCIL OR CY MAYOR BE HELD BY A NATIVE OF THE NSTUENCY. THE ERNMENT MA EFFORTS TO ENFORCE THE PROVISNS, BUT SOME FORMS OF DISCRIMATN AND VLENCE PERSISTED. WHILE THERE WERE NO RELIABLE REPORTS OF ERNMENTAL OR SOCIETAL VLENCE OR DISCRIMATN AGAST MEMBERS OF RACIAL, ETHNIC, OR NATNAL MORI, THERE WERE REPORTS OF VLENCE ALONG ETHNIC L DURG THE YEAR, ALTHOUGH WAS NOT ALWAYS CLEAR WHETHER ETHNICY WAS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE VLENCE. DURG THE NIGHT OF JUNE 25, THE VILLAGE OF BAKJAW, MANYU DIVISN OF THE SOUTHWT REGN, AT LEAST 32 PERSONS DIED AN TERMUNAL CLASH BETWEEN THE OLI AND MSAGA EKOL MUNI. IT BEGAN AT THE HOME OF A LOL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, AKA MART, WHERE SEVERAL PERSONS WERE GATHERED FOR THE FUNERAL OF HIS LATE BROTHER. UNINTIFIED ASSAILANTS STORMED THE HOME AND SET FIRE TO THE HOE AND THE FF NTAG THE REMAS OF THE BROTHER. RINTS REPORTEDLY INTIFIED THE ASSAILANTS AS MEMBERS OF THE OLI MUNY, ACPANIED BY ARMED MERCENARI. IN A JUNE 27 STATEMENT, THE MORATOR OF THE PRBYTERIAN CHURCH CAMEROON REFERRED TO THE CINT AS A FURTHER VELOPMENT AN TERETHNIC NFLICT THAT BEGAN APRIL AS A LAND DISPUTE BETWEEN THE OLI AND MSAGA EKOL MUNI. THE OLI MUNY, THE MORATOR RELLED, ATTACKED AND KILLED MEMBERS OF THE MSAGA EKOL MUNY ON THEIR FARMS ON APRIL 29, AND THE MSAGA EKOL MUNY RETALIATED. THE OLI MUNY THEN SECURED THE BACKUP OF HIRED ARMED MEN AND LNCHED AN ATTACK ON THE MSAGA EKOL MUNY, BURNG SEVERAL HO AND KILLG MORE THAN 30 PERSONS. IN A JUNE 8 STATEMENT, MISTRY OF DEFENSE SPOKPERSON CYRILLE ATONFACK GUEMO SUGGTED THAT THE ATTACK WAS PERPETRATED BY SEPARATISTS. ON JULY 24, ARMED DIVIDUALS ABDUCTED FOUR MEMBERS OF THE FULANI MUNY OM THEIR HOM WUM, MENTCHUM DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. THE NEXT DAY, RINTS DISVERED THE RPS OF THE ABDUCTE. AS A RULT, SOME FULANI MEN ON JULY 26 REPORTEDLY LNCHED AN OFFENSIVE TO AVENGE THE ATHS, LEAVG SEVERAL WOUND. WHILE SOME SOURC ATTRIBUTED THE KILLGS TO SEPARATISTS, OTHERS SAID THE CINT WAS A FURTHER VELOPMENT THE PROTRACTED FARMER/HERR NFLICT THIS MUNY. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TAKG AS BASIS THE CRERIA FOR INTIFYG INDIGENO POPULATNS NTAED THE INTERNATNAL LABOR ORGANIZATN CONVENTN 169 AND THE REPORT OF THE AIN COMMISSN’S WORKG GROUP ON INDIGENO POPULATNS/COMMUNI, THE GROUPS THAT MAY BE NSIRED INDIGENO THE UNTRY ARE THE MBORORO AND THE BAKA. AN TIMATED 50,000 TO 100,000 BAKA, CLUDG BAKOLA AND BAGYELI, RID PRIMARILY (AND WERE THE EARLIT KNOWN HABANTS OF) THE FORTED AREAS OF THE SOUTH AND EAST REGNS. THE ERNMENT DID NOT EFFECTIVELY PROTECT THE CIVIL OR POLIL RIGHTS OF EHER GROUP. LOGGG PANI NTUED TO STROY INDIGENO PERSONS’ NATURALLY FORTED LAND WHOUT PENSATN. OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS OFTEN TREATED THE BAKA AS FERR AND SOMETIM SUBJECTED THEM TO UNFAIR AND EXPLOATIVE LABOR PRACTIC. THE ERNMENT NTUED LONG-STANDG EFFORTS TO PROVI BIRTH CERTIFIT AND NATNAL INTY RDS TO BAKA. NOHELS, MOST BAKA DID NOT HAVE THE DOCUMENTS, AND EFFORTS TO REACH THEM WERE IMPED BY THE DIFFICULTY REACHG HOM EP THE FORT. IN DECEMBER, THE NATNAL ASSEMBLY PASSED LEGISLATN EXEMPTG THE BAKA OM THE MIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR ARY SERVICE, A REQUIREMENT WHICH HERETOFORE PREVENTED BAKA OM SERVG THE ARMED FORC. THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS OM NGOS THAT THE MBORORO, NOMADIC PASTORALISTS LIVG MOSTLY THE NORTH, EAST, ADAMAWA, AND NORTHWT REGNS, NTUED TO BE SUBJECT TO HARASSMENT, SOMETIM WH THE PLICY OF ADMISTRATIVE OR JUDICIAL THORI. THE MBORORO SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATN (BOSCUDA) DITED THAT THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED THE MBORORO MUNY. ACRDG TO THE ASSOCIATN PROGRAM ORDATOR, THE MBORORO ADOPTED A NTRAL POSN WHEN THE CRISIS STARTED AND NSEQUENTLY FACE REGULAR ATTACKS BY SEPARATISTS FOR NOT SUPPORTG PENNCE. FARMERS REPORTEDLY TARGETED THE MBORORO, STEALG THEIR TTLE, PECIALLY DONGA AND MANTUNG DIVISN OF THE NORTHWT REGN. BOSCUDA’S PROGRAM ORDATOR SAID THAT AT LEAST 812 MBORORO HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY THE CRISIS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AS OF APRIL 20. AMONG THEM, 192 HAD BEEN KILLED, 127 KIDNAPPED, 266 HO BURNED, 2,256 TTLE SEIZED OR KILLED, AND 184.74 LN CFA ANCS ($300,000) SPENT RANSOM PAYMENTS. CHILDREN BIRTH REGISTRATN: CHILDREN RIVE CIZENSHIP THROUGH THEIR PARENTS, BUT NOT THROUGH BIRTH THE UNTRY’S TERRORY. THE RPONSIBILY TO REGISTER A CHILD’S BIRTH FALLS UPON PARENTS. BIRTH REGISTRATN WAS PROVID ON A NONDISCRIMATORY BASIS, BUT MANY BIRTHS WENT UNREGISTERED BEE CHILDREN WERE NOT ALWAYS BORN HEALTH FACILI. ALSO, MANY PARENTS FACED PROBLEMS REACHG LOL ERNMENT OFFIC. A DIAGNOSTIC STUDY AND THE PLEMENTARY EVALUATN OF THE CIVIL STAT SYSTEM NDUCTED 2016 REVEALED THAT THE LOW LEVEL OF BIRTH REGISTRATN WAS DUE TO A MULTU OF FACTORS, CLUDG ADMISTRATIVE OBSTACL LKED, AMONG OTHER THGS, TO THE NONFUNCTNG OF CIVIL STAT CENTERS OR THEIR REMOTENS OM THE POPULATNS. IN ADDN, EXISTG REGULATNS THAT TABLISHED THE EE CLARATN AND REGISTRATN OF BIRTHS WERE NOT RPECTED HEALTH FACILI AND CIVIL REGISTRATN CENTERS. IGNORANCE OF LAWS AND REGULATNS AND THE NEGLECT OF THE POPULATNS ALSO NTRIBUTED TO AQUATE BIRTH REGISTRATN. CHILDREN WHOUT BIRTH CERTIFIT WERE UNABLE TO REGISTER FOR OFFICIAL EXAMATNS TO ENTER SENDARY SCHOOL OR SECURE OTHER LEGALLY REQUIRED INTY DOCUMENTS. OFFIC OF CIVIL AFFAIRS WERE LOTED WH MUNICIPAL UNCILS EACH SUBDIVISN, AND MANY RAL OR REMOTE AREAS, THEY WERE CIVIL STAT CENTERS. IN SOME JURISDICTNS, PARENTS WOULD NEED TO TRAVEL MORE THAN 15 TO FD AN OPERATNAL CIVIL ADMISTRATIVE OFFICE. PARENTS HAVE UNTIL 90 DAYS AFTER A CHILD IS BORN TO REGISTER THE BIRTH. AFTER THAT TIME, A BIRTH MAY ONLY BE REGISTERED BY APPEALG TO THE LOL DISTRICT PROSECUTOR. TO ADJUDITE AND NOTARIZE OFFICIAL BIRTH DOCUMENTS, A FAY WOULD BE EXPECTED TO PAY 15,000 TO 25,000 CFA ANCS ($24-$41) AND FACE BURECRATIC OBSTACL, WHICH MOST FAI OM RAL MUNI WOULD STGGLE TO AFFORD, FORCG MANY PARENTS TO ABANDON THE PROCS EARLY. THE PRINT OF THE URT SETS THE PRICE TO EXECUTE SUMMARY JUDGMENTS, AND THE PRICE FOR THE EXECUTN VARIED BY DIVISN AND REGN. ON APRIL 12, THE ERNMENT DAILY CAMEROON TRIBUNE PUBLISHED AN TERVIEW WH THE MISTER OF CENTRALIZATN AND LOL VELOPMENT, WHO DITED THAT APPROXIMATELY FOUR LN PERSONS THE UNTRY DO NOT HAVE BIRTH CERTIFIT. THE MISTER URGED STAKEHOLRS TO SUPPORT AN OPERATN AIMED AT LARGE-SLE ISSUANCE OF BIRTH CERTIFIT. CG THE NATNAL CIVIL STAT OFFICE (BUNEC) AS S SOURCE OF RMATN, THE PRIVATELY FUND OEIL DU SAHEL NEWSPAPER REPORTED ON AUGT 29 THAT 400,000 CHILDREN THE FAR NORTH REGN MISSED SCHOOL DURG THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR BEE THEY DID NOT HAVE BIRTH CERTIFIT. THE NEWSPAPER FURTHER DITED THAT FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR, BUNEC INTIFIED 1,600,000 CHILDREN ATTENDG SCHOOLS WHOUT BIRTH CERTIFIT. EDUTN: THE LAW PROVIS FOR TUN-EE PULSORY PRIMARY TN UP TO THE AGE OF 12. THE LAW PUNISH PARENTS WH SUFFICIENT MEANS WHO REFE TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO SCHOOL WH A FE. CHILDREN WERE GENERALLY EXPECTED TO PLETE PRIMARY TN AT 12 YEARS OF AGE. SENDARY SCHOOL STUNTS HAD TO PAY TUN AND OTHER FE ADDN TO BUYG UNIFORMS AND BOOKS. THIS RENRED SENDARY TN UNAFFORDABLE FOR MANY CHILDREN. A 2019 UN WOMEN REPORT HIGHLIGHTED GENR DISPARY TN, PARTICULARLY SENDARY TN (SEE ALSO SECTN 6, WOMEN, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS). ACRDG TO THE REPORT, THE LERACY RATE 2019 WAS LOWER FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS (86 PERCENT) THAN FOR MEN AND BOYS (97 PERCENT). DURG THE YEAR, SEPARATISTS ORRED BOYTTS AND ATTACKED SCHOOLS THE SOUTHWT AND NORTHWT REGNS THAT NTUED TO DISPT NORMAL SCHOOL OPERATNS. SEVERAL TEACHERS WERE KILLED OR KIDNAPPED DURG THE YEAR. ON JUNE 17, MEMBERS OF A NONSTATE ARMED GROUP ABDUCTED SUNJO NILE AND NASU NSODZEKA, TWO TEACHERS ON DUTY AT THE KUMBO ERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL, NORTHWT REGN. THE TEACHERS WERE ENURAGG THE RUMPTN OF CLASS AND PROVIDG HOME-BASED REHER URS TO STUNTS PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY. IN A STATEMENT ISSUED ON MAY 13, VIRGIA GEMBA, THE SPECIAL REPRENTATIVE OF THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT, DITED THAT MORE THAN 700,000 CHILDREN WERE OUT OF SCHOOL BEE OF THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.G., OTHER CONFLICT-RELATED ABE). THE BEGNG OF THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR WAS NSTRAED BY THE SECURY THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS, WHERE ARMED SEPARATISTS IMPOSED A LOCKDOWN AND PERPETRATED ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS WHO CHALLENGED (ALSO SEE SECTN 6, OTHER SOCIETAL VLENCE OR DISCRIMATN). IN AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED LA NOUVELLE EXPRSN ON JUNE 22, JOSEPH ATEBA ABENA, ON BEHALF OF NGO JOURNALISTS AI FOR DEVELOPMENT, HIGHLIGHTED THE SE OF UNSCHOOLED INDIGENO PEOPL. ACRDG TO THE ARTICLE, THE SCHOOLS WERE ABANDONED AND THE TEACHERS, WHEN THEY EXISTED, WERE NEHER TRAED NOR REMUNERATED BY THE STATE. THE THOR OF THE ARTICLE ASSERTED THAT APART OM THE ISOLATED ACTNS OF THE MISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS, THERE WAS NO CLEAR ERNMENT POLICY THAT ENURAGED THE SCHOOLG OF INDIGENO CHILDREN. MOREOVER, THE TEACHERS AT THE SCHOOLS DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PEDAGOGIL TRAG REGNIZED BY THE UNTRY’S TNAL SYSTEM, AND THEIR REMUNERATN ME OM VOLUNTARY NTRIBUTNS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ANIZATNS, NOT FORMALLY OM THE ERNMENT. ACRDG TO THE ORDATOR OF THE ASSOCIATN FOR THE PROMOTN OF PERSONS WH DISABILI, THE ELRLY AND ORPHANS OF CAMEROON, A HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATN BASED THE NOUN DIVISN OF THE WT REGN, CHILDREN WH SPECIAL NEEDS HAD LIMED ACCS TO TN PARED WH OTHER CHILDREN. MORE OFTEN, HE SAID, PARENTS OF CHILDREN WH DISABILI DID NOT SEND THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. CHILD ABE: THE LAW PROHIBS VAR FORMS OF CHILD ABE, CLUDG BUT NOT LIMED TO ASSLT, CENCY, KIDNAPPG, FORCED LABOR, RAPE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND SUATNS WHERE ONE PARENT REF TO DISCLOSE THE INTY OF THE OTHER PARENT TO THE CHILD. DPE THE LEGAL PROVISNS, CHILD ABE REMAED A PROBLEM. CHILDREN NTUED TO RECEIVE RPORAL PUNISHMENT BOTH WH FAI AND AT SCHOOL. BOKO HARAM NTUED TO ABDUCT CHILDREN FOR E AS CHILD SOLDIERS OR AS SUICI BOMBERS (SEE SECTN 1.G.), AND ADULTS SEXUALLY ASSLTED CHILDREN. TOMORROW’S CHILDREN, AN NGO BASED THE NOUN DIVISN OF THE WT REGN, REPORTED THAT FARMERS EXPLOED IDP WOMEN AND CHILDREN THEIR PLANTATNS, WHERE THEY ABED THEM SEXUALLY. THE ANIZATN ALSO MENTNED THE SE OF A GIRL WHO WAS RAPED BY HER CLASSMAT AT THE BILGUAL ERNMENT SCHOOL KOUTABA DECEMBER 2021. THE RAPISTS WERE REPORTEDLY TENTN AS OF APRIL 20. IN S REPORT DURG THE YEAR ON MONORG DOMTIC VLENCE, THE NGO NOUVEX DROS L’HOMME HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL S OF VLENCE AGAST WOMEN, SOMETIM VOLVG CHILDREN AS VICTIMS. ON MARCH 20, DOUALA, FOR EXAMPLE, A FORMER HOST OF THE TELEVISN SHOW JAMBO ON CANAL 2 INTERNATNAL REPORTEDLY RAPED HIS DGHTER, WHOSE AGE WAS TIMATED AT 14. CANAL 2 REPORTEDLY SPEND HIM OM THE PROGRAM; BY MID-AUGT, THE FATHER HAD NOT BEEN CHARGED WH A CRIME. CHILD, EARLY, AND FORCED MARRIAGE: THE MIMUM LEGAL AGE FOR MARRIAGE IS 18. DPE THE LAW, ACRDG TO UNICEF’S 2018 CHILD MARRIAGE DATA, 31 PERCENT OF WOMEN BETWEEN AG 20 TO 24 WERE MARRIED BEFORE AGE 18 AND 11 PERCENT WERE MARRIED BEFORE AGE 15. EARLY AND FORCED MARRIAG, AS WELL AS ABIVE “TEMPORAL MARRIAG,” WERE MORE PREVALENT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE UNTRY AND SOME PARTS OF THE WT REGN, PECIALLY THE NOUN DIVISN. SEXUAL EXPLOATN OF CHILDREN: THE LAW PROHIBS THE MERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOATN AND THE SALE, OFFERG, OR PROCURG FOR CHILD SEX TRAFFICKG AND PRACTIC RELATED TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. AUTHORI ENFORCED LAWS AGAST CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. THE UNTRY’S LEGAL AMEWORK REQUIR A MONSTRATN OF FORCE, D, OR ERCN TO NSTUTE A CHILD SEX TRAFFICKG OFFENSE AND THEREFORE DO NOT CRIMALIZE ALL FORMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKG. THE LAW DO NOT SET A MIMUM AGE FOR NSENSUAL SEX. ACRDG TO ANECDOTAL REPORTS, TRAFFICKERS EXPLOED CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 18 SEX TRAFFICKG, ALTHOUGH NO STATISTICS WERE AVAILABLE. ANECDOTAL REPORTS SUGGTED THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS HAD NTRIBUTED TO A DRAMATIC CREASE CHILD SEX TRAFFICKG AND CREASED NUMBER OF EARLY PREGNANCI, PECIALLY AREAS WH IDPS. REPORTS SUGGTED THE BONABERI NEIGHBORHOOD DOUALA WAS A HUB FOR THE SEXUAL EXPLOATN OF UNRAGE IDP GIRLS (ALSO SEE SECTN 7.C.). INFANTICI, INCLUDG INFANTICI OF CHILDREN WH DISABILI: ALTHOUGH FANTICI IS ILLEGAL, THERE WERE ISOLATED REPORTS OF ATTEMPTED FANTICIS. THE DAILY LA NOUVELLE EXPRSN REPORTED ON APRIL 14 THAT ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 8, BANEKANE, A LOLY OF N DIVISN, WT REGN, AN IDP NAMED EMMANUELLA (SURNAME UNKNOWN) GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY THAT SHE IMMEDIATELY BURIED ALIVE. NEIGHBORS FOUND THE FANT ALIVE 48 HOURS LATER AND SHED TO A CLIC BAGANGTE FOR APPROPRIATE RE. EMMANUELLA, ALREADY A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, EXPLAED THAT SHE LACKED THE MEANS TO RE FOR THE NEWBORN. DISPLACED CHILDREN: MANY DISPLACED CHILDREN NTUED TO LIVE ON THE STREETS OF URBAN CENTERS, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER WAS CLE BEE OF STRGENT SECURY MEASUR AND A LAW THAT CRIMALIZ VAGRANCY. ACRDG TO TIMAT OF THE INTERNATNAL ORGANIZATN FOR MIGRATN (IOM), THERE WERE 2,170 SEPARATED CHILDREN AND 1,790 UNACPANIED CHILDREN THE FAR NORTH REGN AS OF 2020, CLUDG IDPS, RETURNE, OUT-OF-MP REFUGE, AND OTHER MIGRANTS (SEE ALSO SECTNS 2.E. AND 2.F.). THOANDS OF CHILDREN WERE AFFECTED BY THE HUMANARIAN CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE CHILDREN WERE VULNERABLE TO AB OF THEIR RIGHTS BY ARMED FORC AND NONSTATE ARMED ACTORS ALIKE. IN 2021, ACRDG TO IOM DATA OM AUGT, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 769 UNACPANIED AND 8,320 SEPARATED CHILDREN THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS AMONG THE DISPLACED POPULATN. THE CHILDREN FACED MANY PROBLEMS, CLUDG LIMED ACCS TO SCHOOL, HEALTH RE, PROTECTN, AND RISK OF BEG RECED TO ARMED GROUPS. THE ERNMENT HAD NOT TABLISHED STCTUR TO ENSURE THAT TERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN WERE PROTECTED OM RECMENT BY NONSTATE ARMED GROUPS AND TERRORIST ANIZATNS. ANTISEMITISM THE JEWISH POPULATN WAS VERY SMALL, AND THERE WERE NO KNOWN REPORTS OF ANTISEMIC ACTS. TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S TRAFFICKG PERSONS REPORT. ACTS OF VIOLENCE, CRIMINALIZATION, AND OTHER ABUSES BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, OR SEX CHARACTERISTICS CRIMALIZATN: CONSENSUAL SAME-SEX SEXUAL ACTIVY BETWEEN ADULTS IS ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE WH IMPRISONMENT OM SIX MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS PL A FE. THE ERNMENT ENFORCED THE LAW. WHILE THERE IS NO LAW CRIMALIZG LGBTQI+ INTY, POLICE OFTEN TAED LGBTQI+ DIVIDUALS BASED SOLELY ON THEIR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATN, GENR INTY, OR GENR EXPRSN, CLUDG DIVIDUALS TAED WHO HAD SOUGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE AFTER BEG THE VICTIMS OF VLENT CRIM. VLENCE AGAST LGBTQI+ PERSONS: LGBTQI+ HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATNS SUCH AS THE CAMEROONIAN FOUNDATN FOR AIDS, HUMANY FIRST CAMEROON, ALTERNATIV-CAMEROON, THE NATNAL OBSERVATORY OF THE RIGHTS OF LGBTQI+ PERSONS AND THEIR DEFENRS, COLIBRI, WORKG FOR OUR WELLBEG, AND OTHERS NTUED TO REPORT ARBRARY ARRTS OF LGBTQI+ PERSONS. LGBTQI+ DIVIDUALS NTUED TO FACE SIGNIFINT STIGMA, VLENCE, AND DISCRIMATN OM THEIR FAI, MUNI, AND THE ERNMENT, CLUDG LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL (SEE ALSO SECTN 1.C.). IN A MAY PRS RELEASE, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH DITED THAT SCE MARCH 9, SECURY FORC HAD ARRTED AT LEAST SIX PERSONS AND TAED 11, ALL OF THEM VICTIMS OF GROUP ATTACKS, FOR ALLEGED NSENSUAL SAME-SEX NDUCT AND GENR NONNFORMY. THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH (HRW) RELEASE STATED THAT ON APRIL 10, A CROWD OF APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MEN ARMED WH MACHET, KNIV, STICKS, AND WOON PLANKS, ATTACKED A GROUP OF AT LEAST 10 LGBTQI + PERSONS ATTENDG A PARTY AT A PRIVATE HOME YAOUNDé. A LOL OFFICIAL REPORTEDLY TOOK TWO OF THE VICTIMS TO THE GENDARMERIE FOR PROTECTN OM THE MOB, BUT STEAD THE GENDARM BEAT THE VICTIMS AND ONLY RELEASED THEM AFTER PAYMENT OF 15,000 CFA ANCS ($24). THE OTHER VICTIMS REMAED THE HANDS OF THE VLENT CROWD FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS, WHICH JURED AND ROBBED THEM OF THEIR MONEY AND MOBILE PHON. A HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATN ADVOTG FOR LGBTQI+ PERSONS STATED THAT HAD RERD SEVERAL DOZEN OTHER S OF VLENCE AND ABE AGAST MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQI+ MUNY ACROSS THE UNTRY AS OF AUGT. DURG THE YEAR, THERE WAS A NEW VELOPMENT THE NOVEMBER 2021 SE WHERE A VLENT MOB SEXUALLY ASSLTED, BEAT, AND THREATENED AN TERSEX PERSON WHILE OTHERS FILMED THE ATTACK TWO VIOS WHICH LATER CIRCULATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. A MAN ALLEGEDLY NNECTED TO THE ATTACK WAS ARRTED AND RELEASED 48 HOURS LATER. IN NOVEMBER 2021, AN ANIZATN ADVOTG FOR LGBTQI+ PERSONS FILED A PLAT WH POLICE ON BEHALF OF THE SURVIVOR. POLICE OPENED A H VTIGATN TO THE CINT, LEADG TO THE ARRT OF AND SUBSEQUENT PROSECUTN OF A SPECT. ON FEBARY 25, THE URT OF FIRST STANCE AT THE YAOUNDé ADMISTRATIVE CENTER FOUND THE ACCED GUILTY AND SENTENCED HIM TO SIX-MONTH IMPRISONMENT PL A FE OF 650,000 CFA ANCS ($1,060). DISCRIMATN: THE NSTUTN PROHIBS DISCRIMATN AND PRCRIB EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL CIZENS; HOWEVER, THE LAW DO NOT EXPLICLY PROHIB DISCRIMATN BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATN, GENR INTY OR EXPRSN, OR SEX CHARACTERISTICS; THE LAW DO NOT SPECIFILLY REGNIZE LGBTQI+ DIVIDUALS, UPL, OR THEIR FAI. SECURY FORC SOMETIM HARASSED, TAED, AND ASSLTED PERSONS BASED ON THEIR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATN OR GENR INTY, CLUDG DIVIDUALS FOUND WH NDOMS AND LUBRINTS. FEAR OF EXPOSURE AFFECTED DIVIDUALS’ WILLGNS TO ACCS HIV AND AIDS HEALTH SERVIC. AVAILABILY OF LEGAL GENR REGNN: NO LAWS OR CRE ALLOW DIVIDUALS TO CHANGE THEIR GENR INTY MARKER ON LEGAL AND INTIFYG DOCUMENTS TO BRG THEM TO ALIGNMENT WH THEIR GENR INTY. THE OPTN OF INTIFYG AS “NON-BARY/TERSEX/GENR NON-NFORMG” IS NOT AVAILABLE. INVOLUNTARY OR COERCIVE MEDIL OR PSYCHOLOGIL PRACTIC SPECIFILLY TARGETG LGBTQI+ INDIVIDUALS: THE LAW IS SILENT ON SUCH PRACTIC. ANECDOTAL REPORTS HOWEVER DITED SOME MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQI+ MUNY WERE VICTIMS OF “RRECTIVE RAPE” TO HAVE THEM CHANGE THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN OR GENR INTY. RTRICTNS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRSN, ASSOCIATN, OR PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY: ALTHOUGH THE LAW DO NOT SPECIFILLY PROHIB THEIR REGISTRATN, LGBTQI+ ANIZATNS WERE NOT PERMTED TO OFFICIALLY REGISTER AS SUCH AND TH REGISTERED EHER AS GENERAL HUMAN RIGHTS ANIZATNS OR AS HEALTH-FOCED ANIZATNS. MANY LGBTQI+ ANIZATNS REPORTED THAT OPERATG HEALTH PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY HIV PREVENTN AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS, SHIELD THEM OM POTENTIAL HARASSMENT OR SHUTDOWN, RATHER THAN PROMOTG ADVOCY FOR LGBTQI+ PERSONS AS THEIR PRIMARY MISSN. PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PERSONS WH DISABILI ULD NOT ACCS TN, HEALTH SERVIC, PUBLIC BUILDGS, AND TRANSPORTATN ON AN EQUAL BASIS WH OTHERS. A 2010 LAW PROVIS ADDNAL PROTECTN TO PERSONS WH PHYSIL, SENSORY, TELLECTUAL, OR MENTAL DISABILI. THE PROTECTNS UNR THE LAW VER ACCS TO TN AND VOTNAL TRAG, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH SERVIC, RMATN AND CULTURAL ACTIVI, MUNITNS, BUILDGS, SPORTS AND LEISURE, TRANSPORTATN, HOG, AND OTHER STATE SERVIC. SOME ASTCTURE PROJECTS WERE MA ACCSIBLE TO PERSONS WH MOBILY CHALLENG. UNR THE 2010 LAW, PUBLIC TN IS EE FOR PERSONS WH DISABILI AND CHILDREN BORN OF PARENTS WH DISABILI. INIAL VOTNAL TRAG, MEDIL TREATMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT MT BE PROVID “WHEN POSSIBLE,” AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE “WHEN NEED.” THE ERNMENT DID NOT ENFORCE THE PROVISNS EFFECTIVELY. THE ERNMENT DID NOT ALWAYS PROVI RMATN AND MUNITN ON DISABILY NCERNS FORMATS THAT WERE ACCSIBLE TO PERSONS WH DISABILI. THE NSTUTN PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF POLICE OR OTHER ERNMENT OFFICIALS CG, PERPETRATG, OR NDONG VLENCE AGAST PERSONS WH DISABILI DURG THE YEAR. PERSONS WH DISABILI FACED DISCRIMATN EMPLOYMENT AND OCCUPATN (SEE SECTN 7.D.). MANY CHILDREN WH DISABILI ATTEND SCHOOL WH PEERS WHOUT DISABILI. THE ERNMENT TRODUCED CLIVE TN MANY SCHOOLS AND REVIEWED THE CURRICULUM OF TEACHER TRAG LLEG TO CLU TRAG CLIVE TN SKILLS. OTHER CHILDREN WH DISABILI NTUED TO ATTEND SEPARATE SCHOOLS, SUCH AS THE BULU BLD CENTER BUEA AND THE YAOUNDé SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR HEARG-IMPAIRED CHILDREN. NGOS, CLUDG NOUN DIVISN-BASED ASSOCIATN FOR THE PROMOTN OF PERSONS WH DISABILI, THE ELRLY AND ORPHANS OF CAMEROON, HOWEVER, DITED THAT PARENTS OF CHILDREN BORN WH DISABILI SELDOM SENT THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. ON JUNE 27, AT APPROXIMATELY 6 A.M., POLICE ARRTED MORE THAN TWENTY VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS WHILE THEY WERE PEACEFULLY MONSTRATG ONT OF THE PRIME MISTER’S OFFICE YAOUNDé. THOSE ARRTED WERE TAED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AT THE CENTRAL POLICE STATN NUMBER 1. WHILE THE ALLEGED TENTN OF THE MONSTRATN WAS TO NOUNCE POOR LIVG NDNS AND THE DIFFICULT ACCS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR PERSONS WH DISABILI, THORI STATED THE MONSTRATN WAS ILLEGAL. A SPOKPERSON FOR THE PROTTERS REPORTEDLY TOLD RAD EQUOXE REPORTERS THAT THREE VISUALLY IMPAIRED JOURNALISTS WERE SELECTED FOR THE LAST DIRECT RECMENT TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT NO ONE WAS EVENTUALLY NFIRMED AFTER THE TERVIEWS. HE CED THE 2010 LAW ON THE PROMOTN OF PERSONS WH DISABILI, WHICH STIPULAT THAT FOR EQUAL QUALIFITNS, THE PERSON WH A DISABILY HAS PRRY. THEY SAID THEY BELIEVED THEY WERE ALSO MARGALIZED DURG RECMENT PRIVATE PANI, EVEN THOUGH MANY OF THE APPLINTS ARE UNIVERSY GRADUAT. PERSONS WH DISABILI DID NOT RECEIVE AQUATE PROTECTN NFLICT ZON. THE ERNMENT TOOK NO ACTN TO LIM THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WH DISABILI TO PARTICIPATE CIVIC LIFE; HOWEVER, ACCS NSTRATS MAY HAVE LIMED PARTICIPATN TO CERTA ACTIVI, SUCH AS VOTG ELECTNS. OTHER SOCIETAL VIOLENCE OR DISCRIMINATION SEVERAL S OF VIGILANTE ACTN AND ARSON ATTACKS WERE REPORTED VOLVG ARBRARY KILLGS AND STCTN OF BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY. AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 A.M. ON AUGT 22, UNINTIFIED DIVIDUALS SET FIRE TO A DORMORY AT PRBYTERIAN SENDARY SCHOOL (PSS), MANKON BAMENDA, NORTHWT REGN, DAYS BEFORE THE AUGT 24 REOPENG FOR FAL-YEAR STUNTS. SCHOOL THORI TOLD MEDIA THAT THE ARSONISTS FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS THE AIR BEFORE LEAVG THE MP. THE CINT WAS THE THIRD ARSON ATTACK ON PSS MANKON SCE THE BEGNG OF THE CRISIS THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS. THE ATTACK FOLLOWED AN AUGT 13 VIRAL MUNIQUé BY SEPARATISTS WHO ANNOUNCED THAT CLASS WOULD ONLY RUME ON OCTOBER 4 AND THREATENED REPRISALS AGAST ANY SCHOOLS THAT ATTEMPTED TO REOPEN EARLIER. THE SEPARATISTS EXPRSED THEIR OPPOSN TO THE RUMPTN OF CLASS STATE-OWNED SCHOOLS AND CLARED PRIVATE, NOMATNAL, AND MUNY-N SCHOOLS ULD REOPEN, PROVID THEY DID NOT E SCHOOL UNIFORMS, SG THE NATNAL ANTHEM, OR TEACH FRENCH. THE ARSON ATTACK ON PSS MANKON TOOK PLACE HOURS AFTER AN AUGT 21 LL BY BISHOPS OF THE BAMENDA ECCLIASTIL PROVCE FOR CLASS TO RUME THE NORTHWT AND SOUTHWT REGNS WHOUT ANY PRENDNS (ALSO SEE SECTN 6, CHILDREN, EDUTN). PERSONS WH HIV OFTEN SUFFERED SOCIAL DISCRIMATN AND WERE ISOLATED OM THEIR FAI AND SOCIETY, PART DUE TO A LACK OF TN ON THE DISEASE. AS THE PREV YEAR, WHILE NO SPECIFIC S OF DISCRIMATN EMPLOYMENT WERE MA PUBLIC, ANECDOTAL REPORTS DITED SOME DISCRIMATN OCCURRED WH RPECT TO HIV STAT, PECIALLY THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SECTN 7. WORKER RIGHTS A. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING THE LAW PROVIS FOR THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS TO FORM AND JO PENNT UNNS, BARGA LLECTIVELY, AND NDUCT STRIK, ALBE WH SIGNIFINT RTRICTNS. THE RIGHT DO NOT APPLY TO FED GROUPS OF WORKERS, CLUDG FENSE AND NATNAL SECURY PERSONNEL, PRISON ADMISTRATN CIVIL SERVANTS, AND JUDICIAL AND LEGAL PERSONNEL. THE LAW ALSO PROHIBS ANTIUNN DISCRIMATN AND REQUIR THE RESTATEMENT OF WORKERS FIRED FOR UNN ACTIVY. STATUTORY LIMATNS AND OTHER PRACTIC SUBSTANTIALLY RTRICTED THE RIGHTS. THE LAW DO NOT PERM THE CREATN OF A UNN THAT CLUS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE-SECTOR WORKERS OR THE CREATN OF A UNN THAT CLUS DIFFERENT, EVEN IF CLOSELY RELATED, SECTORS. THE LAW REQUIR THAT UNNS REGISTER WH THE ERNMENT, HAVE A MIMUM OF 20 MEMBERS, AND FORMALIZE THE UNN BY SUBMTG A NSTUTN AND BYLAWS. FOUNDG MEMBERS MT ALSO HAVE CLEAN POLICE RERDS. THOSE WHO FORM A UNN AND RRY OUT UNN ACTIVI WHOUT REGISTRATN MAY BE FED. UNNS ARE PROHIBED OM RRYG OUT ANY ACTIVY THAT IS NOT RELATED TO THE STUDY, FENSE, VELOPMENT, AND PROTECTN OF THE TERTS OF WORKERS. MORE THAN 100 TRA UNNS AND 12 TRA UNN NFERATNS WERE OPERATN, CLUDG ONE PUBLIC SECTOR NFERATN. TRA UNNS OR ASSOCIATNS OF PUBLIC SERVANTS MAY NOT JO A FOREIGN OCCUPATNAL OR LABOR ANIZATN WHOUT PRR THORIZATN OM THE MISTER OF TERRORIAL ADMISTRATN, WHO IS RPONSIBLE FOR “SUPERVISG PUBLIC EEDOMS.” THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROVI FOR LLECTIVE BARGAG BETWEEN WORKERS AND MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS BETWEEN LABOR FERATNS AND BS ASSOCIATNS EACH SECTOR OF THE ENOMY. THE LAW DO NOT OBLIGATE EMPLOYERS TO BARGA. THE LAW DO NOT APPLY TO THE AGRICULTURAL OR RMAL SECTORS, WHICH CLUD MOST OF THE WORKFORCE. LEGAL STRIK OR LOCKOUTS MAY BE LLED ONLY AFTER NCILIATN AND ARBRATN PROCR ARE EXHSTED. WORKERS WHO IGNORE PROCR TO NDUCT A STRIKE MAY BE DISMISSED OR FED. FREE DTRIAL ZON ARE SUBJECT TO LABOR LAWS, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL EXCEPTNS LIMG WORKER RIGHTS. WH EE DTRIAL ZON, EMPLOYERS HAVE THE RIGHTS TO TERME SALARI ACRDG TO PRODUCTIVY, WHICH ULD BYPASS MIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENTS, TO NEGOTIATE WORK NTRACTS EE OF SOME LABOR LAW REGULATNS, AND TO ISSUE WORK PERMS FOR FOREIGN WORKERS WHOUT THE NORMALLY LENGTHY ERNMENT OVERSIGHT PROCS. SOME LAWS TEND TO TARGET TERRORISTS MAY IMPOSE HARSH LEGAL PENALTI ON LEGIMATE TRA UNN ACTIVY. THE ERNMENT AND EMPLOYERS DID NOT EFFECTIVELY ENFORCE THE APPLIBLE LAWS ON EEDOM OF ASSOCIATN AND THE RIGHT TO LLECTIVE BARGAG. PENALTI FOR VLATNS WERE RARELY APPLIED AGAST VLATORS AND WERE NOT MENSURATE WH THOSE FOR PARABLE VLATNS. ADMISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL PROCR WERE EQUENT AND SUBJECT TO LENGTHY LAYS AND APPEALS. COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS ARE BDG UNTIL THREE MONTHS AFTER A PARTY HAS GIVEN NOTICE TO TERMATE. MANY EMPLOYERS NTUED TO E SUBNTRACTORS TO AVOID HIRG WORKERS WH LLECTIVE BARGAG RIGHTS. MAJOR PANI, CLUDG QUASI-STATE-N AND STATE-OPERATED PANI, REPORTEDLY ENGAGED THE PRACTICE, ACRDG TO WORKERS OM ENERGY OF CAMEROON, THE WATER SUPPLY PANY CAMEROUNAISE S EX, CEMENT MANUFACTURER CIMENM, GUNS, ALUMUM SMELTER, CAMEROON OIL TRANSPORTATN COMPANY, EBANK, AND MANY OTHERS. SUBNTRACTG REPORTEDLY VOLVED ALL TEGORI OF PERSONNEL, OM THE LOWT TO SENR LEVELS. AS A RULT, WORKERS WH EQUAL EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE DID NOT ALWAYS ENJOY SIAR PROTECTNS WHEN WORKG FOR THE SAME BS, AND SUBNTRACTED PERSONNEL TYPILLY LACKED A LEGAL BASIS TO FILE PLATS. THE INTERNATNAL TRA UNN CONFERATN CED THE UNTRY’S TERRORISM SUPPRSN LAW, AS LIMG CIVIL LIBERTI THE UNTRY, CLUDG LEGIMATE TRA UNN ACTIVI. THE INTERNATNAL LABOR ORGANIZATN (ILO) NOTED 2021 THAT THE LAW’S FN OF TERRORISM ULD APPLY TO ACTS RELATED TO THE LEGIMATE EXERCISE OF ACTIVI BY TRA UNNS OR EMPLOYERS’ REPRENTATIV. SEVERAL STRIK WERE ANNOUNCED. SOME WERE LLED OFF AFTER SUCCSFUL NEGOTIATNS, OTHERS WERE RRIED OUT PEACEFULLY, AND OTHERS FACED SOME GREE OF REPRSN. AS AN EXAMPLE OF A SUCCSFUL NEGOTIATN, TEACHERS ANIZED UNR THE LLECTIVE “ON A TROP SUPPORTé” (OTS) LNCHED A NATNWI STRIKE ON FEBARY 21 TO MAND BETTER WORKG NDNS AND RTUTN FOR UNPAID WAG AND BENEFS. REPRENTATIV OF OTS REPORTEDLY SUBMTED A STRIKE NOTICE TO THE PRIME MISTER’S OFFICE FEBARY, MANDG PAYMENT OF THEIR OUTSTANDG ALLOWANC AND BON. IN MARCH, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PRINCY ANNOUNCED THE DISBURSEMENT OF EMERGENCY FUNDG TO ADDRS THE OUTSTANDG BALANCE REPORTEDLY OWED TO TEACHERS WHO GRAD OFFICIAL EXAMS FOR AMIC YEARS 2020 AND 2021. OTS THEN LLED ON LLEAGU TO RUME DUTY, SAYG THAT THE LLECTIVE WOULD TST THE GOOD FAH OF THE ERNMENT AND TEMPORARILY SPEND THE STRIKE TO AVERT AN TN CRISIS. THE ERNMENT TOOK SOME ACTNS TO REPRS TRA UNN ACTIVY. IN JUNE, SECURY FORC ARRTED FOUR LEARS OF TRANSPORT SECTOR TRA UNNS AND PLACED THEM ADMISTRATIVE CTODY YAOUNDé. THEY WERE ACCED OF CEMENT TO REBELLN, CRIMAL ASSOCIATN, DISTURBANCE OF PUBLIC ORR, AND NSPIRACY AGAST THE REPUBLIC. THE REPRENTATIV OF B DRIVERS, TERCY DRIVERS, AND OTHER TRANSPORTERS HAD PLANNED A S- ONT OF THE PRIME MISTER’S OFFICE TO NOUNCE THE CREASE THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE SPECTN. IN THEIR STRIKE NOTICE, THEY ALSO URGED THEIR LLEAGU TO MONSTRATE AGAST ILLEGAL TRANSPORTERS WHO PETE WH THEM AND AGAST THE AB OF AGENTS OF THE MISTRY OF TRANSPORT ON THE HIGHWAYS. THE FOUR UNN LEARS WERE RELEASED ON JUNE 14. PRR TO THE ARRT, ON MARCH 23, POLICE OCCUPIED THE PREMIS OF THE LABOR EXCHANGE (BOURSE DU TRAVAIL), LOTED THE MSA DISTRICT OF YAOUNDé, TO PREVENT A PLANNED PRS NFERENCE BY THE TRANSPORT SECTOR UNN LEARS. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO TOOK POLICE ACTN AGAST A PLANNED WORK STOPPAGE. IN A JUNE 29 MUNIQUé, THE PRINT OF THE NATNAL UNN OF PUBLIC SECTOR REARCHERS URGED REARCHERS TO SPEND, EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, ACTIVI SUCH AS SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISN OF STUNTS AND TRAE REARCH STUT UNR THE MISTRY OF SCIENTIFIC REARCH AND INNOVATN. IN RPONSE TO THE STRIKE NOTICE, OFFICIALS PLOYED A STRONG POLICE PRENCE ON JUNE 30, EFFECTIVELY TAKG NTROL OF THE MISTRY OF SCIENTIFIC REARCH AND INNOVATN TO PREVENT ANY LABOR STOPPAGE. THE ERNMENT JTIFIED S ACTN BY CG THE LABOR REQUIREMENT FOR ARBRATN TO PRECE ANY STRIKE ACTN. B. PROHIBITION OF FORCED OR COMPULSORY LABOR THE NSTUTN AND LAW PROHIB ALL FORMS OF FORCED AND PULSORY LABOR. THE LAW PROHIBS SLAVERY, EXPLOATN, AND BT BONDAGE AND VOIDS ANY AGREEMENT WHICH VLENCE WAS ED TO OBTA NSENT. PENALTI FOR VLATNS WERE MENSURATE WH THOSE FOR OTHER SER CRIM. THE LAW ALSO EXTENDS CULPABILY FOR ALL CRIM TO ACPLIC AND RPORATE ENTI. ALTHOUGH THE STATUTORY PENALTI ARE SEVERE, THE ERNMENT DID NOT ENFORCE THE LAW EFFECTIVELY, PART DUE TO A LACK OF PACY TO VTIGATE TRAFFICKG, LABOR SPECTN AND REMEDIATN, AND REGULAR NFLATN OF HUMAN TRAFFICKG AND MIGRANT SMUGGLG. IN ADDN, DUE TO THE LENGTH AND EXPENSE OF CRIMAL TRIALS AND THE LACK OF PROTECTN AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS PARTICIPATG VTIGATNS, MANY VICTIMS OF FORCED OR PULSORY LABOR RORTED TO ACCEPTG OUT-OF-URT SETTLEMENTS. ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF HEREDARY SERVU SOME CHIEFDOMS THE NORTH REGN NTUED. MANY MEMBERS OF THE KIRDI, A PREDOMATELY CHRISTIAN AND ANIMIST ETHNIC GROUP ENSLAVED BY THE MLIM FULANI THE 1800S, NTUED TO WORK FOR TRADNAL FULANI LERS FOR PENSATN ROOM AND BOARD AND GENERALLY LOW AND UNREGULATED WAG, WHILE THEIR CHILDREN WERE EE TO PURSUE SCHOOLG AND WORK OF THEIR CHOOSG. KIRDI WERE ALSO REQUIRED TO PAY LOL CHIEFDOM TAX TO THE FULANI, AS WERE ALL OTHER SUBJECTS. THE BATN OF LOW WAG AND HIGH TAX (ALTHOUGH LEGAL) EFFECTIVELY NSTUTED FORCED LABOR. WHILE TECHNILLY EE TO LEAVE, MANY KIRDI REMAED THE HIERARCHIL AND THORARIAN SYSTEM BEE OF A LACK OF VIABLE ALTERNATIVE OPTNS. UNNFIRMED BUT CREDIBLE REPORTS SUGGTED THAT THE SOUTH AND EAST REGNS, SOME BAKA, CLUDG CHILDREN, NTUED TO BE SUBJECTED TO UNFAIR LABOR PRACTIC BY BANTU FARMERS WHO HIRED THE BAKA AT EXPLOATIVE WAG TO WORK ON THEIR FARMS DURG THE HARVT SEASONS. THE ILO NOTED 2021 THAT UNR THE UNTRY’S LAW, PULSORY PRISON LABOR MAY BE IMPOSED FOR EXPRSG CERTA POLIL VIEWS OR OPPOSG THE TABLISHED POLIL, SOCIAL, OR ENOMIC SYSTEM. ALSO SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S TRAFFICKG PERSONS REPORT. C. PROHIBITION OF CHILD LABOR AND MINIMUM AGE FOR EMPLOYMENT SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S REPORT FDGS ON THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR . D. DISCRIMINATION WITH RESPECT TO EMPLOYMENT AND OCCUPATION THE LAW NTAS NO SPECIFIC PROVISNS AGAST OR PENALTI FOR DISCRIMATN, BUT THE NSTUTN S PREAMBLE PROVIS THAT ALL PERSONS SHALL HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATNS AND THAT EVERY PERSON SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT AND THE OBLIGATN TO WORK. DISCRIMATN EMPLOYMENT AND OCCUPATN ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED WH RPECT TO ETHNICY, HIV STAT, DISABILY, GENR, SEXUAL ORIENTATN, AND GENR INTY, PECIALLY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ALTHOUGH NO STATISTICS WERE AVAILABLE (SEE SECTN 6). THERE WERE LEGAL RTRICTNS ON WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT OCCUPATNS EMED ARDUO OR “MORALLY APPROPRIATE” AND DTRI CLUDG MG, NSTCTN, FACTORI, AND ENERGY. WOMEN MA UP 90 PERCENT OF THE LABOR FORCE THE RMAL SECTOR. MEMBERS OF ETHNIC GROUPS OFTEN GAVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR GROUP BS. PERSONS WH DISABILI REPORTEDLY FOUND DIFFICULT TO SECURE AND ACCS EMPLOYMENT. REFUGE ULD OBTA LEGAL THORIZATN TO WORK THE FORMAL SECTOR; HOWEVER, FORMAL SECTOR EMPLOYERS RARELY HIRED THORIZED REFUGE. THERE WERE NO NFIRMED REPORTS OF DISCRIMATN AGAST TERNAL MIGRANT OR FOREIGN MIGRANT WORKERS, ALTHOUGH UNNFIRMED CREDIBLE REPORTS SUGGTED SUCH WORKERS WERE VULNERABLE TO UNFAIR WORKG NDNS. THE ERNMENT TOOK NO ACTN TO ELIMATE OR PREVENT DISCRIMATN AND KEPT NO RERDS OF CINTS OF DISCRIMATN. IN JUNE, A GROUP OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS STAGED A MONSTRATN ONT OF THE PRIME MISTER’S OFFICE YAOUNDé, TO NOUNCE WHAT THEY NSIRED DISCRIMATN REGARDG THEIR ACCS TO EMPLOYMENT. (SEE SECTN 6, PERSONS WH DISABILI.) E. ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS OF WORK WAGE AND HOUR LAWS: THE MIMUM WAGE ALL SECTORS WAS GREATER THAN THE WORLD BANK’S POVERTY LE. PREMIUM PAY FOR OVERTIME RANGED OM 120 TO 150 PERCENT OF THE HOURLY RATE, PENDG ON THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME AND WHETHER WAS WEEKEND OR LATE-NIGHT OVERTIME. DPE THE MIMUM WAGE LAW, EMPLOYERS OFTEN NEGOTIATED LOWER WAG WH WORKERS, PART DUE TO THE EXTREMELY HIGH RATE OF UNREMPLOYMENT THE UNTRY. SALARI LOWER THAN THE MIMUM WAGE REMAED PREVALENT THE PUBLIC WORKS SECTOR, WHERE MANY POSNS REQUIRED UNSKILLED LABOR, AS WELL AS DOMTIC WORK, WHERE FEMALE REFUGE WERE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO UNFAIR LABOR PRACTIC. THE LAW TABLISH A STANDARD WORKWEEK OF 40 HOURS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONAGRICULTURAL FIRMS AND A TOTAL OF 2,400 HOURS PER YEAR, WH A MAXIMUM LIM OF 48 HOURS PER WEEK AGRICULTURAL AND RELATED ACTIVI. THERE ARE EXCEPTNS FOR GUARDS AND FIREFIGHTERS (56 HOURS PER WEEK), SERVICE-SECTOR STAFF (45 HOURS PER WEEK), AND HOEHOLD AND RTRANT STAFF (54 HOURS PER WEEK). THE LAW MANDAT AT LEAST 24 NSECUTIVE HOURS OF RT WEEKLY. OCCUPATNAL SAFETY AND HEALTH: THE ERNMENT SETS OCCUPATNAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (OSH) STANDARDS THE WORKPLACE. THE MISTER CHARGE OF LABOR TABLISH THE LIST OF OCCUPATNAL DISEAS NSULTATN WH THE NATNAL COMMISSN ON INDTRIAL HYGIENE AND SAFETY. MISTRY SPECTORS AND OCCUPATNAL HEALTH PHYSICIANS ARE RPONSIBLE FOR MONORG OSH STANDARDS. WAGE, HOUR, AND OSH ENFORCEMENT: THE MISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURY IS RPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE MIMUM WAGE, OVERTIME, AND OSH LAWS. THE MISTRY DID NOT ENFORCE THE LAWS AND REGULATNS THE RMAL SECTOR. IN THE FORMAL SECTOR, PENALTI FOR VLATNS OF THE LAW WERE NOT MENSURATE WH THOSE FOR PARABLE CRIM, SUCH AS NEGLIGENCE. PENALTI WERE RARELY APPLIED AGAST VLATORS. UNNFIRMED BUT CREDIBLE REPORTS SUGGT SOME BS DID NOT PROVI HEALTH SERVIC TO THEIR EMPLOYE, AS REQUIRED BY LAW BUT RARELY ENFORCED. THE ERNMENT MORE THAN DOUBLED THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LABOR SPECTORS, BUT THE NUMBER WAS STILL SUFFICIENT, AND THE MISTRY LACKED THE ROURC FOR A PREHENSIVE SPECTN PROGRAM. INFORMAL SECTOR: THE INTERNATNAL LABOR ORGANIZATN REPORTED THAT RMAL WORKERS MA UP 90 PERCENT OF THE LABOR FORCE THE UNTRY, AND THAT MOST WERE WOMEN. SECTORS WHERE RMAL EMPLOYMENT WAS MOST PREVALENT CLUD ARTISANAL MG, PETTY TRA, HUNTG AND FISHG, AND HANDICRAFT. THE RMAL ENOMY WAS MOSTLY UNREGULATED, AND NSEQUENTLY WAS NOT VERED BY WAGE, HOUR, OSH, AND OTHER LABOR LAWS AND SPECTNS. ALTHOUGH SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS ULD VOLUNTARILY NTRIBUTE TO ONE TYPE OF ERNMENT OLD AGE PENSN SCHEME, WORKERS THE RMAL LABOR MARKET WERE LARGELY UNVERED OR ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL PROTECTN SCHEM LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT OR WORKERS PENSATN FOR JURY. REPORTS REPORTS U.S. EMBASSY CAMEROON
LGBT Rights Cameroon: homosexualy, gay marriage, gay adoptn, servg the ary, sexual orientatn discrimatn protectn, changg legal genr, donatg blood, age of nsent, and more. * cameroon gay rights *
In May 2020, police arrted 53 people, most of them LGBT, at a gatherg hosted by an HIV anizatn a hotel Bafosam and charged them wh “homosexualy” related offens.
They were charged wh “homosexualy, ” pimpg, and plicy pimpg, and were held at the judicial police statn. On Febary 14, gendarm arrted 12 youth, cludg a 17-year-old boy, a rtrant Bertoua on homosexualy-related charg. Gendarm wanted to nfs we were homosexuals.
They were charged wh homosexualy-related offens, lack of inty rds, and public cency, and taken to a gendarmerie briga Nkoulouloun neighborhood, where they spent the night.