The nebulous terrorist sect, Boko Haram, has been indicted for gross violations of human rights in the Far North Region of Cameroon. “The Boko Haram sect has committed several violations of the rights to life and to physical integrity by roads ambushing, throat slitting, recurrent kidnapping of foreigners and nationals, planting landmines on roads…” the 2015 report on the situation of Human Rights in Cameroon presented yesterday  June 23, 2016, by the Cameroon Bar Association states.

While condemning human rights abuses such as torture and inhumane treatment compounded by the security situation in the Far North Region, the report states that the situation in detention and prison cells, access to justice, Public Service amongst others, still leaves much to be desired. The 82-page document divided into four parts notably Civil and Political Rights, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Rights of Specific Groups and Cross-Cutting Issues respectively, there are several discrepancies between domestic laws and international law provisions leading to a difficult and haphazard implementation of human rights. This is evident in civil and political rights as well as rights of specific groups that are protected under international human rights laws.

Barrister Simon Pierre Eteme Eteme, head of the project dubbed “Bar Association-Governance and the Situation of Rights” supported by European Union, calls for the harmonization of international and domestic legal instruments in order to create an enabling environment for the promotion of human rights in Cameroon.

The President of the Bar Council, Barrister Ngnie Kamga, stressed the determination of the Bar Association to continue to press for the implementation of international legal instruments aimed at promoting human rights. Meanwhile, the President of the General Assembly of the Bar Association, Barrister Nico Halle, underlined peace, love, justice and harmony as the bedrock of human rights.