NCHRF on September 4, 2014, held a parley with representatives of organisations and institutions that support its activities.

Cameroon is preparing to host the 2015 summit of National Association of Human Rights Institutions, NAHRI, the Chair of the National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms, NCHRF, Dr Divine Chemuta Banda, disclosed on September 4, 2014, in Yaounde at the Third Partners’ Forum.

He said as current Vice Chair of NAHRI, the country expects to take over the leadership from Ghana after the summit. Preparations are thus underway to ensure a successful human rights summit, which Dr Banda sees as an honour for the country.

Speaking about partnership development, the NCHRF Chair said government’s funding of the institution was just enough to cater for fixed running costs, including salaries of about 100 staff at the Yaounde national head office and six regional offices.

Reason why the support of national and international partners – as provided by the law - was important for the commission to make field visits in order to investigate alleged human rights violations as well as give better visibility to its activities.

Dr Banda described the human rights situation in the Cameroon now as critical, given that government is fighting on two fronts – to keep off the deadly Ebola virus epidemic from entering the country, and also containing the attacks of Boko Haram militants in the Far North Region.

He then went on to read a list of NCHRF national and partners, detailing their areas of support such as sponsorship, training, exchange visits and donation of equipment.

The rights boss disclosed that his commission oversees the activities of about 500 Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in the country by keeping a data bank of their areas of interest and geographical location as well as endorsing their applications for funding from partners.

The one-day forum was also an opportunity for partners to familiarise themselves with plans and projects for 2014 and possibly commit to support them.