A campaign dubbed “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always,” launched on the occasion of the 2015 International Human Rights Day, by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has been launched in Cameroon.

The campaign was initiated in Yaounde on December 31 during an official ceremony to commemorate the 67th International Human Rights Day in Cameroon, by the Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedom (NCHRF), Dr. Divine Chemuta Banda.

Dr. Banda said, through the slogan, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights chose to focus on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966 to commemorate the 50th anniversary.

Remarking that everyone, without exception, should enjoy human rights, the NCHRF Chair called on the population to demand that such rights be respected everywhere and in all places.

“The International Human Rights Day not only offers us the opportunity to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but especially to reaffirm its relevance, given the current challenges facing humanity, with the resurgence of terrorist threats, global warming, extreme poverty, massive displacement of population due to insecurity and conflict...” Dr. Banda stated.

He mentioned the ratification of most international conventions on human rights by the State of Cameroon and progress made in the promotion and protection of human rights and freedoms in the country. According to him, this evolution has led to the inclusion of aspects relating to the advancement and protection of human rights in the National Governance Programme, the adoption and validation by Government of a National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Cameroon.

Calling on the population to join the global campaign “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always,” Banda said it should be done in such a way as to encourage as many people as possible to know, to protect and demand respect for their human rights.

“This is a campaign that must continue as the human rights and fundamental freedoms are abused everywhere,” he declared.

The Chairperson of the NCHRF remarked that, since the creation and inception of that human rights watchdog institution, they have been working to develop a human rights culture among the people. He said, like any organization of that nature, they are facing urgent challenges such as the revision of its organic law, extension into Regions and eventually Divisions not yet covered and the construction of its headquarters building.

“These are all necessary moves to maintain the Commission among status “A” national institutions of human rights, consistent with the Paris Principles,” he disclosed.

Dr. Banda expressed the Commission’s solidarity with countless victims of terrorism across the world and acclaimed the Cameroonian defence and security forces for their bravery in fighting to defend the hard-won ideals of freedom, peace, tolerance and justice for all.

He listed the stakeholders who worked tirelessly during activities to mark the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day in Cameroon. The activities that culminated into the commemoration as outlined by Dr. Banda included the publication of the Commission’s 2014 annual report; the holding of its 19th ordinary session; solidarity and support walk to soldiers and victims of terrorism; visit to the Yaounde Kondengui Central Prison and the organisation of a panel discussion on the topic: “Sustainable Development Goals: Issues, Challenges and Prospects,” during which the NCHRF Chairperson outlined the 17 goals to be attained over the next 15 years as set by the UN.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the panel discussion, the Secretary-General of the NCHRF, Eva Etongue Mayer, in an assessment, told the press that human rights are breaking grounds in Cameroon.

“A couple of years ago, we were not even talking about human rights in Cameroon. But today, the language is different, meaning that Cameroonians are becoming more and more aware of their human rights and are claiming the protection of same. Many human rights cases are now engaged against the State of Cameroon, both locally and internationally, and it is a sign that something is happening positively,” she stated.

In what could be done to attain the Sustainable Development Goals in regards to human rights in the country, Etongue said the main challenge is getting more people to know what the goals and their objectives are. S

he noted that all sectors of public administration were involved in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, remarking that Government and the NCHRF are already doing something in that direction.