The African Commission
on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Commission), meeting at its 63rd Ordinary
Session held from 23 October to 13 November 2018 in Banjul, Republic of The
Gambia;
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human
and peoples’ rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
(African Charter);
Considering the provisions of the African Charter, in
particular Article 13(1) on the right of every citizen to participate freely in the government of his country;
Considering its Resolution ACHPR/Res.272 (LV) 14 on
elections in Africa;
Recalling
its Resolution ACHPR/Res. 395 (LXII) 18 on the human rights situation in the
Republic of Cameroon;
Concerned by the
human rights violations, in particular the excessive restrictions on freedom of
expression, association and peaceful assembly, the prohibition of peaceful demonstration
during the electoral process which was marked by several cases of arrest and
unlawful detention;
Deeply concerned by the continuous deterioration of the
human rights situation in the country in general and in particular in the
English-speaking North-West and South-West Regions of Cameroon;
Deeply concerned by the increasing
insecurity, recurrent enforced disappearances, summary and extrajudicial
executions, abductions and intimidation;
Concerned by the police repression, marked by prohibition from
demonstration by opposition political parties, arbitrary arrests and the
violation of other human rights following several cases of disputing of the
results after the recent presidential election of 7 October 2018;
Emphasising the importance of an inclusive political
participation of all sectors of the Cameroonian society towards restoring
stability throughout the national territory;
Concerned by the continuous loss of lives;
The
Commission:
- Welcomes
the release of the 79 students and teachers who were abducted on 5
November 2018 from their school in the North-West Region of Cameroon, and
calls upon the Government to ensure their protection and that of all
schools throughout the national territory;
- Strongly condemns the various human
rights violations committed in the country, and in particular during the
electoral process;
- Calls upon the African Union to take
measures towards putting an end to the ongoing serious human rights violations
in the country;
- Calls
upon the Cameroonian authorities to:
-
Increase
efforts towards finding a speedy solution to the Anglophone crisis and
restoring stability, peace and security;
-
take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population;
-
ensure democratic space for civil society
and political opposition actors, journalists, lawyers, and pro-democracy
movement activists;
-
promote the collective interest of
citizens by preserving the ideals of peace, justice, equity and good governance
as provided for in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
ratified by Cameroon;
- authorise the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to undertake a fact-finding mission.