| Click here for a summary of Cameroon’s review at the second cycle and/or third cycle. |
Date of review: 5 February 2009
Date of report adoption: 12 October 2009
Document number: A/HRC/11/21
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SUMMARY SOGIESC issues during Cameroon’s 1st UPR review |
I. SOGIESC issues/recommendations identified by NGOs
Right to privacy, marriage and family life
23. The CHRI [Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative] said that it had received reports indicating that homosexuality continues to be criminalised and punishable by law with a prison sentence of up to five years and that arrests of suspected homosexuals are reported on an alarmingly regular basis.
II. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues from the national report
No references.
III. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues by UN agencies
Right to privacy, marriage and family life
26. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention requested in 2005 the Government to consider the possibility of amending domestic law regarding homosexuality to bring it into line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the other relevant international standards accepted by the State.
IV. References to SOGIESC issues during the Working Group review
20. Argentina recalled that in 2005 the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had called on the Government to consider introducing changes to local legislation regarding homosexuality to bring them into line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards accepted by Cameroon. NGOs, too, had described various cases of people convicted in Cameroon for engaging in homosexuality. Argentina recommended Cameroon considering the possibility of reforming the laws criminalizing homosexuality and adapting them to international standards.
22. Canada recommended Cameroon […] (b) amend its Criminal Code to abolish the criminalization of homosexual acts to conform to the provisions of the ICCPR, particularly articles 2 and 26, and the provisions of the African Charter of Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights.
25. France […] recommended: […] (c) and non-discrimination against homosexuals.
28. Luxembourg joined Argentina, Canada and France in recommending to Cameroon to (c) reform its legislative arsenal on this point and establish effective protection of homosexuals against discrimination and attacks. Asking about measures to sensitize and legislate in areas of domestic violence, FGM and in combating trafficking in children. It recommended to the Government to (d) continue its legislative reform and abolish all laws resulting in inequality.
29. The Czech Republic […] recommended […] (d) the decriminalization of same-sex activity between consenting adults and adoption of measures to promote tolerance in this regards, which would also facilitate more effective educational programmes for the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
32. Brazil […] stressed the importance of assuring that no discrimination occurred on grounds of sex, race, origin or sexual orientation.
37. Cameroon has taken note of the request by many delegations to remove homosexuality from the penal code. This is an extremely sensitive issue in the cultural environment and whereas Cameroon understands the wishes of the international community, it must balance them with this sensitivity.
46. Mexico […] recommended […] (b) that all national legislation that criminalized homosexuality be brought into line with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other relevant instruments.
V. Conclusions and/or recommendations
Cameroon noted the following recommendations:
Amend domestic law regarding homosexuality, with a view to decriminalize it (Brazil);
Amend its Criminal Code to abolish the criminalization of homosexual acts to conform to the provisions of the ICCPR, particularly articles 2 and 26, and the provisions of the African Charter of Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights (Canada);
Recommended the decriminalization of same-sex activity between consenting adults and adoption of measures to promote tolerance in this regards, which would also facilitate more effective educational programmes for the prevention of HIV-AIDS (Czech Republic);
Respect international provisions in the area of non-discrimination against homosexuals (France);
Reform its legislative arsenal on this point and establish effective protection of homosexuals against discrimination and attacks (Luxembourg);
All national legislation that criminalized homosexuality be brought into line with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other relevant instruments (Mexico);
Consider the possibility of reforming the laws criminalizing homosexuality and adapting them to international standards (Argentina).
VI. Further information
You will find all documents relating to Cameroon’s first review at UPR-Info and OHCHR’s websites.