Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

106th session

11–29 April 2022

Item 6 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention

List of themes in relation to the combined twenty-second and twenty-third periodic reports of Cameroon

Note by the Country Rapporteur *

1.The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided at its seventy-sixth session that the Country Rapporteur would send to the State party concerned a short list of themes with a view to guiding and focusing the dialogue between the State party’s delegation and the Committee during the consideration of the State party’s report. The present document contains a list of such themes. It is not an exhaustive list; other issues may also be raised in the course of the dialogue. No written replies are required.

The Convention in domestic law and the institutional and policy framework for its implementation (arts. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7)

2.Statistics on the demographic composition of the population, disaggregated by ethnic origin, languages spoken and situation (migrant, refugee, asylum seeker, stateless person and internally displaced person). Economic and social indicators, disaggregated by ethnic origin, sex and age, for the various groups living in the territory of the State party, and particularly minorities and indigenous peoples, in the light of the fourth general population and housing census.

3.Information on the prohibition of racial discrimination in line with articles 1, 2 and 4 of the Convention, and on the definition and criminalization of acts of racial discrimination and incitement to racial hatred, particularly in the light of the revision of the Criminal Code enacted in 2016. Information and statistical data on complaints filed with the courts for acts of racial discrimination, racist hate speech and racist hate crimes, including online and in the media, and on the number of investigations opened, prosecutions brought and convictions of perpetrators obtained.

4.Information on the establishment, in 2019, of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission to replace the National Commission of Human Rights and Freedoms as the national independent institution for the promotion and protection of human rights, and on its compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), particularly with regard to independence and financial autonomy, as well as its mandate to independently and transparently monitor and assess progress in the implementation of the Convention.

5.Updated information on the implementation of the Civil Status Rehabilitation Programme, and disaggregated statistics on birth registration rates and identification card issuance, especially among vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons, indigenous peoples and people living in rural and remote areas.

Situation of minorities and indigenous peoples (art. 5)

6.Updates on studies aimed at identifying and characterizing the national and ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples in the State party, and information on the findings of these studies.

7.Measures taken to develop and adopt a comprehensive strategy on the situation of minorities and indigenous peoples, as well as measures taken to: (a) strengthen their effective participation and representation in public and political life and update statistical data in anticipation of the legislative, municipal and presidential elections; (b) guarantee their access to education without discrimination; and (c) ensure their access to justice, for example by making courts more geographically accessible and providing interpretation services.

8.Measures taken to: (a) adopt legislation to protect the right of indigenous peoples to own, use, develop and exercise total control over their lands, territories and resources; (b) guarantee their rights to consultation and to prior, free and informed consent in relation to administrative and legislative procedures affecting them; and (c) guarantee fair and immediate compensation and reparation for communities who have been driven out of their traditional lands and territories.

9.Measures aimed at effectively implementing bilingualism and putting an end to the inequality and discrimination experienced by national and ethnic minorities, including in the areas of employment, education and access to justice. Statistical data on schools, universities and students in the North-West and South-West regions, and on the representation of national and ethnic minorities in senior positions and in the civil service, particularly in the education and justice sectors. Information on measures taken to assess and strengthen language policies.

10.Information on: (a) the human and financial resources allocated to the National Commission on Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism; (b) the results obtained by the Commission so far, including the recommendations it has submitted to the President and the number of complaints it has received regarding failures to respect bilingualism and multiculturalism; and (c) measures taken to assess and strengthen the Commission's mandate.