Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Eighty-fifth session

11–29 August 2014

Item 4 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 nineteenth to twenty-first periodic reports of Cameroon (CERD/C/CMR/19-21)

Note by the Country Rapporteur

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided at its seventy-sixth session (A/65/18, para. 85) 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. This document contains a list of such themes. This is not an exhaustive list; other issues may also be raised in the course of the dialogue. No written replies are required.

1.Legal and institutional framework, policies and programmes to ensure the implementation of the Convention (arts. 1, 2, 4 and 6)

(a)Legislative provision defining and condemning racial discrimination, in keeping with the provisions of articles 1 and 2;

(b)Criminalization of racial discrimination, in keeping with the provisions of article 4;

(c)Progress on the establishment of institutions (CERD/C/CMR/CO/15-18, para. 10, and CERD/C/CMR/19-21, paras. 189 and 190);

(d)Findings of the national survey of indigenous peoples in Cameroon and progress on the adoption of a law on the rights of indigenous peoples (CERD/C/CMR/CO/15-18, para. 15);

(e)Legislation regarding indigenous peoples’ right to land and the implementation thereof.

2.Situation of indigenous populations (arts. 1 to 7)

(a)Measures taken to protect indigenous populations from discrimination and marginalization (A/HRC/WG.6/16/CMR/3, para. 104);

(b)Additional measures taken to ensure that all indigenous persons are registered, especially children;

(c)Specific measures to adapt the school system to indigenous culture;

(d)Effective participation of indigenous communities in political and public life.

3.Economic, social and cultural rights of minority ethnic groups and other vulnerable groups (art. 5)

(a)Impact of the measures taken to combat discrimination in education and access to health-care services by persons belonging to minorities (CERD/C/CMR/CO/15-18, paras. 16 (b) and (c));

(b)Specific measures taken for the benefit of indigenous women and women belonging to minority groups.

4.Situation of foreign nationals, especially migrants, refugees and asylum seekers (arts. 5 and 6)

(a)Legislative progress achieved regarding these categories of people;

(b)Data on integration and non-discrimination in the treatment of foreign nationals (migrants and refugees); effective enjoyment of their social and economic rights, including access to employment.

5.Awareness-raising to combat prejudices and promote understanding (art. 7)

(a)Impact on law enforcement personnel of measures to raise their awareness of human rights, especially the Convention;

(b)Public awareness-raising.