Anglophone Crisis - UN Concerned About Excessive Use Of Force By Police And Military Against Protesters

The Human Rights Committee calls on the public authorities to lift all restrictions on the freedom of assembly and to protest and review the anti-terrorism law.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee released on November 10, 2017, its concluding observations on Cameroon's fifth periodic report. The independent experts of the Committee discussed the situation in the North-West and South-West regions, but also stressed the legitimacy of the fight against terrorism.

With regard to the so-called Anglophone crisis, the Committee asked Cameroon to " take the necessary measures to ensure equal treatment of the English-speaking minority and guarantee its rights of expression and assembly ". Experts believe that there are " discrimination's of access to employment and public participation and restrictions on the rights of expression and peaceful demonstration of the English-speaking minority ".

Anglophone Crisis - UN Concerned About Excessive Use Of Force By Police And Military Against Protesters

The Committee notes that it has received reports of " attacks on the freedom of assembly, particularly in the context of the Anglophone crisis, and excessive use of force by police officers to disperse police officers". demonstrations, resulting in deaths and injuries at the events of October 1, 2017. "UN human rights experts urge Cameroonian authorities to" promptly carry out impartial and effective investigations and bring those responsible to justice " in all cases where there has been excessive use of force to disperse demonstrations in the context of this crisis.
With regard to the war against terrorism in the Far North, the Committee believes that " the fight against Boko-Haram must be conducted with respect for human rights ".

In addition, the United Nations is also concerned about the anti-terrorist law of 2014/028 adopted on December 23, 2014. According to the Organization it is a provision " introducing new grounds for the death penalty, provisions contrary to fundamental guarantees". of the person and the jurisdiction of military tribunals, including on civilians ".

The Committee is also concerned about allegations that the Anti-Terror Law is widely applied, " including for alleged non-reporting of terrorist activities ". Especially since there are reports of " numerous abuses, such as arbitrary detentions, torture or extrajudicial executions, which would be committed in the name of the fight against terrorism ".

Source - Anglophone Crisis-UN Concerned About Excessive Use Of Force By Police And Military Against Protesters