Amnesty International “Cameroon: Authorities must urgently protect detainees against COVID-19”
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In their report titled “Cameroon: Authorities must urgently protect detainees against COVID-19”, Amnesty International like many human rights organizations, including the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), Human Rights Watch is concerned about the faith of detainees in Cameroon prisons. The president of the Republic of Cameroon due to pressure in his recent move to decongest prisons or to remit and commute prison terms of some prisoners around the country was a good one. Hundreds of prisoners have benefited from this effort by the president of Cameroon but various prisons still remain overcrowded. Amnesty International writes, “Following a 15 April presidential decree commuting and remitting sentences, hundreds of prisoners have been released in all the regions. For example, 831 prisoners, were released in the Far North region, and the number falling from 3,370 to 2,547 detainees, according to state media. An independent source also confirms to Amnesty International that 214 detainees were released in the Maroua prison (Far North). While this is a first welcome step in reducing overcrowding in prisons, it remains far from sufficient. Measures to fight the spread of the virus in detention facilities should include the release of detainees who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 such as the elderly or those with underlying medical conditions”. This statement from Amnesty International is in corroboration to recommendations set out by CHRDA for the government to follow and decongest prisons around the country
Reports about the possible existence of the coronavirus in prisons like the Kondengui prison in Yaoundé have been circulating. Human Rights groups have also decried the vulnerability of prisoners in Cameroon getting infected with the virus due to overcrowded facilities. this has made it very difficult to implement the various measures put in place by the World Health Organization and the government authorities to combat the spread of the pandemic. Some of these measures include social distancing, respiratory and general hygiene, etc. the government authorities have continuously remained mute about the potential existence of the pandemic in prisons.
Amnesty International writes, “The Cameroonian authorities must come clean on the reality of the spread of COVID-19 in the country’s prisons, provide detainees with adequate medical care and stop exacerbating overcrowding with arbitrary arrests, Amnesty International said today” The organization confirms that at least one prisoner has tested positive for the virus at the “Kondengui” central prison in Yaoundé and has been taken to a health facility outside the prison. While authorities have not confirmed or denied the presence of the virus in detention facilities, Amnesty International has reportedly received information stating the number of currents and former detainees tested positive could be much higher.
“As COVID-19 spreads in Cameroon, it is essential that detainees and their families have access to accurate information about the virus. The poor conditions in detention centers mean they risk becoming epicenters of the pandemic unless urgent action is taken,” said Fabien Offner, Amnesty International West and Central Africa researcher.
Should we not prevent the spread of the coronavirus from entering prisons, we are risking detainee’s lives and the whole country. Quoted from Amnesty International Website, “Authorities must take all necessary measures to allow those in prison to enjoy standard health-care services free of charge and without discrimination, and to urgently reduce the overall number of people in detention”
According to the National Commission on human rights and freedoms, the occupancy rate was high in many prisons in Cameroon, reaching 432% in “Kondengui’’, 729% in Bertoua prison (East), 481% in Sangmelima (South) and 567% in Kumba Main Prison (South-West).
Amnesty International also reported that there is an increase in health problems in the Central Prison of Yaoundé. This increase is terrifying amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has killed close to 300, 000 persons worldwide and got more than four million persons infected. Quoted from their report, “Many inmates are sick in the central prison of Yaoundé’’ Prison conditions are dire in the central prison of Yaoundé. An inmate told Amnesty International: “Prisoners often die in this prison; no one can really say who is contaminated. Many inmates are sick and because of the congestion, everyone is scared. Those who are sick also fear to go to the prison health services because of rumors of COVID-19 patients being admitted there”.
According to reports from Amnesty International, “Most inmates who present COVID-19 symptoms are treated using hot liquids mixed with ginger and garlic. Last month, five other deaths have been reported in a week, according to independent sources. A letter sent on 21 April to the Ministry of Justice on behalf of detainees highlighted the persistent overcrowding, describing the nursing station in prisons as “saturated with sick detainees” and the medical staff as “overwhelmed”.
In trying to prevent the possible spread of the virus in prisons, the authorities on 23 April 2020, announced some measures aimed at containing the virus inside the central prison in Yaoundé, including the suspension of outside chores, the establishment of observation cells for suspected COVID-19 cases, disinfection operations and the application of barrier gestures.
Some detainees who were recently released from prisons have died according to Amnesty International’s report. “At least two sick detainees died shortly after their release. One was buried in conditions applied to COVID-19 deaths without the presence of his family, although no test was made to determine the cause of death”.
Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) is joining
- Amnesty International
- Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa
- Human Rights Watch
and the many Human Rights Organizations, Human Rights Activists and journalists to encourage the authorities to released prisoners in overcrowded facilities including those with health problems, minors, the elderly, political prisoners and those with minor crimes
Click the following link to read the full report from Amnesty International https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/cameroon-authorities-must-urgently-protect-detainees/?fbclid=IwAR0OSp23tr5d9GE0GQy2l0L3LtaH-TnEBYgm3PlgxXoEy19iVWZB3dyhxlg
Click the following link to read the full report from CHRDA https://www.chrda.org/the-cameroon-government-authorities-should-decongest-prisons-as-a-response-against-the-spread-of-covid-19-pandemic/
Click the following link to read the full report from Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/27/cameroon-should-protect-prison-population-covid-19
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
