Cameroon: CHRDA strengthens the capacity of Civil Society Actors in Human Rights Monitoring and Reporting in conflict situations
3 min read
The ongoing armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon has seen an unprecedented rise in human rights violations/abuses by the state and non-state actors. Civil Society Organisations have continued to contribute towards pushing for peaceful resolution of the conflict as well as facilitating the provision of humanitarian services in the troubled regions including the promotion and protection of human rights.
On 17 March 2022, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), organised a training session on Human Rights Monitoring, Documenting and Reporting that brought together over 50 Civil Society Actors from the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. The training took place at the PCC Synod office in Buea with support from the British High Commission in Yaounde.
‘Civil Society Actors including Human Rights Defenders and Journalists contribute immensely toward the promotion and protection of human rights in conflicts situations. The end goal of their work is to protect victims of human rights violations and abuses and to sort perpetrators accountable for their acts irrespective of their status….’The CHRDA published on their social media handle
The important role, Civil Society Actors, journalist and lawyers play in the protection of human rights during conflict is worth according to Dr Wabi Wilson, one of the facilitators present during the training. For these rights defenders to carry out their work, there is a need for capacity building and strengthened sustainable partnerships which according to Barrister Agbor Nkogho, a prominent Right defender and the president of CHRDA should be prioritised.
Some of the core issues discussed during the one-day training were and not exclusively; Human Rights Monitoring, Human Rights Investigations, Human Rights Documentation, Human Rights Reporting, Practical experiences from Civil Society Actors, Physical and Digital Security.
According to the President of CHRDA, Barrister Agbor Nkongho, for Civil Society organisations to promote and protect Human Rights, they must work with all stakeholders and they must ensure impartiality, accuracy and consistency in their work.
While speaking to the press, the president of CHRDA reiterated that systematic human rights violations have been committed in Cameroon by both state and non-state actors. He also stated that the culture of impunity and accountability will have to end one day and that those who are perpetrating these human rights violations /abuses will have to be held accountable at the end of the conflict. He also expresses the need for the press and human rights defenders to take it as a responsibility to educate the masses on the importance of respecting the human rights of persons and the consequences of human rights violations, especially at the international level.
He further cited CHRDA human rights report published in 2019 ‘ ‘CAMEROON’S UNFOLDING CATASTROPHE’ wherein he reiterated that since 2016, there has been burning down of villages, attacks on education, traditional authorities, chopping off fingers of CDC Workers, attacks on religious leaders, illegal and unlawful detention etc.
The president of CHRDA while talking to the press also reveals that at the end of the year 2022, CHRDA will be publishing its mother report on human rights violations and abuses in the English Speaking Regions of Cameroon.
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.
