Cloud on Parentage (Depriving the Biological Parent of a Child, the Right to the custody of his or her child) is a crime in Cameroon
In Cameroon, the right of a child to know and be known by their biological parents is not just a moral imperative, it is a legal one. Section 341 of the Cameroonian Penal Code makes it unequivocally clear: “Any person whose conduct has the result of depriving a child of the evidence of his true parentage shall be punished with imprisonment for from five (5) to ten (10) years.”
This provision speaks to a deeper truth about identity, dignity, and justice. Whether a child is born within or outside of marriage, Cameroonian law recognizes that both biological parents have equal rights to custody and recognition. The law does not discriminate based on marital status, it protects the child’s right to truth.
Yet, despite this clarity, many children in Cameroon continue to suffer under the weight of what is legally termed a “cloud on parentage.” This cloud often arises from:
- Uncertainty in birth certificates, especially for children born out of wedlock, where the father’s name may be omitted or misrepresented.
- Traditional practices, where a child’s paternity is falsely attributed to a grandfather or relative, sometimes to claim family allowances or to obscure the role of the biological father.
- Remarriage, where a parent’s union with a third party leads to the informal or intentional erasure of the child’s biological parentage, despite the law stating that marriage does not alter the identity of a child’s biological mother or father.
These practices not only violate the Penal Code, they violate the child’s right to identity, belonging, and legal protection. A child deprived of their true parentage may face emotional trauma, inheritance disputes, and barriers to accessing justice or social services.
As a human rights activist, I call on families, community leaders, and state institutions to uphold the law and protect the integrity of every child’s identity. We must resist the temptation to manipulate parentage for convenience or gain. Instead, we must foster a culture of truth, transparency, and accountability. Let us remember: the foundation of a just society is built not only on laws, but on the values we choose to uphold. Every child deserves to know where they come from, and every parent must honor that truth.
Berinyuy Cajetan Human Rights Activist, cajetantardzee@gmail.com (contact me for legal consultation) +237 652325886
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.
