Gender-Based Violence: Government To Introduce Bill In Parliament Soon

The National Assembly transformed into an arena of intense legislative oversight on Friday, June 26, 2026. Moving past traditional pleasantries, Members of Parliament (MPs) directly confronted key cabinet ministers during a high-stakes interactive plenary session chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Theodore Datouo. Lawmakers rigorously cross-examined administrative heads over severe lapses in domestic telecommunications quality, the proliferation of digital risks targeting minors, a disturbing spike in violent crimes against women. And the perceived slow deployment of state diplomacy to protect Cameroonian strategic and economic interests abroad.

Digital Safety Regulations

Honourable Gimbop Simo Diffo raised deep concerns regarding the rapid proliferation of algorithmic video feeds on TikTok. He questioned the government on what precise legal, educational, and technical frameworks are being established to safeguard children against violent, sexualized, or humiliating content, commercial data profiling, and cyberbullying. He further pressed the ministry on the specific conditions under which a suspension of the platform would be considered.

The Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Mrs. Libom Li Likeng Minette, emphasized that the government relies on the Cybersecurity Law and the Online Child Protection Charter to regulate digital entities. She revealed plans to roll out an age-verification mechanism and a simplified national signaling protocol for parents and educators to flag malicious profiles. Addressing a potential shutdown, she explicitly stated that while a suspension of TikTok is neither excluded by principle nor the first choice, it remains an absolute last resort if severe, uncorrected shortcomings threaten public order and minor safety.

Deplorable Telecom Networks, Billing Disputes

Honourable Gemini Bernil targeted the chronic degradation of Cameroon's internet connectivity and mobile network services. The MP demanded to know what structural corrections the state is imposing on electronic communication operators to eliminate dropped voice calls, persistent connection delays, and systemic billing discrepancies related to internet data bundles (forfeits).

Minister Libom Li Likeng Minette responded that providing high-quality connectivity is a binding contractual and legal obligation for operators. She defended the state's oversight by noting that the Telecom Regulatory Agency, ART has recently been equipped with more sophisticated tracking gear to audit operators. She challenged consumers to report anomalies directly to the ART rather than using informal complaints, noting that current formal complaints do not match the true scale of consumer dissatisfaction.

Horrific Crimes Against Women, Children

Honourable Nneng'e Mezoui Germain confronted the government with a sobering list of recent national tragedies, including the rape of minors, infanticide, and femicide. The MP demanded transparency on the progress of custom protection laws, questioned why dangerous criminals frequently secure provisional release through perceived judicial gaps. And scrutinized the operational limits of emergency child assistance help lines and holistic care centers.

The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Prof. Marie-Therese Abena Ondoa announced that an extensive legislative bill explicitly drafted to fight Gender-based Violence, GBV was reviewed during a key inter-ministerial validation session just one day prior, on June 25, 2026. Before its progression to Parliament. Defending against judicial critiques, she stated that the judiciary acts independently under the Constitution. But her department is actively training magistrates and police officers to ensure that provisional release does not compromise the memory of victims. She admitted that while 126 promotion centers are operational, their emergency capacity is heavily restricted by severe budgetary and logistical constraints.

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