Senate : Reformed Human Rights Bill Adopted

Bill No 127/PJL/ SEN/2L relating to the establishment, organisation and functioning of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC) was on July 5, 2019 adopted by the Senate during a plenary sitting chaired by the House President, Marcel Niat Njifenji in the presence of the Minister Delegate at the President in charge of Relations with Parliament, Bolvine Wakata. The adopted bill states that the Commission shall be an independent institution for consultation, monitoring, evaluation, dialogue, conciliation and deliberation in the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.

Going by the explanations given by the Minister Delegate to the Ministry of Justice, Jean de Dieu Momo who defended the bill before the Committee on Constitutional Laws prior to its adoption in plenary, the bill gives the Commission the responsibility to champion the course for the prevention of torture in all places of detention.

Explanatory notes on the bill indicate that the Commission which is a reformation of the existing National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms, shall amongst other duties in the promotion of human rights raise public awareness on various human rights topics including gender issues as well as the rights of vulnerable groups, advocate the improvement of the legal and institutional framework for human rights pr...