full version - World Organisation Against Torture

CameroonFurthermore, Cameroon acceded to the International Covenant onEconomic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) on 27 June 1984, andratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms ofRacial Discrimination on 24 June 1971. Cameroon has also been a StateParty to the Convention on the Rights of the Child since 11 January 1993.Cameroon has only signed, but has not ratified, the two optional Protocolsto the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of childrenin armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution andchild pornography on 5 October 2001. Further it ratified the Treaty ofRome establishing the International Criminal Court.Cameroon has neither signed nor ratified the Convention on Protection ofRights of Migrant Workers, which entered into force on 1 July 2003.At the regional level, Cameroon is a State Party to the African Charter onHuman and People’s Rights. This Charter, mirroring other internationalhuman rights instruments, protects all individuals against violence includingtorture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments and provides for thepromotion of gender equality. Thus, article 2 of the Charter states that“Every individual shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the rights and freedomsrecognized and guaranteed in the present Charter without distinctionof any kind such as … sex, …”. Article 3 guarantees that all are“equal before the law” and that everyone is “entitled to equal protection ofthe law”. Article 4 protects each human being’s right to life and to physicaland moral integrity followed by article 5 which forbids physical orpsychological torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.Article 18(3) provides that States Parties shall ensure the eliminationof all forms of discrimination against women as well as protectionfor the rights of women “as stipulated in international declarations andconventions.”On 11 July 2003, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human andPeoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa was adopted by theAssembly of the African Union second summit in Maputo Mozambique.The Protocol will enter into force thirty (30) days after the deposit of thefifteenth (15) instrument of ratification. The Protocol will complement theAfrican Charter in ensuring the promotion and protection of the humanrights of women in Africa. Its provisions include the right to life, integrityand security of person, right to participation in the political and decision121