full version - World Organisation Against Torture

Violence Against Women: 10 Reports / Year 2003making process, right to inheritance, right to food security and adequatehousing, protection of women against harmful traditional practices andprotection of women in armed conflict. Others include access of womento justice and equal protection before the law.In Cameroon, human rights instruments are generally incorporated intonational law simply by means of ratification. OMCT notes that article 45of the Constitution of Cameroon states that duly approved or ratifiedtreaties and international agreements have priority over national law.Nonetheless, the Committee against Torture argued, when it examined theimplementation of the Convention against Torture by Cameroon in theyear 2000, for greater protection of the of Cameroon’s international commitmentsin its domestic law, so as to be more easily accessible to judgesand lawyers. 4 Also the Committee on the Economic, Social and CulturalRights expressed its concern about the exact legal status of the Covenantin the Cameroonian legal system and whether it can be invoked in nationalcourts of law. 51.2 General Observations on the Human Rights Situation onCameroonCameroon has more than 200 different ethnic groups, many of which arespread across neighbouring countries. 6 French and English are the twoofficial languages, but 270 different languages are spoken, representing24 language groups. The country is dominated by three major religions:Christian (40%), Muslim (20%), indigenous believers (40%). 7Since its independence on 1 January 1960, Cameroon has been governedby the same party and since 1982, Paul Biya has been the head of state,in whom power is highly centralised. The Bulu ethnic group, to whichthe president belongs, and the related Beti groups dominate the civil service,the management of state-owned businesses, the security forces, themilitary and the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement(CPDM). 8Cameroon is a poor country. In 2001, its Human Development Index was0,499, ranking it at 142 nd in the world. 9 Between 1990 and 2001, 33.4%of the population was living below 1 USD a day. 10122