ÿWPCE uOÌ–ŒàÕ¶z½ï’zXÅ`ôÔ<‡Ž•"—Çúº•EóöÀ¯öþäÿð{l¬Ë“z‘AŽ ¾j㧲Ú8 àJÕ7»Gˆê<Í&œu hŽY7ÛîÖ)r§b9[.“àú‚[`”¹5‚¢0JÊéBS_ôŒI݉™·Ëé…îÓR©½;ˆON3 ÿ¢àÍß…Åš’<Š5’NÇF‘}öèÇ—¦¿¢VÞü_évc”47ˆ¤¶”<ÄXqlÈ%fžÉ=V s8ø~ê,*2;Љ¢=„î}FH´dÁñ!Ÿû°Ýà#wiªå· ²³)Êy†étôÎ0r¥¦ñÇ¡*ýƒëD>)WäLhį/@ÜvõÍ!Žµñ†@“i›ÿâ‘G+Ê¿ãÌ ûS>ßc$W uõJ“¿8}’`#Þ†»»ý‰Z±—+ª–ð×QˆóRÏà´¡z9W7ø]IŽh«Âç!_Iúî9¬[ \i0ŠUÍ𹋟¼«f'‰jÒ9†È^Õ¹Ú¦á$ í,ãÍ“JÊg|3á1üvR‡¹Ìl¹†h3·Ž‹ ,ªUÄnN—S¨*îéJÇý¯¥þü5fÑ¡Ø(lT g˜xNÀ¼¢‡’Ð] #Á¨UNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,NC˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0(@øÐ Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,ÔT‚s, ñkr,.wpà3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òÔ‡¼ûV»XXÔÓ  ÓCAMEROONó óÔ#†X¿zX»¼ûV@#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ_ÓÓÓÌÌò òÔ_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô€A/55/38€Ô_Ô(2000)ó óÔ_ÔÐ œì ÐÌÌ30.à  àThe€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Cameroon€(Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔCMRÔ_Ô/1)€at€its€476th,Ð ` ° Ð477th€and€483rd€meetings,€on€20€and€26€June€2000€(see€Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/SR.476,€477€and€483).Ð L œ ÐÌò òIntroduction€by€the€State€partyó óÐ $ t  ÐÌ31.à  àIn€introducing€the€report,€the€representative€of€Cameroon€informed€the€Committee€that€inÐ üL  ÐCameroon,€discrimination€against€women€resulted€from€the€de€facto€situation€rather€than€de€jure.€ForÐ è8  Ðexample,€the€use€by€a€woman€of€her€husbandððs€name€was€optional€and€not€a€legal€obligation.€PriorÐ Ô$  Ðto€the€ratification€of€the€Convention€without€reservations€by€Cameroon,€the€Government€hadÐ À  Ðimplemented€a€variety€of€legislative€and€judicial€measures€to€address€de€jure€discrimination.€TheseÐ ¬ü  Ðincluded€the€adoption,€in€1972,€of€the€Constitution,€which€enshrined€the€principle€of€equalityÐ ˜è Ðbetween€the€sexes.€Other€legislative€measures€introduced€prior€to€the€ratification€of€the€ConventionÐ „Ô Ðwere:€the€Labour€Code,€which€recognized€the€right€to€work;€the€General€Statute€of€the€State€PublicÐ pÀ ÐFunction,€which€gave€all€citizens,€with€no€distinction€on€the€grounds€of€sex,€the€right€to€have€accessÐ \¬ Ðto€public€functions;€and€the€Code€on€Nationality,€which€granted€women€and€men€the€same€rights€inÐ H˜ Ðrelation€to€the€award,€change€or€retention€of€nationality.Ð 4„ ÐÌ32.à  àThe€representative€indicated€that,€although€laws€were€not€discriminatory,€certain€legalÐ  \ Ðmeasures,€because€of€ambiguity,€might€disadvantage€women.€In€particular,€article€7€of€the€TradeÐ øH ÐCode€allowed€a€husband€to€interrupt€his€wifeððs€working€activity€through€notification€of€hisÐ ä4 Ðopposition€to€the€Trade€Tribunal.€According€to€articles€1421€and€1428€of€the€Civil€Code,€womenÐ Ð  Ðwere€not€fully€entitled€to€use,€enjoy€or€sell€their€property,€although€those€rights€were€stipulated€in€theÐ ¼  ÐConstitution.€In€this€context,€article€1421€granted€the€husband€the€right€to€administer€communalÐ ¨ø Ðproperty,€thereby€giving€him€the€right€to€sell€or€mortgage€the€coupleððs€property€without€the€wifeððsÐ ”ä Ðconsent.€Articles€108€and€215€of€the€Civil€Code€granted€the€husband€the€sole€right€to€determine€theÐ € Ð Ðfamily€domicile,€and€article€361€of€the€Penal€Code€defined€the€crime€of€adultery€in€terms€moreÐ l!¼ Ðfavourable€to€men€than€women.Ð X"¨  ÐÌ33.à  àThe€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€the€Government€had€adopted€several€legalÐ 0$€" Ðmeasures€to€ensure€equality€between€women€and€men.€These€included€removal€of€the€requirementÐ %l # Ðof€the€husbandððs€authorization€for€the€wifeððs€travel€abroad,€the€provision€of€housing€benefits€toÐ &X!$ Ðwomen€workers€on€an€equal€basis€with€men€and€the€readmission€of€girls€who€had€been€suspendedÐ ô&D"% Ðfrom€school€due€to€pregnancy.€Court€decisions,€including€ruling€No.€14/L,€1993,€by€the€SupremeÐ à'0#& ÐCourt,€recognizing€womenððs€right€to€inheritance,€had€also€helped€to€address€discrimination.Ð Ì($' ÐÌ34.à  àThe€representative€indicated€that€since€ratification€of€the€Convention,€the€Commission€ofÐ ¤*ô%) ÐLegislative€and€Juridical€Reforms€had€been€reorganized€within€the€Ministry€of€Justice€and€nowÐ +à&* Ðincluded€a€Commission€on€Civil€Legislation,€through€which€the€Ministry€on€the€Status€of€WomenÐ |,Ì'+ Ðwas€represented.€The€Commission€was€drafting€a€new€Family€Code.€A€service€unit€in€charge€ofÐ h-¸(, ÐÔ_Ôreform€had€been€created€in€the€Ministry€on€the€Status€of€Women,€within€the€Directorate€forÐ ° ÐPromotion€and€Reform,€and€planned€to€initiate€bills€to€promote€womenððs€rights.€In€this€regard,€a€billÐ œì Ðwas€being€prepared€that€would€address€violence€against€women,€including€the€issue€of€female€genitalÐ ˆØ Ðmutilation.Ð tÄ ÐÌ35.à  àThe€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€structures€for€the€promotion€of€womenÐ L œ Ðexisted€at€the€central,€intermediate€and€community€levels€and€that€focal€points€had€been€establishedÐ 8 ˆ Ðwithin€certain€structures.€Delegations€of€the€Ministry€on€the€Status€of€Women€existed€at€theÐ $ t Ðprovincial€and€departmental€levels,€services€at€the€district€level€and€a€pool€of€activities€at€the€localÐ  ` Ðlevel.€There€was€also€a€network€of€organizations,€including€non„governmental€organizations,€thatÐ ü L  Ðworked€to€promote€womenððs€rights,€address€violence€and€discrimination€against€women€and€promoteÐ è 8  Ðtraining€for€women€in€cultural,€socio„economic,€scientific€and€technological€areas.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ36.à  àThe€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€among€the€factors€impeding€theÐ ¬ü  Ðimplementation€of€the€Convention€in€Cameroon€were:€the€multi„ethnic€nature€of€the€country;€theÐ ˜è  Ðcoexistence€of€conflicting€norms€of€customary€and€general€law;€the€existence€of€a€dual€systemÐ „Ô  Ðinherited€from€French€and€British€colonialism;€the€limited€knowledge€of€the€Convention€among€theÐ pÀ Ðdifferent€social€actors;€the€absence€of€a€legal€definition€of€discrimination€and€of€discrimination„Ð \¬ Ðrelated€sanctions;€the€high€level€of€illiteracy€among€women;€limited€material,€financial€and€humanÐ H˜ Ðresource€allocation€to€mechanisms€aimed€at€promoting€the€advancement€of€women;€the€difficultÐ 4„ Ðinternational€economic€environment€which,€through€structural€adjustment€programmes,€was€leadingÐ  p Ðto€the€dismantling€of€social€security;€and€womenððs€limited€participation€in€efforts€aimed€at€improvingÐ  \ Ðtheir€status,€both€in€terms€of€political€participation€and€in€awareness€of€the€role€they€could€play€toÐ øH Ðimprove€their€status.Ð ä4 ÐÌ37.à  àThe€representative€informed€the€Committee€of€developments€that€had€occurred€in€CameroonÐ ¼  Ðsince€the€submission€of€its€report€to€the€Committee€in€1998,€particularly€at€the€political€level,Ð ¨ø Ðdemonstrating€the€Governmentððs€commitment€to€confront€different€forms€of€violence€andÐ ”ä Ðdiscrimination€against€women.€Further€actions€were€envisaged€for€the€future€in€order€to€ensure€thatÐ €Ð Ðwomenððs€rights€were€promoted€and€protected€in€accordance€with€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.Ð l¼ ÐÌò òConcluding€comments€of€the€Committeeó óÐ D!” ÐÌò òIntroductionó óÐ #l! ÐÌ38.à  àThe€Committee€commends€the€Government€of€Cameroon€for€ratifying€the€ConventionÐ ô$D # Ðwithout€reservation€and€for€presenting€a€detailed€and€well„structured€initial€report,€which€providesÐ à%0!$ Ðinformation€on€the€implementation€of€all€the€articles€of€the€Convention,€as€well€as€relevant€statistics.Ð Ì&"% ÐIt€thanks€the€representative€of€Cameroon€for€her€oral€presentation€and€for€the€replies€to€questionsÐ ¸'#& Ðfrom€the€Committee,€which€provided€a€better€insight€into€developments€regarding€the€situation€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwomen€in€Cameroon.Ð )à$( ÐÌ39.à  àThe€Committee€also€commends€the€Government€for€sending€a€large,€high„level€delegationÐ h+¸&* Ðheaded€by€the€Minister€on€the€Status€of€Women.€It€appreciates€the€open„mindedness€with€which€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðreport€was€prepared€and€presented€by€the€State€party,€which€has€engaged€the€Committee€in€aÐ @-(, Ðconstructive€dialogue.Ð ° ÐÌ40.à  àThe€Committee€welcomes€the€incorporation,€by€article€65€of€the€Constitution€of€1996,€of€theÐ ˆØ ÐConvention€into€the€domestic€legal€system.Ð tÄ ÐÌ41.à  àThe€Committee€commends€the€Government€for€involving€womenððs€associations€and€non„Ð L œ Ðgovernmental€organizations€in€the€preparation€of€the€initial€report.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌò òPositive€aspectsó óÐ  ` ÐÌ42.à  àThe€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment,€in€December€1997,€of€the€Ministry€on€the€StatusÐ è 8  Ðof€Women,€which€testifies€to€the€Governmentððs€interest€in€promoting€the€rights€of€women.€It€alsoÐ Ô$  Ðnotes€with€satisfaction€that€the€Ministry€has€designated€focal€points€in€all€the€ministries,€with€a€viewÐ À  Ðto€taking€gender„specific€matters€into€account€in€all€national€programmes€and€policies€benefitingÐ ¬ü  Ðwomen.€In€particular,€it€welcomes€the€national€action€plan€for€the€advancement€of€women.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ43.à  àThe€Committee€commends€the€Government€of€Cameroon€for€its€measures€aimed€atÐ pÀ Ðeliminating€the€practice€of€genital€mutilation,€which€is€a€violation€of€human€rights€and€is€injuriousÐ \¬ Ðto€the€physical€and€psychological€well„being€of€girls,€and€poses€a€threat€to€their€lives€and€health.Ð H˜ ÐÌò òFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€implementation€of€the€Conventionó óÐ  p ÐÌ44.à  àThe€Committee€recognizes€that€implementation€of€the€structural€adjustment€programme,Ð øH Ðcoupled€with€privatization,€especially€in€the€health€and€education€sectors,€poses€serious€challengesÐ ä4 Ðto€the€full€implementation€of€the€Convention.Ð Ð  ÐÌò òPrincipal€areas€of€concern€and€recommendationsó óÐ ¨ø ÐÌ45.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that,€despite€the€incorporation€of€the€Convention€intoÐ €Ð Ðdomestic€law€and€some€legislative€achievements,€a€number€of€discriminatory€provisions€exist,€thusÐ l¼ Ðimpeding€full€implementation€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€that€the€retentionÐ X ¨ Ðof€discriminatory€laws€from€two€different€legal€systems,€as€well€as€customary€law,€compounds€thisÐ D!” Ðproblem.Ð 0"€  ÐÌ46.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€should€urgently€undertake€a€comprehensiveÐ $X" Ðreform€of€legislation€in€order€to€promote€equality€and€human€rights€for€women.€The€Committee€alsoÐ ô$D # Ðrecommends€the€introduction€of€effective€legal€remedies€and€a€review€and€revision€of€customary€lawÐ à%0!$ Ðthat€infringes€the€human€rights€of€women.€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ47.à  àThe€Committee€considers€that€the€inadequate€allocation€of€resources€for€the€advancement€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwomen,€with€the€resultant€incomplete€execution€of€programmes€and€projects,€seriously€jeopardizesÐ )à$( Ðthe€improvement€of€womenððs€living€conditions.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ48.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€allocate€sufficient€resources€for€targetedÐ T,¤'+ Ðprogrammes€to€promote€the€advancement€of€women.€Ð @-(, Ї49.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that,€despite€some€efforts,€there€is€no€holistic€approachÐ ° Ðto€the€prevention€and€elimination€of€the€various€forms€of€violence€against€women€and€girls,€inÐ œì Ðparticular€female€genital€mutilation€and€domestic€violence.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ50.à  àThe€Committee€invites€the€Government€to€apply€the€Committeeððs€general€recommendationÐ `° Ð19€and€formulate€policies€and€programmes€to€eliminate€these€violations€of€womenððs€human€rights.Ð L œ ÐIt€recommends€that€the€Government€provide€access€to€legal€remedies€and€medical€services,€establishÐ 8 ˆ Ðcounselling€services€for€the€victims,€train€legal,€health€and€police€personnel,€and€launch€public„Ð $ t Ðawareness€campaigns€in€order€to€achieve€zero€tolerance€with€regard€to€all€forms€of€violence€againstÐ  ` Ðwomen€and€girls.Ð ü L  ÐÌ51.à  àThe€Committee€is€concerned€that€because€of€the€increased€feminization€of€poverty,€moreÐ Ô$  Ðwomen€and€girls€are€entering€prostitution€and€are€thereby€exposed€to€exploitation.Ð À  ÐÌ52.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€design€and€implement€poverty€alleviationÐ ˜è  Ðprogrammes€so€that€women€and€girls€do€not€have€to€resort€to€prostitution€for€their€livelihoods.€ItÐ „Ô  Ðrecommends€that€the€Government€develop€programmes€to€reintegrate€prostitutes,€raise€publicÐ pÀ Ðawareness€and€prevent€such€exploitation.€Moreover,€in€the€light€of€the€HIV/AIDS€pandemic€inÐ \¬ ÐCameroon,€full€attention€must€be€paid€to€the€health€services€available€to€prostitutes.Ð H˜ ÐÌ53.à  àThe€Committee€is€disturbed€by€the€persistence€of€cultural€practices€and€deep„rootedÐ  p Ðstereotypes€relating€to€the€roles€and€responsibilities€of€women€and€men€in€all€areas€of€life,€whichÐ  \ Ðaffect€their€enjoyment€of€all€human€rights.Ð øH ÐÌ54.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€review€all€aspects€of€this€situation€and€to€adoptÐ Ð  Ðlegislation€to€prohibit€discriminatory€cultural€practices,€in€particular€those€relating€to€female€genitalÐ ¼  Ðmutilation,€levirate,€inheritance,€early€and€forced€marriage€and€polygamy.€It€also€urges€theÐ ¨ø ÐGovernment€to€carry€out€further€public„awareness,€information€and€training€programmes€targetingÐ ”ä Ðcommunity€leaders€and€the€general€public,€so€as€to€change€ways€of€thinking€and€the€stereotypedÐ €Ð Ðperceptions€of€the€roles€and€responsibilities€of€women€and€men.Ð l¼ ÐÌ55.à  àThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€extremely€low€percentage€of€women€candidates€forÐ D!” Ðelection€and€appointed€to€public€office€and€decision„making€posts,€and€at€the€low€percentage€ofÐ 0"€  Ðwomen€in€ministerial€posts.Ð #l! ÐÌ56.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€take€effective€measures€to€increase€the€number€ofÐ ô$D # Ðwomen€elected€and€appointed€to€public€office€and€positions€of€decision„making.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ57.à  àDespite€the€Governmentððs€efforts€in€the€area€of€education,€the€Committee€is€concerned€at€theÐ ¸'#& Ðlow€rate€of€female€literacy,€the€high€female€dropout€rate,€and€the€low€rate€of€female€enrolment€inÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbasic€education.Ð )à$( ÐÌ58.à  àThe€Committee€encourages€the€Government€to€intensify€its€efforts€to€promote€female€accessÐ h+¸&* Ðto€basic€and€secondary€education€and€to€develop€programmes€specifically€designed€to€reduce€femaleÐ T,¤'+ Ðilliteracy.Ð @-(, Ї59.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€high€rate€of€fertility€and€repeated€pregnancy,€the€highÐ ° Ðmortality€rate€among€mothers€and€children€and€the€HIV/AIDS€pandemic€in€Cameroon.Ð œì ÐÌ60.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€review€the€abortion€laws,€to€undertake€to€increaseÐ tÄ Ðthe€use€of€contraceptives,€and€to€develop€programmes€to€protect€mothers€and€children.€It€furtherÐ `° Ðrecommends€that€the€Government€strengthen€its€awareness€campaigns€to€make€women€aware€of€theÐ L œ Ðrisks€and€effects€of€sexually€transmitted€diseases,€including€HIV/AIDS.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ61.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that,€despite€the€important€role€of€rural€women€inÐ  ` ÐCameroon€and€despite€the€Governmentððs€efforts€to€provide€them€with€education€and€extensionÐ ü L  Ðservices,€these€women€are€disadvantaged€and€living€in€difficult€circumstances.Ð è 8  ÐÌ62.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€pay€the€utmost€attention€to€the€needs€of€ruralÐ À  Ðwomen€and€to€ensure€that€they€benefit€from€the€policies€and€programmes€adopted€in€all€areas.€ItÐ ¬ü  Ðshould€also€ensure€that€rural€women€are€able€to€participate,€on€an€equal€basis,€in€the€adoption€ofÐ ˜è  Ðdecisions€to€guarantee€them€access€to€literacy,€health€services,€drinking€water€and€credit.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ63.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€accept€the€amendment€to€article€20,€paragraph€1,Ð \¬ Ðof€the€Convention,€concerning€the€time€of€meetings€of€the€Committee.Ð H˜ ÐÌ64.à  àThe€Committee€encourages€the€Government€to€sign€and€ratify€the€Optional€Protocol€to€theÐ  p ÐConvention.Ð  \ ÐÌ65.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€respond€in€its€next€periodic€report€to€the€specificÐ ä4 Ðquestions€raised€in€the€present€conclusions.€It€also€urges€the€Government€to€improve€the€collectionÐ Ð  Ðand€analysis€of€statistical€data€broken€down€by€gender€and€age€with€regard€to€poverty€and€violenceÐ ¼  Ðagainst€women€and€with€regard€to€the€application€of€articles€10,€11,€12,€14€and€16€of€the€Convention,Ð ¨ø Ðand€to€submit€such€data€to€the€Committee€in€its€next€report.Ð ”ä ÐÌ66.à  àThe€Committee€requests€that€the€text€of€the€present€conclusions€should€be€widelyÐ l¼ Ðdisseminated€in€Cameroon€so€as€to€inform€the€public,€in€particular€administrators,€officials€andÐ X ¨ Ðpoliticians,€of€the€measures€taken€to€guarantee€equality€de€jure€and€de€facto€between€men€andÐ D!” Ðwomen,€and€of€the€supplementary€measures€to€be€adopted€in€this€area.€The€Committee€also€urgesÐ 0"€  Ðthe€Government€to€continue€to€give€broad€publicity,€particularly€among€womenððs€associations€andÐ #l! Ðhuman€rights€organizations,€to€the€Convention,€its€Optional€Protocol,€the€general€recommendationsÐ $X" Ðof€the€Committee,€the€Beijing€Declaration€and€Platform€for€Action€and€the€results€of€the€twenty„thirdÐ ô$D # Ðspecial€session€of€the€General€Assembly,€entitled€ð ðWomen€2000:€gender€equality,€development€andÐ à%0!$ Ðpeace€for€the€twenty„first€centuryðð,€held€in€June€2000.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌÓ¾Ó