Lead
A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Cameroon's government has failed to meet its decade-old commitment to substantially reduce violence against women and girls. The rights group warned that this failure leaves victims and survivors exposed to harm without meaningful protection or access to justice, even as officials acknowledge that violence against women and girls is worsening.The 75-page report, titled "'I Live in Constant Peril:' Discrimination, Lack of Economic Autonomy and Violence Against Women in Cameroon," documents widespread violence including physical, psychological, and economic abuse, in most cases by husbands and intimate partners. According to the report, physical and economic abuse is used to restrict women's access to financial resources, social security, employment, property, and economic independence.
Coverage Comparison
Two outlets — Africa News and AllAfrica — reported on the HRW report, each highlighting different aspects of the findings. Africa News focused on the failure of the government to meet its commitments and the role of social norms and discriminatory laws, while AllAfrica placed greater emphasis on the systemic nature of the inequality and the government's chronic underinvestment in prevention and survivor support. Both outlets attributed the report's findings to HRW, with AllAfrica quoting the organization's representatives directly and Africa News summarizing the report's conclusions.Key Claims
The report alleges that entrenched systemic gender inequality, discriminatory laws, and weak institutions — exacerbated by chronic underinvestment in prevention and survivor support — are the root causes of the violence. HRW researchers interviewed 60 women who had experienced domestic violence and/or discrimination, according to AllAfrica. The report also found that women face systematic dispossession of land and property by male relatives and in-laws, and that Cameroon has no national policy or guidelines on domestic violence. The current legal framework governing family relations contains discriminatory provisions, the report states.According to government figures cited by Africa News, 77 women were killed by their partners in Cameroon in 2024. The same report noted that the actual number is likely higher because many cases go unreported. Africa News also reported that Cameroon ranked 148th out of 162 countries on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) gender inequality index in 2023, reflecting disparities between women and men in access to employment, education, and reproductive health.
HRW called on the government to urgently reform discriminatory family laws, update and adopt the long-delayed Family Code, establish a coordinated national response to domestic violence, and ensure services are accessible across the country. The report also highlighted the role of corruption within police and public institutions, which often leaves victims feeling alone due to lack of assistance and services.