Cameroon Fails to Protect Women from Widespread Domestic Violence, HRW Reports
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report, 'Living in Constant Danger': Discrimination, Lack of Economic Autonomy, and Violence Against Women in Cameroon, detailing pervasive physical, psychological, and economic abuse against women by husbands and intimate partners. The report highlights how abusers use violence to restrict women's access to financial resources, social security, employment, property, and economic independence. These acts are rooted in gender inequality, discriminatory laws, and weak institutions, according to HRW.
Juliana Nnoko, HRW's senior women's rights researcher, stated that discriminatory laws and institutional failures in Cameroon exacerbate and facilitate this violence, leaving survivors unprotected. The majority of victims reported economic impacts that trapped them in abusive relationships, including loss of income, land, housing, and employment opportunities. Many recounted husbands sabotaging jobs, destroying work equipment, and selling joint assets. One woman was reportedly confined to her family compound for nearly three decades, forbidden from leaving or pursuing business ventures, and subjected to beatings for disobedience.
Women seeking help often face pressure to reconcile with abusers, are blamed for the violence, or suffer retaliation. Some victims reported their husbands had connections to police or local authorities, making reporting dangerous. HRW notes that accountability remains limited, fostering a climate of impunity. Even with legal documentation, women face losing property to male relatives. Widows and older women are particularly vulnerable to discrimination in accessing inheritance, pensions, and public services. Despite a 2011 commitment to combat gender-based violence, Cameroon has made no significant progress, lacking a national policy or guidelines on domestic violence. The draft Family Code, intended to protect women's rights, is still in development. The current legal framework designates husbands as "heads of household and principal managers of matrimonial assets," undermining women's decision-making power over their housing, employment, and property, often trapping them in abusive marriages. HRW calls for urgent legal reform, the adoption of the Family Code, and funding for support services.
This report from Human Rights Watch highlights systemic failures within Cameroon's governance and legal structures to protect women from domestic violence. The analysis points to a critical disconnect between stated commitments and tangible actions, particularly concerning the implementation of laws and policies designed to combat gender-based violence. The report identifies discriminatory legal frameworks, such as the designation of husbands as "heads of household," as fundamental drivers of women's disempowerment and vulnerability. Furthermore, institutional incapacities, including unprepared law enforcement and judicial professionals, coupled with a lack of data collection on gender-based violence, create an environment of impunity. The findings suggest that addressing this issue requires not only legislative reform but also a significant investment in institutional capacity-building and a shift in societal norms that perpetuate gender inequality. The long-term implications involve sustained economic and social costs, as well as the potential for increased instability if fundamental human rights violations are not adequately addressed by state actors.
AI-generated to prompt reflection — not editorial opinion, not advice, not a statement of fact. How this works.