INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN : STATEMENT BY THE CAMEROON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 

The Commission recalls that it was by Resolution No. A/RES/54/134 of 17 December 1999, that the UNGA during its 54th ordinary session in New York (USA), proclaimed 25 November each year as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, urging Governments, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to mobilise against violence on women and girls, which constitutes a serious, persistent and systemic violation of human rights.

This year, the theme is: ” Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”

The Commission emphasises that these acts, which occur online often lead to violence offline, in real life, including coercion, physical assault, and even femicide – the killing of women and girls – causing severe and lasting damage to survivors.

The Commission commends the opening on 23 May 2025 within the premises of Hôtel Franco in Yaounde by Senator Françoise Puene of a listening and support centre for victims of violence against women; this Centre features a reception and information service and offers support to victims of physical, psychological, digital and sexual violence with an emphasis on identity reconstruction and economic empowerment; the centre, which has a branch at Jamot Hospital in Yaoundé, operates 24 hours a day seven days a week thanks to its two emergency numbers: +237 676 18 68 53 and +237 659 15 00 78.

The Commission recalls that the social and professional consequences of manipulated content are severe, leading to public humiliation, repudiation, the collapse of careers and dismissals; in the absence of psychological support and in the face of insufficient State action, many women withdraw from digital spaces, thereby deepening a real gender digital divide.

The Commission expresses its deep concern and condemns in the strongest terms the cases of femicide brought to its attention, the Commission deeply deplores the persistence of these unfortunate emblematic acts of extreme gravity, which are an alarming entrenchment of gender-based violence, in particular the abduction, followed by the murder of Manuella Nyandomo, aged 24, a doctoral student at the University of Yaoundé II-Soa; after leaving her family home on the Friday evening of 20 June 2025, the victim was kidnapped by criminals who, a few hours later, sent an alarming message to her mother from the victim’s WhatsApp account, saying, “Mama, I’ve been kidnapped. They’re asking for 1,800,000 CFA francs. Otherwise, in two days, they will kill me.” Manuella’s lifeless body was found in the Ngousso-Ngoulmekong neighborhood in a thicket on the night of 21 June in Yaoundé, with several parts of her body, including her breasts, mutilated.

The Commission welcomes the responses of public administrative bodies to its 2024 Statement to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 2024, in particular the one of The Office of the Prime Minister, which, through letter No. A39/C-1/SG/PM of 10 June 2025, by which the Minister, Secretary General of the PM’s Office, informed the Commission that the ministries concerned by the Statement had been notified, namely MINPROFF, MINAS, and the Ministry of Justice (MINJUSTICE).

The Commission reiterates its recommendations made on the 2024 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in particular to the Government to strengthen the criminal law system relating to violence and discrimination against women by facilitating the adoption of provisions criminalising domestic violence in general and economic violence in particular, including financial control, the refusal of financial support and the prohibition of work.

The Commission reiterates its recommendations made on the occasion of the 2024 edition of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in particular to MINAS and MINPROFF to strengthen their awareness-raising policy on violence against women, in particular by translating national, African, and universal instruments for the promotion and protection of women’s rights into local languages, to make them more accessible to the population.

The Commission once more encourages families and communities to continue cooperating with authorities so that all perpetrators of violence against women and girls may be apprehended, prosecuted and, where appropriate, punished according to the law and regulations in force.

Source: Celcom CDHC