Cameroon
While Cameroon has ratified most of the major international treaties and conventions on human rights and human dignity – including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women – it has not yet ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Following Cameroon’s signing of the Rome Statute on 17 July 1988, Cameroonian civil society organizations campaigned diligently for ratification. On 4 December 2000, a presidential decree called for the creation of an inter-ministerial committee to prepare a draft ratification bill and to consider national implementing legislation for the Rome Statute. Six months later, on 30 June 2001, this committee submitted a draft ratification bill to the President and to the Head of Parliament by this committee.
Most recently, Cameroon has ratified two important U.N conventions on corruption and human trafficking in February 2006, which many hope is an indication that Cameroon will soon ratify the ICC treaty.
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court and its members are now calling on Cameroon to take a step forward in its commitment to international justice and ratify the Rome Statute of the ICC as soon as possible.
The Rome Statute came into force in July 2002 and now has the support of more than half of the world's nations. With Mexico's ratification in October 2005, the symbolic milestone of the 100th ratification was reached.
Take Action Now!
Support CICC’s appeal by sending letters by mail, email and/or fax urging the Government of Cameroon to ratify the Rome Statute and implement it into national law.
You might like to use the sample letter below as a guide. Sample letters are available below in French and English, but we ask you to send your letter in French to the President and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Send your letter to:
Prime Minister H.E. Chief Ephraim Inoni
Yaounde
Republic of Cameroon
Central Africa
Fax: +237 223 57 35
Email:
[email protected]
President Paul Biya
Yaounde
Republic of Cameroon
Central Africa
Fax: +237 222 0870
Minister of External Relations H.E. Laurent Esso
Yaounde
Republic of Cameroon
Central Africa
Fax: +237-220-1133 and +237-220-7918
Email:
[email protected]
Your Excellency:
At a time when the International Criminal Court (ICC) is moving forward in its crucial work to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes with its first three cases in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, I am writing to urge you to ensure that Cameroon supports this new and vital system of international justice by acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as soon as possible.
Commendably. Cameroon one of the very first countries to sign the Rome Statute of the ICC on the day the treaty was finalized, 17 July 1998. The Rome Statute came into force in July 2002 and now has the support of more than half of the world’s nations. With Mexico’s ratification on 28 October 2005, a historic new benchmark of 100 states have now acceded to or ratified the treaty and 139 are signatories. The new system of international justice represented by the International Criminal Court is an important tool that will ensure that the most serious violations of human rights will no longer go unpunished.
I welcome the recent Cameroonian ratification of UN conventions on corruption and on human trafficking and I hope these recent ratifications may indicate that your country is also ready to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
(French version below)
Votre Excellence:
Au moment où la CPI avance dans son travail crucial pour mettre fin au génocide, aux crimes contre l’humanité et crimes de guerre, celle-ci se penchant actuellement sur les trois cas de l’Ouganda, de la République démocratique du Congo et du Soudan, je vous exhorte à vous assurer que le Tchad soutienne ce nouveau système de justice internationale en ratifiant le Statut de Rome le plus vite possible.
Le Cameroun a le mérite de figurer parmi les premiers pays ayant signé le Statut de Rome de la CPI le 17 juillet 1998. Le Statut de Rome est entré en vigueur en juillet 2002 et bénéficie à present du soutien de plus de la moitié des pays dans le monde. Une étape historique a été atteinte lorsque le Mexique a ratifié le Statut le 28 octobre 2005, portant ainsi à 100 le nombre de pays ayant ratifié ou adherer au traité et à 139 le nombre de pays signataires. Le nouveau système de justice internationale que représente la Cour Pénale Internationale est un important mécanisme qui permettra de garantir que les violations des droits de l’homme les plus graves ne restent plus impunis.
Je félicite le Cameroun pour la récente ratification de la Convention des Nations Unies contre la corruption et la Convention pour la repression de la traite des êtres humains et j’espère que ces efforts sont le signe que le Cameroun prendra au plus vite les mesures nécessaires à la ratification du Statut de Rome de la Cour Pénale Internationale.
Dans cette attente, veuillez agréer, votre Excellence, l'expression de ma très haute considération.
English
