Abstract

Protecting and Promoting Human Rights has become common features of humanity’s activities today. The unprecedented transformation of the way humanity has dealt with Human Rights abuses has become a matter of global concern. The concerns created by many wars around the world has led to the formation of many Non-governmental Organizations focused on providing medical care, caring for children and getting supplies to affected areas.

This study sets out to examine the effectiveness of the laws put in place to protect and promote Human Rights as violations remain on the increase. Principally, the research objective focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of Civil Society Organizations in the protection and Promotion of Human Rights in Cameroon.

This study used the qualitative research methodology which is purely doctrinal that comprises of the primary and secondary sources. The analysis made by this research ascertains the fact that there is improper implementation of the laws protecting and promoting human rights in Cameroon and has led to an untold hardship and insecurity in Cameroon.

This study recommends that the state of Cameroon should put in place a monitoring mechanism and to combine efforts at the International level so as to prosecute violators of human rights.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) are a diverse group of organizations that serve different purposes aimed at promoting sustainable development, human rights, and poverty reduction.

Years before the United Nations began using the term “NGO,” these organizations existed in some form. Many, created by religious and charitable groups, were very localized and worked within specific communities to address poverty. Many NGOs were also formed to address the concerns of war. They focused on medical care, caring for children, and getting supplies to affected areas. The Anti-Slavery Society, formed in 1839, is most likely the first international NGO. It demonstrated how people around the world could unite for a common cause.

When the United Nations was established in 1945, the term “non-governmental organization” appeared in Chapter 10, Article 71 of the United Nations Charter. It defined non-government and non-member state organizations that held a consultative role with the UN. In 1950, an international NGO was defined as “any international organization that is not founded by an international treaty.

The roots of NGOs in Africa are found in the arrival of missionaries on the continent, who dispensed charity and were involved in the provision of education and health services . The missionaries and other voluntary organizations were considered to be key weapons in the ideological warfare that helped sustain colonialism, as they provided support for the idea that colonialism was in the interests of Africans through the discourse of colonialism as a ‘civilizing mission’.

Voluntary welfare provision was a good vehicle through which the agenda of social control could be pushed because it was apparently apolitical and therefore not subject to much interrogation and critique. However, the approach of the missionaries and other charitable organizations was often one that obscured the causes of the poverty that charitable initiatives sought to address, and which understood poverty and deprivation as being a consequence of the failings of Africans themselves as opposed to being a result of the colonial societal structures.

While the history of NGOs in Africa can thus be traced back to the colonial period, it was in the 1980s that they were increasingly recognized as important institutions in the broader development and aid sectors in Africa as well as elsewhere   also, By the 1990s, the NGO sector had grown considerably and NGO-led development was increasingly considered the main alternative to state led development. As a result of this, NGOs continued to grow in capacity and influence   .While the relevance of NGOs has thus been rightfully questioned and challenged, their ubiquity and influence throughout Africa and beyond cannot be denied .

Historically, the emergence of NGOs in Cameroon can be traced back to the postcolonial era, when the French Colonial Administration established cooperatives for the promotion of agriculture. Through the efforts of these cooperatives, a sense of community development was birthed, and this led to increased civil society organizations’ formation.

The first NGO to be established in Cameroon was the Women’s Organization, which was founded in the 1950s. The Women’s Organization was aimed at the protection of women’s rights and the promotion of gender equality in the country. Following the establishment of this organization, more NGOs emerged, all with various objectives and missions.

Notably, during the 1980s, Cameroonian NGOs started engaging in environmental protection and conservation efforts, and this resulted in the establishment of The Cameroon Ecological Society. Currently, there are over 2,000 registered NGOs in Cameroon, operating in various sectors such as education, health, human rights, social welfare, and many others .

Also, NGOs in Cameroon differ in terms of their missions, size, legal status, and funding sources. According to Ndi (2017), there are over 500 NGOs operating in Cameroon.

These organizations are involved in a wide range of development and humanitarian activities such as health, education, advocacy, gender equality, environmental conservation, and human rights. Some NGOs focus on providing direct services to communities while others engage in policy advocacy and lobbying activities. Most NGOs in Cameroon depend on external funding from donor organizations, foundations, and multilateral institutions. However, some NGOs are self-funded or supported by the government.

The legal framework for NGOs in Cameroon is regulated by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, which oversees the registration, operation, and monitoring of NGOs in the country. Despite their significant contribution to development and social justice, NGOs in Cameroon also face some challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles, unclear legal framework, limited resources, and weak capacity .

NGOs in Cameroon are faced with many challenges including limited resources, lack of coordination, and inadequate government support. Despite these challenges, NGOs have been able to provide crucial services and support to disadvantaged communities, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.

One key aspect of NGOs in Cameroon is their focus on community empowerment and participation, which allows local communities to take ownership of development projects and ensures their long-term sustainability. Another important factor in the success of NGOs in Cameroon is their ability to collaborate and network with other organizations. This enables them to leverage resources and expertise to better serve the needs of their beneficiaries. Despite the challenges, NGOs in Cameroon remain an essential part of the country’s social and development landscape .

1.2 Statement Of The Problem.

There exist a lot of Laws regulating the protection and Promotion of Human rights in the world at Large and Cameroon in Particular, but violations remain on the rise, and the conditions of the populations keep deteriorating each passing day. The need to ensure these laws are respected is necessary.

Many civil society organizations exist in Cameroon, a lot of promotion activities have been carried out, yet awareness creation remains on the low as these violations are committed with the violators and victims having little or no knowledge on human rights protection.

Civil societies have only a recommendation tendency, after documenting violations of human rights, implementation is left in the hands of the Government that chooses to implement, punish violators or not. The need for an implementation mechanism so as to give a boost to documenting human rights violations in Cameroon and the world at large.

Workers of civil society organizations are victims of many arbitrary arrests, public disgrace and humiliation as the act as watchdogs against state activities with regards human rights violations. The need for independence of civil society organizations to able to carry out their affairs with little or no government interference.

1.3. Research Questions.

1.3.1. Main Research Question.

1.3.2. Specific Research Questions

1. What are the conceptual overview of non-governmental organization in Cameroon?
2. What are the roles of non-governmental organization in the promotion and protection of human rights in Cameroon?
3. How effective is the protection and promotion of human rights in Cameroon?
4. How effective is the role of non-governmental organizations in the protection and promotion of Human Rights in Cameroon?

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