Written by: Vanessa Aboudi, Dr Théophile Nguimfack Voufo, Guy Beaudry Jengu Jengu, Dr Primus Tazanu, Prof Ngo Tong Chantal Marie, Dr Hugues Pippie, Dr Solange Dabou, Dr Adeline Nembot.
Published: 01 July 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64116/azebb
Abstract
Cameroon has a legal framework that recognizes the rights of women and persons with disabilities, both internationally and nationally. However, these social categories, considered vulnerable due to multiple forms of discrimination, face numerous challenges in the effective enjoyment of their civil, political, economic and social rights. This report analyzes the gaps between law and facts in Cameroon and highlights the persistent obstacles to equality and inclusion. Concrete recommendations are formulated for public decision-makers as well as for women and people with disabilities, aimed at strengthening their status and inclusion in all areas of society.
Résumé
Le Cameroun dispose d’un cadre juridique qui reconnaît les droits des femmes et des personnes handicapées, tant au niveau international que national. Cependant, ces catégories sociales, considérées comme vulnérables en raison de multiples discriminations, font face à de nombreux défis dans la jouissance effective de leurs droits civils, politiques,économiques et sociaux. Ce rapport analyse les écarts entre les textes de loi et la réalité vécue au Cameroun,en mettant en évidence les obstacles persistants à l’égalité et à l’inclusion. Des recommandations concrètes sont formulées à l’intention des décideurs publics ainsi que des femmes et des personnes en situation de handicap, visant à renforcer leur statut et leur inclusion dans tous les domaines de la société.
Executive Summary
This report examines the rights and freedoms of women and persons with disabilities in Cameroon, revealing a significant gap between the country’s legal framework and the lived realities of these vulnerable populations. Despite ratifying major international conventions and establishing domestic legislation, implementation remains severely inadequate, undermining democratic governance and social cohesion.
While Cameroon has established a robust legal foundation for protecting vulnerable groups, including ratification of CEDAW, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and domestic legislation such as Law No. 2010/002 on disability protection, this impressive legal architecture has not translated into meaningful change. Weak enforcement mechanisms, inadequate budget allocation, and limited institutional capacity prevent effective implementation of these protections, creating a disconnect between legal promises and daily experiences.
This implementation gap is particularly evident in women’s experiences across political, economic, and social spheres. Although women represent 52% of the population, they hold only 33% of National Assembly seats, 26% of Senate positions, and 10.8% of mayoral offices, with no women serving as regional presidents. This political marginalization reflects deeper structural inequalities that manifest in alarming rates of gender-based violence, with 39% of women aged 15-49 experiencing physical violence in 2018 and over 80 cases of femicide recorded in 2023. The security crises in Anglophone regions have further intensified violence against women and girls, demonstrating how political instability compounds existing vulnerabilities.
Economic exclusion reinforces these patterns of marginalization, as women own only 13.6% of land titles despite comprising over 50% of the agricultural workforce. This limited access to productive resources restricts their economic autonomy, with only 16.8% of women accessing credit services. These economic barriers are compounded by persistent cultural practices, particularly early marriage in northern regions, where 97% of forced marriages involve minors under 18.
Persons with disabilities face even more systematic exclusion from all aspects of social and political life. With no mayors or parliamentarians having disabilities and only one substitute senator representing this population, estimated at 5-10% of the total, their political invisibility is stark. Administrative barriers and inaccessible infrastructure prevent meaningful participation, while complex procedures for obtaining disability cards limit access to essential services. This exclusion extends to employment, where persons with disabilities comprise only 5.66% of civil service positions, well below their representation in the general population.
These patterns of exclusion stem from several interconnected structural challenges that reinforce each other. Enforcement deficits create a culture of impunity, with inadequate sanctions for rights violations and poor enforcement of existing protections. Administrative procedures remain complex and time-consuming, while monitoring systems lack effectiveness in tracking compliance and outcomes. Cultural and social barriers rooted in traditional beliefs, patriarchal practices, and social stigma continue to shape attitudes and limit opportunities for both women and persons with disabilities.
Resource constraints further compound these challenges, as limited government budget allocation to social protection programs, inadequate infrastructure development, and insufficient human resources in key ministries hinder effective service delivery. Legal contradictions within domestic legislation create additional complexity, exemplified by inconsistencies between the Civil Code, which permits marriage at age 15, and the Penal Code, which prohibits marriage under 18.
The challenges documented in Cameroon are not unique but reflect broader patterns across Central Africa, where similar vulnerable populations face comparable barriers to full participation in society. As the region grapples with rising authoritarianism and shrinking civic space, protecting vulnerable groups becomes increasingly meaningful for democratic resilience and social stability. This regional context amplifies the importance of addressing implementation gaps, as failure to protect vulnerable populations signals broader democratic weaknesses that can destabilize entire societies.
Addressing these interconnected challenges requires coordinated action across multiple levels and stakeholders. Government reform must focus on institutional strengthening through constitutional or legal quotas ensuring representation of women and persons with disabilities, legal harmonization to resolve contradictions in domestic legislation, and administrative simplification to improve access to services. Simultaneously, increased budget allocation toward education and social protection programs, combined with infrastructure development ensuring accessibility of public facilities, can create the material conditions for inclusion.
Civil society organizations play a significant role in bridging the gap between legal frameworks and lived experiences through coalition building to strengthen advocacy networks, capacity development through targeted programs for vulnerable populations, and policy engagement that creates platforms for meaningful participation. These efforts must be complemented by legal literacy initiatives that build awareness of rights and available remedies among vulnerable communities themselves.
Vulnerable groups must also take active roles in driving change through strategic organizing to amplify their voices, economic empowerment initiatives to improve access to finance and opportunities, and advocacy training for effective government engagement. Building rights awareness and strengthening knowledge of legal protections enables these communities to become agents of their own change rather than passive recipients of assistance.
The path forward demands sustained political will, adequate resource allocation, and a fundamental shift in social attitudes toward inclusion and equality. Only through such comprehensive reform can Cameroon realize its commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms of all citizens, particularly those most vulnerable to discrimination and marginalization.
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