DECRIMINALISE HOMOSEXUALITY IN CAMEROON-10 000 NODS

By Jerina Messie (BTM French Reporter)

CAMEROON – 02 December 2009: Cameroonian gay rights groups are optimistic that human rights of gays and lesbians could see a positive light, should President Paul Biya consider about 10 000 signatures inked in a petition calling for decriminalisation of homosexuality in that country.

The Petition, said to have received a lot of support from journalists, politicians and civil society, will be handed to Biya for perusal on 10 December, during the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Prodhop and Alternatives Cameroon, human rights organisations in Cameroon say some journalists supported the petition by accepting to be in their discussion panel during the press conference, by reporting fairly and by committing to support all future initiatives by these organisations.

“Some politicians and personalities such as lawyers and members of civil society also welcomed and supported our action by signing the petition”, Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, General Secretary of Prodhop said.

The two organisations say they also received “a significant support” of Jacques Do Bell of the National Commission on Human Rights who indicated that “this disposition [anti-gay law] is unconstitutional and infringes all the international treaties and conventions signed by Cameroon that guarantee each citizen to fully exercise their rights, including the right to privacy.”
 
Ngo Mbe however deplored the indifference of religious leaders. “None of the religious leaders expressed an opinion, whether to agree or disagree. We can deplore the attitude of the local Catholic Church (Douala) that organised a march to protest against the decriminalisation of the homosexuality.”

The Cameroonian Penal Code prescribes a maximum sentence of up to 6 years in prison and/or a fine of 20000 to 20000000 CFA Francs for homosexual conduct.

This situation according to Prodhop is unfair to homosexuals since it jeopardises
individual rights guaranteed by the constitution.