A busy month seeking LGBT rights in Cameroon
LGBT rights activists have worked hard this month seeking public recognition of the human rights of LGBT citizens of Cameroon.
During the month, in programs organized by Camfaids (the Cameroonian Foundation for Aids), activists have been:
Marching against violence
A peaceful march on July 13 challenged and educated policymakers and society in general about the problem of violence perpetrated against human rights defenders in Cameroon.
Camfaids and a group of several other human rights defenders’ groups organized the march.
It was held to mark the groups’ declaration of July 15 as Human Rights Defenders Day. Specifically, July 15 was declared the Day Honoring the Struggle Against Violence Targeting Human Rights Defenders.
Other activities of Human Rights Defenders Day included many events seeking an end to violence targeting human rights activists:
- A workshop for human rights defenders on how to improve their effectiveness, using both Cameroonian laws and international treaties. The workshop was organized by Camfaids and funded by Lawyers Without Borders Switzerland.
- A religious ceremony marking the third anniversary of the assassination of activist/journalist Eric Ohena Lembembe, former executive director of Camfaids and a writer for this blog. The ceremony took place at Camfaids headquarters at Titi Garage, Yaoundé. The gathering included members of several human rights organizations and Lembembe’s family.
- A visit to Lembembe’s grave. This month is the third anniversary of his 2013 murder.
- A panel discussion focused on how to end violence against human rights defenders The event, held at the French Institute, was attended by several associations, including Alcondoms, Camfaids, Alternative Cameroon and Camnafaw.