Cameroon prison conditions come under scrutiny

The Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF), Dr Chemuta Divine Banda participated in the first national forum organized on prison conditions by an NGO, Centre D’Orientation Educative du Cameroon (COECAM). The three-day meeting that held from the 27th January to the 29th, centred on improving prison conditions in the country. 

During the session, Dr Chemuta Divine Banda emphasized that prisons should remain corrective centres where the rights of detainees are upheld. The representatives of COECAM for their part, called for greater synergy between private and public partners towards ameliorating the living conditions of prisoners. The European Union and some European Diplomats also took part in the session. Statistics indicate that the number of inmates in Cameroon have increased over the years, leading to overcrowding in prisons.