U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

U.S. Statement at the Universal Periodic Review of Cameroon

UPR, 44^th Session

As delivered by Sylvia Updegraff

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

The United States welcomes the delegation of Cameroon.

We commend Cameroon’s efforts to combat trafficking in persons by providing services to survivors, training government officials, and cooperating internationally on investigations. We also applaud Cameroon’s support for IDPs and refugees through local protection councils and humanitarian organizations. We remain concerned by the continuing abuses of the civil and political rights of government critics, independent voices, and members of marginalized groups.

In the spirit of cooperation, we recommend that Cameroon:

1. End the use of military tribunals to try suspected separatists, political opponents, lawyers, and activists.
2. Investigate allegations of arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, and inhuman treatment of prisoners and end these practices.
3. Decriminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations, cease state discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ persons, and prosecute, as appropriate, perpetrators of violence against LGBTQI+ persons.
4. Protect freedom of expression and media freedom, investigate all instances of harassment of journalists, lawyers, and other members of civil society, and prosecute perpetrators as appropriate.

I thank you.

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