Cameroon: Prevalence of forced marriage of women 18 years of age and older, including in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé; whether the economic situation or the level of education of women has an impact on forced marriages; protection provided to victims of forced marriages (2012-May 2013)
1. Cultural Background
In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the coordinator of the Association to Fight Violence Against Women (Association de lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes, ALVF), an NGO in Yaoundé that fights to eliminate violence against women and girls in private, public and political life in Cameroon (Programme international de formations n.d.), stated that forced marriage of young women 18 years of age and older is not often talked about publicly in the country (ALVF 3 May 2013). She added that, in the country, significant value is attached to marriage, which stems from a traditional, conservative and patriarchal background (ibid.). She added that, consequently, a woman who is not married is poorly regarded (ibid.). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of Cameroon's Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family (ministère de la Promotion de la femme et de la Famille) stated that being married to a man ensures a woman's right [translation] "to respect and dignity" (Cameroon 2 May 2013).
In Cameroon, the age of majority is 21 (Association vocation notaire 2012; Human Rights Watch Mar. 2013, 14).
2. Forced Marriage of Women 18 Years of Age and Older
The coordinator of the ALVF is of the opinion that, from her experience and the media, for religious or financial reasons, Cameroonian women 18 years of age and older are [translation] "forced to marry suitors who are chosen or identified by their family" (ALVF 3 May 2013). The coordinator of the ALVF added that women 18 years of age and older who are uneducated and who come from impoverished areas are more [translation] "exposed to all kinds of abuse, including forced marriage" (ibid.). She also stated that women 18 years of age and older who are in a good economic situation or who have completed several years of school [translation] "generally know their rights, are more or less independent and, consequently, have more opportunity to choose their future husband" (ibid.). The coordinator stated that the situation would be the same in large cities like Douala and Yaoundé (ibid.). Similarly, a representative of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fédération internationale des femmes juristes, FIDA), an international NGO founded in 1944 in Mexico that has consultative status with the United Nations and whose mission is to [FIDA English website] "promote the welfare of women and children" (FIDA n.d.), stated that, in Cameroon, women 18 years of age and older who have little education or who are not economically independent could be victims of forced marriage (ibid. 5 May 2013). She added that women 18 years of age and older who are educated can also be victims of forced marriage, especially if they are the subject of a marriage arranged well beforehand (ibid.). However, the representative of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family stated that, in her opinion, forced marriages are "common" in Yaoundé and Douala, but that "[g]enerally, it is impossible for women aged 18 years and over who are well educated and/or have a good economic situation to be forced into marriage ... because she has acquired a minimum of [life] skills necessary for survival" (Cameroon 2 May 2103). Corroborating information and further information on the prevalence of forced marriage of women 18 years of age and older, including in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
3. Protection for Women Victims of Forced Marriage
According to sources, women 18 years of age and older who do not want to marry can obtain help from the judicial authorities and NGOs who fight violence against women, such as the ALVF and the Association of Women Jurists of Cameroon (Association des femmes juristes du Cameroun) (ALVF 3 May 2013; Cameroon 2 May 2013). The representative of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family added that these women can also receive protection from the state through the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family, the Ministry of Social Affairs (ministère des Affaires sociales), the courts, and certain other NGOs such as Plan Cameroon, Cameroon Association for the Protection and Education of the Child and the Association for the Promotion of the Autonomy and the Rights of Girls/Women (Association pour la promotion de l'autonomie et des droits de la fille/femme) (ibid.). She explained that these bodies provide psycho-social assistance, legal assistance, health care, information, training, mentoring and scholarships (ibid.).
The representative of FIDA stated that it provides legal assistance to victims of forced marriage (FIDA 5 May 2013). However, she added that the organization does not have a shelter to accommodate those who, following a forced marriage, try to flee a husband who beats them and, consequently, their [translation] "services cannot be effective in the absence of such a shelter" (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Association de lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes (ALVF). 3 May 2013. Correspondence from the coordinator to the Research Directorate.
Association vocation notaire. 2012. "Cameroun." Guide de droit comparé, famille et patrimoine. [Accessed 7 May 2013]
Cameroon. 2 May 2013. Ministère de la Promotion de la femme et de la Famille. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.
Fédération internationale des femmes juristes (FIDA). 5 May 2013. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.
Fédération internationale des femmes juristes (FIDA). N.d. "Who We Are." [Accessed 6 May 2013]
Human Rights Watch. March 2013. Coupables par association : violations des droits humains commises dans l'application de la loi contre l'homosexualité au Cameroun. [Accessed 7 May 2013]
Programme international de formations aux méthodes d'exigibilité des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels (DESC). N.d. "Association de lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes - ALVF." [Accessed 6 May 2013]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to contact the following people and organizations were unsuccessful: African and African American Studies Program, Carleton College; Child Care Cameroon; Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Denison University; Jeunesse verte du Cameroun; postdoctoral researcher, Free University of Amsterdam; Reach Out; Rural Women Development Center.
Internet sites, including: Adolescence, Idée, Action; Africa 4 Women's Rights, African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies; Afrik.com; AllAfrica.com; Amnesty International; Association pour la promotion de l'autonomie et des droits de la fille/femme; Cameroon Tribune; ecoi.net; Factiva; Femmes-Santé-Développement; Girls not Brides; International Women's Health Coalition; Jeune Afrique; United Nations – Refworld; Women in Law and Development in Africa.