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Summary
Despite the advocacy for women's rights and an end to gender-based violence, Cameroonian women still died at the hands of their male partners.
Ten femicide cases were recorded in Cameroon in January 2025 alone, the country’s Central Bureau of Census and Population Studies, otherwise known by the French acronym BUCREP, reported.
According to the agency report, the figure “seems underestimated and remains less viable because of the lack of reporting which surrounds these crimes.” BUCREP reports that 69 cases of femicide were recorded in the country in 2024 as against 56 cases in 2023, representing an increase of 23.2 per cent. The report noted that several factors account for the increase in the incidence of femicide, “notably economic and social inequality between the sexes, socio-cultural pressures and the weak judicial protection of women.”
BUCREP recommends raising the alarm to put an end to the femicide epidemic and suggests the reinforcement of measures to fight against femicide by intensifying sensitisation against violence that results in feminine deaths. It also calls for the amelioration of the system for the collection of data on femicide in Cameroon.
HumAngle recently documented the alarming rise in femicide cases in Cameroon. Amidst a culture of gender-based violence, the country is grappling with a surge in femicide cases, with a disturbing number of women killed by their partners. High-profile cases, including a 2020 shooting and multiple 2023 murders, underscore the urgency for systemic reform.
Some activists believe the country’s inadequate legal framework and societal apathy exacerbate the issue, leaving victims without justice and vulnerable to stigma. They stress the need for strengthened laws, awareness campaigns, and support services to combat femicide. Despite initiatives offering psychological and legal support, progress is hindered by slow bureaucratic processes, highlighting the need for comprehensive and immediate action.
This article was first published on HumAngle.
English
French