Human Rights at the center of political parties’ meeting in Yaoundé
Representatives of political parties in Cameroon met in Yaoundé from 14 to 16 June 2011 to sharpen their skills and knowledge on issues related to human rights and elections. In relation to promoting human rights during democratic processes, the three-day workshop sought to reinforce the capacities of leaders of political parties in the promotion and protection of human rights before, during and after the elections. Emphasis was laid on the principle of non-discrimination in relation to the political participation of women and generally marginalized groups such as women, persons with disabilities and indigenous populations, but also on the integration by the political parties of human rights promotion in their activities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop, the Regional Representative for Central Africa of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Maarit Kohonen Sheriff called on political parties to adopt a code of conduct for the respect of human rights and acceptance of election results. She encouraged the political parties to use violence/discrimination-free campaign language and focus their political debates on social and other projects as well as intensify the sensitization of their supporters on human rights before, during and after the elections.
Cameroon’s Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family H.E Marie Therese Obama opened the workshop which was organized by the United Nations Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa in partnership the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and UN Women Cameroon country offices, with Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), and the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms.
