Cameroon
22.05.03
Urgent Interventions
Cameroon: Neglect and maltreatment of "child-witches"
Case CMR 220503
CHILD CONCERN
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
INTERVENTION in the following situation in Cameroon.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT was informed by the Movement
for the Defence of Human Rights and Liberties (MDHRL) about the
neglect and maltreatment of "child-witches" in Cameroon. According to
the information received, "child-witches" were abandoned by their
parents placed in the care of the "Civic Re-education Centre" owned
by the Marabout Mal Bakary in the Doualaré district in Maroua, where
they were maltreated and exploited. In fact, children in this centre
were forced, with chains at their feet, to break and pick up rocks in
the mountains many times per day and they suffered from maltreatment
performed on grounds of exorcism. Following their escape from the
centre during the night of January 25th 2003, eight children were
found by their " master ", while five others were taken care of at
the MDHRL's headquarters, that is Hamadou Bachirou (12 years old),
Mohama Bladi (14 years old), Yaya Aboubakar (16 years old), Mouktar
Abba Boura (17 years old) et Ali Boukar (17 years old). The Attorney
General of the Republic has prosecuted the Marabout Mal Bakary, but
the situation remains unchanged and the children which were taken
back by the Centre still remain maltreated and exploited.
OMCT is very concerned about the fate of the eight children taken
back by their " master " and also about any other child who may
reside at the Centre. Moreover, OMCT is preoccupied by the lack of
adequate care for the five children who escaped and currently reside
at the MDDHL, and also by the lack of measures undertaken to
facilitate their return to their families. Finally, OMCT is alarmed
by the impunity of the Marabout Mal Bakary.
The phenomenon of the so-called " child-witches " is present
throughout Africa. It exists in Benin, in Nigeria, in Liberia, in
Angola, in South Africa and in Cameroon. In fact, difficult children
are sometimes considered by their parents or by their relatives as
having evil powers and they are then rejected, marginalized by the
society or placed in re-education centres. Some children end up in
police stations, in search of protection, while others are arrested
for theft or vagrancy. The living conditions of these children are
precarious and they are often victims of abuse or maltreatment.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is alarmed by the problem of
the so-called " child-witches " in Africa and strongly supports the
principles contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(signed and ratified by all African States), and particularly article
19 which requires that "State Parties shall take all appropriate
legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to
protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence,
injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or
exploitation (…)" and article 39 which requires that "States Parties
shall take all appropriate measures to promote physical and
psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim of:
any form of neglect, exploitation, or abuse; torture or any other
form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or armed
conflicts."
OMCT recalls that the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of
the Child, ratified by Cameroon in 1997, contains article 21 which
requires that " States Parties (…) take all appropriate measures to
eliminate harmful social and cultural practices affecting the
welfare, dignity, normal growth and development of the child (…)."
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Cameroon urging them to:
i. intervene in the case of the five children residing at the MDHRL's
headquarters in order to provide them with shelter, health services
and adequate assistance in view of their reintegration in families
and in society.
ii. free all children which are maltreated in the "Civic Re-education
Centre" owned by Mal Bakary and to ensure their social and family
reintegration.
iii. develop protection programmes for the so-called "child-witches"
in Cameroon.
iv. initiate judiciary proceedings against any person which commits
acts of torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments against
children on grounds of witchcraft.
Addresses
Mr. Amadou ALI, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 1000
Yaoundé, Cameroon, Fax: + 237 223 0005/222 2154
Mr. Laurent ESSO, Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence, 1000
Yaoundé, Cameroon, Fax: + 237 223 5971
Mr. Rémy ZE MEKA, Secretary of State in charge of the Police,
Ministry of Defence, 1000 Yaoundé, Cameroon, Fax: + 237 222 3998
Mrs. Cécile MBOMBA KOLLO, Minister of Social Affairs, Ministry of
Social Affairs, 1000 Yaoundé, Cameroon, Fax : + 237 923 1121
His Excellency the Ambassador, Mr. Jean Simplice NDJEMBA-ENDEZOUMOU,
Rue du Nant 6, CH-1207, Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 736 21 65
Geneva, May 22nd 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.
CHILD CONCERN
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
INTERVENTION in the following situation in Cameroon.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT was informed by the Movement
for the Defence of Human Rights and Liberties (MDHRL) about the
neglect and maltreatment of "child-witches" in Cameroon. According to
the information received, "child-witches" were abandoned by their
parents placed in the care of the "Civic Re-education Centre" owned
by the Marabout Mal Bakary in the Doualaré district in Maroua, where
they were maltreated and exploited. In fact, children in this centre
were forced, with chains at their feet, to break and pick up rocks in
the mountains many times per day and they suffered from maltreatment
performed on grounds of exorcism. Following their escape from the
centre during the night of January 25th 2003, eight children were
found by their " master ", while five others were taken care of at
the MDHRL's headquarters, that is Hamadou Bachirou (12 years old),
Mohama Bladi (14 years old), Yaya Aboubakar (16 years old), Mouktar
Abba Boura (17 years old) et Ali Boukar (17 years old). The Attorney
General of the Republic has prosecuted the Marabout Mal Bakary, but
the situation remains unchanged and the children which were taken
back by the Centre still remain maltreated and exploited.
OMCT is very concerned about the fate of the eight children taken
back by their " master " and also about any other child who may
reside at the Centre. Moreover, OMCT is preoccupied by the lack of
adequate care for the five children who escaped and currently reside
at the MDDHL, and also by the lack of measures undertaken to
facilitate their return to their families. Finally, OMCT is alarmed
by the impunity of the Marabout Mal Bakary.
The phenomenon of the so-called " child-witches " is present
throughout Africa. It exists in Benin, in Nigeria, in Liberia, in
Angola, in South Africa and in Cameroon. In fact, difficult children
are sometimes considered by their parents or by their relatives as
having evil powers and they are then rejected, marginalized by the
society or placed in re-education centres. Some children end up in
police stations, in search of protection, while others are arrested
for theft or vagrancy. The living conditions of these children are
precarious and they are often victims of abuse or maltreatment.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is alarmed by the problem of
the so-called " child-witches " in Africa and strongly supports the
principles contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(signed and ratified by all African States), and particularly article
19 which requires that "State Parties shall take all appropriate
legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to
protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence,
injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or
exploitation (…)" and article 39 which requires that "States Parties
shall take all appropriate measures to promote physical and
psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim of:
any form of neglect, exploitation, or abuse; torture or any other
form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or armed
conflicts."
OMCT recalls that the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of
the Child, ratified by Cameroon in 1997, contains article 21 which
requires that " States Parties (…) take all appropriate measures to
eliminate harmful social and cultural practices affecting the
welfare, dignity, normal growth and development of the child (…)."
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Cameroon urging them to:
i. intervene in the case of the five children residing at the MDHRL's
headquarters in order to provide them with shelter, health services
and adequate assistance in view of their reintegration in families
and in society.
ii. free all children which are maltreated in the "Civic Re-education
Centre" owned by Mal Bakary and to ensure their social and family
reintegration.
iii. develop protection programmes for the so-called "child-witches"
in Cameroon.
iv. initiate judiciary proceedings against any person which commits
acts of torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments against
children on grounds of witchcraft.
Addresses
Mr. Amadou ALI, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 1000
Yaoundé, Cameroon, Fax: + 237 223 0005/222 2154
Mr. Laurent ESSO, Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence, 1000
Yaoundé, Cameroon, Fax: + 237 223 5971
Mr. Rémy ZE MEKA, Secretary of State in charge of the Police,
Ministry of Defence, 1000 Yaoundé, Cameroon, Fax: + 237 222 3998
Mrs. Cécile MBOMBA KOLLO, Minister of Social Affairs, Ministry of
Social Affairs, 1000 Yaoundé, Cameroon, Fax : + 237 923 1121
His Excellency the Ambassador, Mr. Jean Simplice NDJEMBA-ENDEZOUMOU,
Rue du Nant 6, CH-1207, Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 736 21 65
Geneva, May 22nd 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.