Editorial UN human rights chief speaks truth to power in Yaounde [1].

That was during a two-day visit to Yaounde, that ended on Wednesday August 7. At a ceremony to inaugurate the new premises of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa in Yaounde, he didn't mince his words.

His Excellency Volke Türk had talks with several Cameroonian human rights stakeholders in the civil society organisations and senior government and state authorities.

Top among them was the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, and the Chair of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission, Prof James Mouangue Kobila.

There was no scoop in the press briefing he gave after the audience with Prof Kobila but his exhaustive presentation at IRIC, though generalised, was a caustic critique of the human rights situation in Cameroon when read between the lines.

Excerpts of the speech, which The Guardian Post considers as telling the truth to the powers that be in Yaounde, include: “There is a troubling resurgence in unconstitutional changes in or, conversely, clinging on to power. Opaque electoral processes are on the rise, as are frustrations with state institutions that are considered to be neither representative, nor effective”.

“Crackdowns on peaceful protests and attacks on human rights defenders and journalists are growing, particularly in the context of elections. All against the backdrop of virtual impunity, geopolitical quarrelling and posturing and too much war mongering and not enough peacebuilding. Today, I would like to touch on areas where human rights are critical to solving some of our deepest challenges. Human rights is not only one of the three pillars of the United Nations, it is the backbone of global governance. The right to peace is its foundation.At every stage of the conflict cycle-from early warning and prevention to peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding, the importance of active inclusion and consideration of human rights issues is invaluable,” he added. 

Fundamentally, human rights help us diagnose problems and address the root causes. Violations of the right to education, to an adequate standard of living, or to non-discrimination are often at the origin of conflicts. If left unaddressed, they simmer, fuel divisions in society and eventually trigger tensions.

Likewise, the protection of all rights-the right to vote, the right to demonstrate peacefully, the right to privacy or family life, the right not to be subjected to torture, to food, education and health, are the recipe.

Human rights help us get closer to peace. Human rights monitoring and reporting, including contemporaneously, can establish the facts in the midst of the fog of war.

On the other hand, objective information, truth telling and agreement on common history are essential if peace is to be sustainable.

Human rights also keep the focus of peace processes on people. With their basis in the dignity of each human being, human rights respond to perhaps the single most challenging part of building peace for all to see and fully grasp the humanity of the other.

Human rights also means accountability, which can take different forms, depending also on the needs of the communities concerned. 

The pillars of transitional justice processes-truth, reconciliation, guarantees of non-repetition and institutional reforms, implemented through judicial or non-judicial means, can be tailored to each context constructively to navigate the painful legacy of human rights violations.

Moreover, the human rights framework can help design a negotiation agenda that includes all parties needed to make peace last in the long term, and to rebuild the social fabric. 

Ensuring equality for all, inclusion and participation are crucial to dealing with the past in order to move forward.

Freedoms of expression, association, assembly and participation in public and political affairs, among others, are a lever for a stable and secure society.

Yet, around the world, attacks, threats and harassment, arrests and detentions of human rights defenders, journalists and people deemed critical of authorities are far too common.

This not only violates the rights of individuals, but also slowly undermines the foundations of prosperity and security.

2024 is a pivotal year in terms of elections globally, and with even more elections planned for 2025, we are experiencing a crucial moment for democracy.

Meaningful and secure electoral processes, which ensure the participation of all voters, are essential to the institutions and governments that serve their people.

More generally, full respect for human rights before, during and after elections strengthens trust and legitimacy. This makes it possible to make more relevant and effective decisions, because they reflect the needs of the populations.

As we all know, democracy goes beyond the electoral process itself. At its core, it means the right to participate in public affairs on an ongoing basis, including women, indigenous peoples, people living with disabilities, young people, minorities and other often marginalised people.

There is currently considerable momentum to recognise and include young people's voices in decision-making. 

Not only do young people need an open civic space to express themselves, they also need to feel heard and engaged in the political processes that concern them, and know that their voice counts in shaping their future.

At The Guardian Post, we hold the conviction that the UN Chief touched on the heart of numerous challenges Cameroon is mired in, which have over time, been pointed out with proffered solutions by personalities of mettle like peace crusader, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle; International Anti-corruption advocate, Batonnier Akere Muna, and human rights defender, Felix Agbor Nkongho Balla; including opposition front line politicians in the country.

However, being the international diplomat he is, the UN human rights chief rightly did not want to be blunt. But human rights are no longer issues of "internal affairs." 

Yaounde should sincerely address,  especially the review of the electoral law and the freedom to hold rallies and participation of all potential candidates in the impending elections next year.

To quote the UN diplomat, "I think we can, and must turn things around…we have the tools at our disposal. We must reclaim human rights as problem-solving tools, for more peaceful, more sustainable and more equal societies" in Cameroon.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3197 of Monday August 12, 2024