This is a joint submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review on its 2018 Cycle for Cameroon, by Access Now, ADISI-Cameroun, APC and Internet Sans Frontières. The organisations submitting this report consider that Cameroon can improve its human rights record and treatment of digital rights in several areas and make recommendations to the government of Cameroon accordingly.
This is the third review for Cameroon, last reviewed in May 2013 where the Cameroonian government received 177 recommendations in the area of human rights during the review at the Universal Periodic Review mechanism (UPR) in Geneva.
About Access Now
Access Now (www.accessnow.org) is an international organisation that works to defend and extend digital rights of users globally. Through representation in 10 countries around the world, including engagement with stakeholders and policymakers in Cameroon, Access Now provides thought leadership and policy recommendations to the public and private sectors to ensure the internet’s continued openness and the protection of fundamental rights. We engage with an action focused global community, and our Technology Arm operates a 24/7 digital security helpline that provides real time direct technical assistance to users around the world. Access Now advocates an approach to digital security that promotes good security policies that protect user rights, including privacy and freedom of expression. Access Now has worked extensively to draw attention to digital rights in Cameroon, including commenting on the January 2017 internet shutdown.
About Internet Sans Frontières (Internet Without Borders)
Internet Sans Frontières is a non-governmental organization, and a network of organizations, with the non-profit status under French law. The organization promotes and defends rights and freedoms in the digital space, including freedom of expression and the right to privacy, and an open web accessible to all, without discrimination. Internet Sans Frontières’ expertise on Internet and Human Rights in West and Central Africa is internationally recognized.
About the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
The Association for Progressive Communications (https://www.apc.org) is an international network and non-governmental organisation founded in 1990 that wants everyone to have access to a free and open internet to improve lives and create a more just world. The APC network has 55 organisational members and 30 individual members active in 76 countries, including Cameroon. Together we work in the areas of research, policy advocacy, capacity building, movement building, and strategic use of information and communications technologies to advance human rights, gender quality, social justice, and sustainable development.
About ADISI-Cameroun
ADISI-Cameroun is a non-profit Cameroonian non-profit association created in 2010. It works on human rights issues and its strategic axes are: access to information and Open Data, freedom of press and expression as the foundations of democracy and institutional governance (governance of information). Its headquarters is based in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon.