Soyata Maiga and Lucy Asuagbor had discussions with Prime Minister Philemon Yang in Yaounde on September 13 at the end of their official working mission to Cameroon that started on September 4. Talking to the press after the over one hour 15 minute-audience, Soyata Maiga expressed thanks to government for ensuring permanent dialogue with the Commission.
As for the balance sheet of their visit, she said they noticed remarkable progress in pertinent areas like the rights of women and people living with HIV/AIDS. Government, she said has taken women as development partners, giving them autonomy, ensuring their representation in decision-taking positions. Much progress has also been made in girl-child education and the fight to curb negative practices on women such as female genital mutilation, she acknowledged.
The African Human and People's Rights Commission officials recommended that government should intensify the fight against negative cultural practices such as widowhood rights, early marriages and pregnancies. The officials further called on government to respect instruments on the quotas of women in decision-making positions and to intensify their education.