A report compiled by Cameroonian civil society organizations records 53 femicides committed between January 1 and July 29, 2026, across five of the country's regions, including seven cases involving the rape and murder of minors.
This finding comes as the draft bill specifically addressing gender-based violence—finalized in 2024 by the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family (MINPROFF) with support from the United Nations and the World Bank—is still waiting to be introduced in the National Assembly.
Civil society groups documented 53 femicides in Cameroon from January 1 to July 29, 2026. Seven of the victims recorded during this period were minors who were raped and killed. The documented cases span five Cameroonian regions, notably Centre and South. A draft bill on gender-based violence prepared by MINPROFF in 2024 has yet to be examined by the National Assembly.
The surge in these crimes brings renewed attention to delays in establishing a national legal framework. As community reports and alerts multiply across regions, advocacy groups point to the gap between public commitments and the effective protection of women.
Submitting the legislation to Parliament is now the critical step awaited by advocacy groups to equip courts with enforcement and support tools tailored to the reality of domestic violence.
In Cameroon, the publication of these figures increases pressure on judicial and administrative institutions to expedite the processing of domestic abuse complaints and harmonize emergency protection protocols at the municipal level.
Placing the bill on the parliamentary agenda will serve as the true test of turning declarations of principle into enforceable legal protections across the country.
