Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1988)

Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention. Discrimination based on sex. Sexual harassment. In its previous comments, the Committee recalled that the adoption of measures to prevent both quid pro quo and hostile working environment sexual harassment is essential for effectively combating such practices and putting a stop to them. The Committee notes that the Government expresses its intent to adopt measures to that end and indicates that awareness-raising campaigns are conducted throughout the country to combat sexual harassment in general and particularly in the workplace. The Committee notes that the General Union of Workers of Cameroon (UGTC), in its observations received by the ILO on 25 September 2015, states that there are no awareness-raising campaigns in the workplace as the National Labour Advisory Committee (CNCT) has never discussed the issue. The Committee requests the Government once again to take the necessary steps, in the near future, in consultation with the workers’ and employers’ organizations, to include in the labour legislation provisions that prohibit and penalize both quid pro quo and hostile work environment sexual harassment and trusts that it will soon be in a position to report on progress made in this respect. While encouraging the Government to continue awareness-raising campaigns for workers, employers and their organizations, the Committee requests the Government to consider the possibility of discussing this matter within the CNCT to increase the scope of measures to raise awareness of sexual harassment in employment and occupation.

Article 2. Equal access of girls and women to education and to vocational training and guidance. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government, including with regard to awareness raising for traditional and religious chiefs with a view to establishing occupational training centres, measures taken to combat early marriages, and training activities for women and girls, including training in information and communication technologies. Recalling its previous comments regarding the low rate of school enrolment for girls, the Committee requests the Government to continue taking measures to promote equality in education and vocational training to prevent girls from dropping out of school and to enable girls and women to have access to more diverse training and a broader range of jobs, including those traditionally held by men. Please provide information on any measures taken towards this end.

Discrimination against indigenous peoples. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the 2009 growth and employment strategy paper includes economic integration or reintegration programmes, including in the public sector, for certain vulnerable groups such as indigenous communities. The Committee notes the information collected by the Independent Expert on minority issues regarding indigenous peoples, particularly the Baka Pygmy hunter-gatherers, the Mbororo pastoralists and the Montagnard communities (A/HRC/25/56/Add.1, 31 January 2014). The Committee notes that the report emphasizes certain efforts made by the Government, including with regard to access to education, but that it also highlights the many difficulties faced by indigenous peoples owing to the discrimination and stigmatization to which they are exposed, in particular, lack of education and training, problems finding employment or income-generating activities, and obstacles to carrying on their traditional activities. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee encourages the Government to intensify its efforts regarding access to education for indigenous children and to evaluate the impact thereof. It requests the Government to take the necessary legal and practical measures to enable indigenous peoples to carry on their traditional activities and retain their means of subsistence. It further requests the Government to take measures to prevent and combat discrimination, stigmatization and persistent stereotyping and prejudice against the members of indigenous communities, including the Baka community, particularly through campaigns to promote equality among all parts of the population and by improving access for members of indigenous communities to mechanisms and procedures that enable them to assert their rights.

Article 3(d). Employment under the direct control of a national authority. Since there has been no reply from the Government, the Committee requests the Government once again to provide information on the measures taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for men and women in the public sector, including with regard to recruitment, training and promotion. The Committee also requests the Government once again to provide data disaggregated by sex and level of responsibility of current staff members in the public service.