The Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) says it seeks to enlighten combatants in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions on the regulations governing armed conflicts and human rights.
Based in the South West, one of the troubled Anglophone regions, CHRDA says it believes that some combatants are committing these violations without knowledge.
“Therefore, we bear a responsibility to educate combatants on International Humanitarian Law in times of conflict.”
It has thus made available educative pamphlets for the combattants titled “Pamphlet to educate combatants in armed conflict-Anglophone crisis in Cameroon.”
“Without furthering any prejudice, CHRDA stands to sensitize combatants to these illegal acts, and thus diminish the human rights violations they commit” the human rights center states.
In a bid to facilitate ownership and understanding of the document’s content, the center has made the pamphlets available in soft copy and in French, English and Pidgin. “The pamphlet will also be recorded in an audio format and circulated on Social media to communicate the message to all combatants and breach the gap of those who cannot read” CHDRA promises.
“In line with our human rights mandate, CHRDA will also soon launch a longer handbook on war crimes and International Humanitarian Law, from which warring parties and educational institutions alike may benefit. The purpose of this handbook is to further educate combatants and others on violations of international human rights codes in times of conflict. It contains nearly 50 scenarios based on actual incidents from the ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions” it adds.
CHDRA has been one of the key rights bodies advocating for the respect of human rights in the crisis that has lasted over three years now and left thousands dead and more displaced.
Mimi Mefo Info
