GLOBAL DATABASE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLSCOUNTRY-PROFILECAMEROONCOUNTRY SNAPSHOT
Cameroon
Region: Africa / Population: 27,199M / Female Population: 13,634M
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Gender Inequality Index Rank
Global Gender Gap Index Rank
Lifetime Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence
Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence in the last 12 months
Lifetime Non-Partner Sexual Violence
Country Snapshot Measures CEDAW
Country Snapshots were developed by UN Women on the basis of information contained in the database, completed with other relevant sources
Laws & Policies
Constitutional Provisions on Violence against Women and Girls (VAW/G)
NO
Stand-alone EVAW/G Law
NO
National Action Plan on VAW/G (latest one that is currently into force)
YES

National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Female Genital Mutilation in Cameroon 2022-2026

National Strategy on VAW/G (latest one that is currently into force)
YES

National Strategy to Combat Gender based Violence 2022-2026

Law against Sexual Harassment
NO
Provision against Marital Rape
NO
Equality in Marriage and Divorce
NO

The spouses participate equally in the expenses of the family. Spouses owe each other mutual assistance. However, according to the national law, the man is the chief of the family and he decides on the place for the residence of the family

Minimum Age of Male Marriage
18

Article 144 of Civil Code (2019)

Minimum Age of Female Marriage
15

Article 144 of Civil Code (2019)

Law Prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
YES

Article 277-1 of Penal Code, 1967

Assessment of Services for Women and Girls Survivors of Violence
Governance and Coordination
Existence of a governance structure or coordination mechanism
YES

Regional GBV Platforms (launched by the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Family (MINPROFF) on 17 Jan 2023)

Police
Availability of administrative data on police
YES
Number of police stations or units specialized in EVAW/G
39

Number of Gender Desks at the police and gendarmerie stations

Social Services
Availability of administrative data on social services
YES
Number of social services (i.e. shelters, helplines, centres offering psycho-social counselling support)
116

Number of women empowerment and family centers in 116 sub-divisions out of 360 There are some safe spaces in the emergency areas. Psycho social counselling support are provided.

Experiencing Violence?
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