Women with Disabilities and Political Freedom in Cameroon

Article 2 of Law No. 2010/002 of 13 April 2010 on the protection and promotion of persons with disabilities defines a disabled person as “any person unable to ensure for themselves wholly or partly, the necessities of a normal individual or social life, as a result of deficiency, either congenital or not, in their physical or mental capabilities.” According to the 2011 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 5.4 percent of Cameroon’s population had at least one person living with a disability (1). In terms of gender distribution, disabled men represented 51.4 percent, while 48.6 percent were disabled women (2). Due to their gender, women face specific discrimination that hinders their inclusion in political life (3). For example, in 2019, only three disabled women held the position of municipal councilor (4). This inequality has repeatedly prompted reactions from civil society actors who have mobilized to ensure that legislative, regulatory, and social measures are taken to promote greater participation of people with disabilities in decision-making processes (5). Currently, Cameroon’s Parliament has 33 female senators and 61 female MPs, but none of them live with disabilities. How can we understand that, despite the existence of legal instruments that guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities, women with disabilities remain almost invisible in the Cameroonian political sphere? This work aims to evaluate the impact of the various measures taken in favor of the political representation of women with disabilities in Cameroon. Starting from the international and national legal instruments ratified and adopted by the country, the analysis will focus on (I) the presentation of laws and programs and (II) the challenges encountered in their implementation.

The existence of a diversified legal framework to promote the socio-political integration of disabled women in Cameroon

Cameroon, in its desire to promote the political representation of all its citizens, is actively working to enhance the political representation of all sections of the population, including persons with disabilities, notably women with disabilities. In fact, the country has a robust legal framework from both international bodies and its national institutions. Cameroon has ratified numerous international conventions that focus on the political rights of women and persons with disabilities. Notably, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is a key treaty aimed at eradicating discrimination against women and promoting gender equality (6). Adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, which includes Cameroon as a member, the convention comprises several articles, notably Articles 7 and 8, which recommend that States implement all appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in political and public spheres (7). An analysis of this provision allows us to include disability as a form of discrimination to be eliminated in order to ensure the representation of women in politics.

Cameroon is also a party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), one of whose fundamental principles is the full and effective participation and integration into society of persons with disabilities, regardless of gender. The Convention aims to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities (8). It also aims to combat any distinction, exclusion, or restriction based on disability that has the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise, on an equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil, or any other sphere. Discrimination on the grounds of disability includes all forms of discrimination, including the denial of reasonable accommodation.

The main law on persons with disabilities does not provide for any monitoring and evaluation system to ensure the effectiveness of the political inclusion of women with disabilities.

The Cameroonian State’s adherence to these various international bodies aimed at encouraging the representation of all its citizens in various decision-making bodies is also reflected in the national legal system. Indeed, the country has undertaken some legal actions that guarantee non-discrimination against women with disabilities and their full participation in political life. Firstly, the Constitution states in its preamble that “All humans are equal in rights and duties,” and that “The nation protects and encourages the family, the natural foundation of human society. It protects women, young people, the elderly, and the disabled.” The Constitution also enshrines the right of all Cameroonians to education, property, and participation in public office without any distinction.

Secondly, there is Law No. 2010/002 of 13 April 2010 on the protection and promotion of disabled persons. This law makes provisions that guarantee the social integration of disabled persons (special education, appropriate medical care, disability card, obligation of reasonable accommodation, etc.) ( 9). More importantly, Article 27 (2) states that “the State encourages the presence of persons with disabilities in different instances of social and political spheres.” This legal framework has enabled the establishment of programs designed to facilitate the psychosocial inclusion of persons with disabilities. Thus, two major initiatives have been taken. First is the transformation of the Cardinal Paul Emile Leger National Center for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities into a public administrative establishment that provides comprehensive support for disabilities and became a center of excellence in rehabilitation in the region. Second, is the recruitment of 110 disabled teachers holding the CAPIEMP or TEACHER’S GRADE ONE CERTIFICATE for the 2010 and 2011 financial years, as part of the operation of the contractualization of general education teachers. These first measures already make it possible to guarantee the health and professional stability of disabled persons, essential elements for success in any other career, particularly in politics. However, despite these laws and programs, the rate of participation of disabled women in politics remains very low in Cameroon.

Unstable actions to the enhancement of political representation of disabled women

In Cameroon, measures specifically dedicated to better political inclusion of women with disabilities remain difficult to identify. Their political rights are generally drowned in global provisions that affect women and people with disabilities. More explicitly, the discrimination suffered by women with disabilities is not addressed in an intersectional manner. For example, it is currently impossible to identify the exact number of women with disabilities registered on the electoral lists to take necessary measures to increase their registration. The figures show that of the 1,254,438 new voters registered in 2024, only 654 are persons with disabilities, which is 0.09 percent of the total number of registered voters. These figures are communicated, but it is impossible to distinguish between men and women (10). In addition to the absence of a government program specifically dedicated to the political promotion of women with disabilities, many challenges hamper efforts to include women with disabilities in Cameroon politically.

Such a challenge is the persistence of backward cultural norms and beliefs. Very often, women with disabilities are seen as passive victims or beneficiaries, unable to make correct decisions (11). In addition, the situation of disability is sometimes perceived by some people as the result of a curse or divine punishment (12). Furthermore, women with disabilities suffer from prejudices common to other women, in particular, being excluded from decision-making centers and relegated to domestic tasks. All of these make them more vulnerable to violence of all kinds, social exclusion, and unemployment (13). What’s more, women with disabilities have to face systemic obstacles such as the lack of inclusive schools, especially in rural areas, and the lack of specialized and trained staff for people with special needs (14). The poor accessibility of the various infrastructures and services can also be noted. Indeed, many polling stations still do not have ramps, ballots printed in Braille, etc. (15).

Looking at these things makes us realize the weak implementation of existing laws. For example, Article 33 of Law No. 2010/002 of 13 April 2010 on the protection and promotion of persons with disabilities clearly states that “public and private buildings and institutions open to the public must be designed to facilitate access and use for persons with disabilities.” A tour of the buildings housing ministries, financial institutions, and markets shows that much remains to be done to adapt these buildings to the requirements of the reasonable accommodation obligation. It is also regrettable that the implementing decree (16) of this 2010 law does not provide for any truly coercive measures to encourage scrupulous compliance with the provisions. Furthermore, all the provisions that mention the political participation of women with disabilities are more incentive-based, and the representation of women with disabilities then appears as a moral obligation towards other members of the political class. As a result, women with disabilities are totally absent from parliament and government. In 2019, there were only three women with disabilities as municipal councilors (17). In addition, the main law on persons with disabilities does not provide for any monitoring and evaluation system to ensure the effectiveness of the political inclusion of women with disabilities. This law does not even explicitly address the issue of the representation of women with disabilities in politics.

It is also important to note that there are no recent statistics on the percentage of women with disabilities at the national level; the last census of persons with disabilities dates back to 2005. And yet, the implementation of impactful programs requires the use of detailed and reliable data to ensure monitoring. While we can praise the many efforts made to promote the political presence of persons with disabilities, we can be alarmed by the non-existence of a political education program dedicated to women with disabilities, which takes into account the challenges they face as women and as persons with disabilities (18). Similarly, there is no specific government program dedicated to developing the leadership skills of women with disabilities.

Conclusion and recommendations

The initiatives put in place by the Cameroonian government to promote the political engagement of women with disabilities face numerous and complex challenges. These women continue to face discriminatory barriers rooted in cultural norms and beliefs, as well as structural obstacles that limit their active participation in the political sphere. However, their inclusion represents a fundamental right and an enrichment of the country’s democracy and governance. This is why recommendations at several levels can be considered:

  • Raise awareness among communities against discrimination and stigmatization of persons with disabilities, to change the various prejudices.
  • Educate women with disabilities on the need for their participation in political life by seeking elective positions along the lines of what the Sight Saver organization does (20).
  • Impose quotas for women with disabilities in government, parliament, and political parties to ensure their presence.
  • Organize mentoring programs for women with disabilities aspiring to elected positions to equip them.
  • Create a support fund specifically dedicated to disabled women aspiring to politics, to enable those who are most deprived to get involved.
  • Improve the accessibility of polling stations so that physical barriers no longer hinder the political participation of women with disabilities.
  • Ultimately, the goal must be to create an environment where every woman, disabled or not, can fully exercise her political rights and thus contribute to building a more just and equitable Cameroon for all.

Jengu Guy Beaudry is a doctoral student at the University of Yaoundé II, Soa and head of the trends and circumstances department of the African Center for Research in Moral and Political Sciences (CARES-MP). He is particularly interested in questions of sociology of international relations and strategic studies. Fekou Kuissu Daniela Kémelle is interested in governance and democracy.

Article first appeared on OnPolicy Africa.

Photo by Engin Akyurt via Unsplash.

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