Cameroon has a legislative framework that protects human rights, enshrined in the 1996 Constitution and supported by the ratification of various international conventions. Despite this progress, the country faces major challenges, notably an increase in arbitrary arrests and pre-trial detention, leading to prison overcrowding, particularly in dilapidated establishments with occupancy rates often exceeding 600%. In 2021, 58% of prisoners were on remand. The crackdown on acts of terrorism, broadly defined by the 2014 law, has led to arbitrary arrests, military trials for civilians, and the frequent use of the death penalty. Material conditions in prisons are critical, with inequality of treatment between prisoners. Foreigners and women are particularly affected, with frequent human rights violations at all levels of the penal system. Epidemics of Covid-19 and cholera in 2022 highlighted the deplorable hygiene conditions and poor access to healthcare for prisoners. The lack of professional and psychological support exacerbates the vulnerability of ex-prisoners, contributing to a high rate of recidivism.

This project has been designed to address the above issues, with the general aim of contributing to the consolidation of prison and judicial governance that is sensitive to human rights and the protection of people in detention, particularly the most vulnerable detainees in Cameroon. Specifically, the project aims to put in place a participatory and inclusive process involving all stakeholders in order to improve access to justice for vulnerable prisoners, their conditions of detention, their socio-professional reintegration and the effective application of alternative sentences with a view to reducing the prison population. The proposed action aims to contribute to a paradigm shift in the representation and perception of the prison system, which is currently oriented more towards punishment, degradation and the dehumanisation of prisoners.

• Capacity-building for actors in the criminal justice system on respect for the human rights of people deprived of their liberty
• Capacity-building and setting up a network of lawyers competent to work in prisons
• Training lawyers and other players in the criminal justice system in habeas corpus.

• Legal assistance to persons deprived of their liberty in vulnerable situations or in pre-trial detention
• Handling habeas corpus cases
• Setting up a support and professional reintegration programme for prisoners
• Cascading grants with the aim of reintegrating prisoners and improving prison conditions.

• Mapping of actors involved in promoting and protecting the rights of people in detention in Cameroon
• Set up a multi-actor working group, identified on the basis of the mapping, to monitor and evaluate the effective application of legislative and regulatory provisions relating to prison conditions.
• Raise prisoners' awareness of their rights, legal remedies and procedures through a practical guide.

• Carrying out a feasibility study on the introduction of alternative sentences
• Organise a national symposium to present the study.
• Set up an advocacy campaign for the introduction of alternative sentences

• Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France) : whose mission is to contribute to the consolidation of the rule of law, in particular through technical assistance to the legal and judicial professions;
• Réseau Camerounais des Organisations des Droits de l'Homme (RECODH) : aims to promote and protect human rights through its network of associations and groups of associations;
• The Research Institute for Development (RIDEV) : its mission is to support the most vulnerable prisoners with a view to promoting their social and professional reintegration.

• The PAGOC project is funded by the European Union.