By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – The Government of Cameroon has expressed deep concern over the increasing incidence of femicide, child abuse, rape, and other forms of violence against vulnerable persons, calling for urgent collective action to reverse the worrying trend.
The concern was raised during a joint press conference in Yaoundé led by the Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, René Emmanuel Sadi, alongside officials from the Ministries of Social Affairs, Women’s Empowerment and the Family, and Basic Education.
In a press statement, René Emmanuel Sadi described the situation as alarming, noting that cases of violence against women and children have continued to rise across the country. “Our country has, for some time now, been witnessing a dramatic rise in cases of femicide, rape, infanticide and other forms of abuse committed against children,” he said.
Femicide Cases Surge
According to government statistics presented during the briefing, 50 women were murdered in 2023. The number increased to 67 in 2024 and reached 77 cases in 2025. The Government Spokesperson noted that figures recorded since the beginning of 2026 indicate that the trend has continued.
He revealed that most femicide cases are committed by individuals known to the victims, including spouses, relatives, neighbours, friends and acquaintances. “The circumstances under which these crimes occur are deeply troubling and demand decisive action from all sectors of society,” Sadi stated.
The minister highlighted several recent cases involving children that have shocked public opinion, including incidents of rape, murder, physical abuse and infanticide. Among the cases cited were the alleged sexual abuse of a three-year-old nursery school pupil in Yaoundé, the rape and murder of 11-year-old Divine Mbarga, the killing of three children by their mother in Nkolbisson, and the murder of an 11-month-old infant in Douala.
Other cases mentioned included the murder of two secondary school girls in Kribi, the killing of 11-year-old Karl Ethan in Yaoundé, and the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl in Manjo.
Sadi noted that many of the reported cases occurred in family settings or in institutions expected to protect children. “The first observation is that most of these acts are perpetrated by people close to the victims or within environments where children should feel safe and protected,” he said.
Government Strengthens Protection Mechanisms
In response to the growing problem, the Government outlined a series of measures already being implemented to support victims and prevent further abuses. These include psychological and social support services for survivors of gender-based violence, legal assistance, emergency medical care, and socio-economic reintegration programmes.
The Government has also established approximately 100 temporary shelters, commonly referred to as “safe spaces,” across the country to accommodate victims requiring immediate protection.
Other initiatives include the gradual establishment of Gender Desks in police stations and gendarmerie brigades, the creation of reception centres for women in distress, and capacity-building programmes for magistrates, law enforcement officers, healthcare personnel and social workers.
For child protection, authorities have intensified preventive measures through positive parenting programmes, anti-child abuse campaigns, Child Desks within selected security units and dedicated hotlines for reporting abuse cases. Security services have also been instructed to strengthen surveillance in high-risk areas and to receive specialised training on child protection and gender-related issues.
The Government further highlighted the country’s legal framework, which includes provisions in the Criminal Code, laws against child trafficking and slavery, cybersecurity legislation and child online protection measures. Cameroon has also ratified several international conventions aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of children.
While reaffirming the Government’s determination to prosecute offenders, Sadi stressed that combating violence against women and children cannot be left to public authorities alone. He called on families, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, community groups and citizens to actively participate in prevention, awareness-raising and reporting of abuse cases. “The fight against these abhorrent acts targeting vulnerable members of society is a collective responsibility,” he said.
“Everyone of us has a role to play in preventing these crimes, reporting them and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.”
