By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – Cameroon recorded 4,883 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) between January and June 2026, with the Far North, South West and North West regions accounting for more than half of the cases reported during the six months.
Figures compiled by the Regional Delegations of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF) show significant variations across the country’s 10 regions, with the Far North recording the highest number of cases.
The Far North reported 1,828 cases, representing about 37% of the national total. It was followed by the South West with 980 cases, while the North West recorded 451. The Centre Region recorded 423 cases, the South 346, the Littoral 264, the North 209, the East 174, the West 122 and Adamawa 106.
The figures come as concerns over violence against women and girls in Cameroon continue to escalate. The United Nations in Cameroon said in June that it was concerned about a recent increase in reported cases of femicide, infanticide and sexual violence, particularly against children.
The high figures recorded in the Far North, South West and North West come against a backdrop of prolonged insecurity and displacement. In the North West and South West, years of conflict have disrupted livelihoods, education and access to essential services, leaving women and children particularly exposed to protection risks.
A UNFPA situation report published in 2026 described the humanitarian environment in the three conflict-affected regions, including the Far North, as volatile, with insecurity, displacement, criminality, kidnapping and sexual violence contributing to heightened protection concerns.
The concentration of reported cases in these regions therefore reflects not only violence within communities and households but also the wider vulnerabilities associated with displacement and conflict.
The 980 cases recorded in the South West, for example, make it the second-highest region in the latest figures, despite its population being substantially smaller than that of the Centre and Littoral regions.
The figures indicate the scale of reported GBV, but they should not necessarily be interpreted as representing the full extent of violence in Cameroon. Human Rights Watch has noted that Cameroon lacks a comprehensive, coordinated national system for collecting and disaggregating GBV data, making the true scale of domestic violence and other forms of violence against women difficult to establish.
The organisation also reported in August that MINPROFF had acknowledged an increase in reported femicides since 2023 and warned that government figures represented only “the tip of the iceberg”.
Under-reporting can occur for a variety of reasons, including fear of reprisals, social stigma, economic dependence, pressure to preserve family relationships and limited access to protection and justice services.
The South West’s position in the figures is especially significant given the region’s continuing humanitarian challenges. Women and girls in communities affected by the conflict face risks associated with displacement, economic hardship and disruption of support networks.
UNFPA reported that conflict and insecurity in Cameroon continue to heighten protection risks, while women, children and other vulnerable groups remain among those most affected. Humanitarian organisations have consequently continued to provide psychosocial support, case management, safe spaces and other services for survivors.
According to the UN’s 2024 Cameroon results report, more than 1,600 women received psychosocial support through six safe spaces, while 25,000 young girls and GBV survivors received dignity kits.
In June, Human Rights Watch said women and girls in Cameroon continued to face domestic violence and gender discrimination while experiencing inadequate protection and access to justice. It called for stronger institutions, better public services and legal reforms.
The United Nations has similarly called for greater mobilisation by government institutions, communities and other stakeholders to address violence against women and children. While conflict-affected regions face the additional pressures of displacement and insecurity, GBV remains a nationwide concern, with cases reported in every region.
