CEPI Urges Legal Reforms to Strengthen Women’s Economic Rights

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – In a significant step toward gender equality, the Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI) hosted a training session on March 7, 2025, to educate women on their economic rights. The event, held on the eve of International Women’s Day, brought together women entrepreneurs, legal experts, and community leaders to discuss legal frameworks that impact women’s financial independence.

The training centred on Cameroon's civil code, which gives men authority over joint household assets and the power to prevent their wives from working. While these laws continue to restrict women's economic freedom, the trainers highlighted constitutional protections, particularly Article 18, which guarantees gender equality and prohibits discrimination against women.

Henri Kouam, the founder of the Cameroon Economic Policy Institute, CEPI, outlined the need to integrate women’s rights into customary law to ensure women’s property rights are protected and enforced. He shared several studies and examples of communities that have developed quicker and experienced higher wages and job growth due to female entrepreneurs.

More than 25 women participated in the training, learning about their right to own property and the importance of spreading awareness within their communities. They were reminded that national laws, particularly the ordinance on land rights, override customary laws that often disadvantage women.

Participants also raised concerns about restrictions imposed by husbands or male relatives, preventing them from engaging in business activities. The discussion underscored the necessity of allowing women to work freely, with trainers referencing Article 7 of the labour code, which mandates fair working conditions for both men and women.

The session also touched on international commitments to gender equality, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979. The participants agreed that national legislation should guarantee women the right to work without their husband’s consent and own property without interference from traditional norms.

A key recommendation from the session was the need for families to plan their asset distribution in a way that prevents future disputes and ensures the financial security of widows and other vulnerable women.

CEPI reaffirmed its commitment to advancing economic development in Cameroon through research, policy advocacy, and training. The institute continues to push for reforms that will remove barriers to women’s economic participation and create a more inclusive financial landscape in the country.

About CEPI

The Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI) is a think tank in Cameroon that is improving economic development through fact-based research, policy advocacy, and training to boost entrepreneurship and free market ideas in Cameroon.