Cameroon human rights commission commends Gov’t for advancing sign language rights

The Cameroon Human Rights Commission has applauded the government’s initiatives to promote and protect the rights of individuals with hearing impairments. In a statement on September 23, 2024, on the 7th International Sign Language Day, the Commission highlighted that four of the 220 recommendations accepted during Cameroon’s recent Universal Periodic Review specifically benefit people with disabilities.

Notable government actions include the “We Ring the Bell” campaign, launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs on May 8, 2024, to raise awareness about the education of children with disabilities. Additionally, the recent appointment of the Board Chairperson and Director General of the Maroua Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled was acknowledged as a positive step.

The Commission noted, however, that while deaf children are capable of learning language, their access to sign language remains limited due to political and social barriers. It reiterated previous recommendations for public and private television channels to provide sign language news segments and subtitles for all programs, advocating for a richer linguistic environment for the deaf community.

This year’s theme for International Sign Language Day is “Sign up for Sign Language Rights.”