To the Government of Cameroon:

We, the signatories of this petition emphatically demand:

1. An immediate stop to all demolitions and evictions throughout the national territory without guarantee of rehousing to all those concerned. In its preamble, the Constitution of the Republic of Cameroon stipulates: “Ownership shall mean the right guaranteed to every person by law to use, enjoy and dispose of property. No person shall be deprived thereof, save for public purposes and subject to the payment of compensation under conditions determined by law”;

2. That international commitments made by the government of the Republic of  Cameroon be respected. Cameroon is a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ratified on June 27, 1984 and in which, under Article 11, sub-paragraph 1, it is stipulated: “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions...”;

3. The effective enforcement of national housing policies. Legal protection against evictions is a measure incorporated into the national housing policies, most of the articles of which are currently in effect. However, the principal measures outlined therein are not always respected when demolitions are undertaken;

4. The creation of measures aimed at lowering social housing prices for households that are victims of evictions;

In Cameroon, prices of formal housing built under government programs are quite high, making them inaccessible to low-income households. A number of solutions can be undertaken to facilitate the integration of evicted parties into these programs, such as:

• The integration of a selection criteria that is favourable to them;
• Tax reductions on real estate transactions relating to social housing programs;
• The reduction of personal contribution requirements for victims of eviction;
• The establishment of monthly and long-term payment schemes to ease the financial burden on them.

5. Providing alternative solutions which will guarantee the right to housing.

Key players in social housing are currently working out alternative solutions to the social housing crisis by:

• Promoting social habitat mutuals and cooperatives;
• Establishing revolving funds to finance social housing;
• Establishing production units for local contruction materials to be used in social housing;
• Establishing central purchasing offices for construction materials.

Promotions Committee:

• Bertrand Serge Guensu, Esson Dominique, Fabien Mbassi Mbassi (RNHC)
• Jules Dumas Nguebou, Guy Tatchou, Simon Sama, Achille Noupéou, Bertrand Talla Takam (ASSOAL)
• Pascal Kamtcheng, Yvone Ngo Lima (Plateforme des Mutelle et Coopérative d'Habitat du Cameroun /MUCOPHACAM)
• Achille Daimai (Plate forme DESC)
• Romuald Yepmo (AJEN)

Signatories (427)

• Patrick Kamotho Githinji, Muthurwa Residents Welfare Association - Kenya
• alessandro barbato, - Italy
• SANON Reyneld, FRAKKA - Haiti
• tchoy à nwatchok inés charlotte, assoal - Cameroon
• noumsi sandy, ASSOAL - Cameroon
• boudougouottou anastasie fleur, assoal - Cameroon
• kamdem mathieu, MAHAMUM - Cameroon
• ndjel gloria, ASSOAL - Cameroon
• Nkolo Josephine, RNHC - Cameroon
• Silvia Soccio, - Italy
• Maija Baijukya, - Finland
• Schlicker Tobias, - Germany
• de Courtivron Hugues, - France
• Ahmed Abdi, Rainwater Association of Somalia-RAAS - Somalia
• Eva M. Duran, - Spain
• SABENG Pierre, habitant - Cameroon
• KONO BENG SUZANNE, HABITANT - Cameroon
• BOA APPOLINAIRE, HABITANT - Cameroon
• NKENG Virginie, habitant - Cameroon
• NGOUN NBOMBE Germaine, habitant - Cameroon
• NDONGO FRancoise, habitant - Cameroon
• ABORANG NANGA Jeanette, habitant - Cameroon
• MINTOM Joseph, habitant - Cameroon
• MINTOM JOSEPH, HABITANT - Cameroon
• ATTA ESSOMA, HABITANT - Cameroon
• NLONDOLK ALICE, habitant - Cameroon
• BITOTE B, HABITANT - Cameroon
• BILOCK MENYAM S, HABITANT - Cameroon
• MESSENG SYLVAIN, HABITANT - Cameroon
• NDA BESSALA LUC, HABITANT - Cameroon
• MBOLONG Samuel, habitant - Cameroon
• MASSOUBI TINDARI marie, habitant - Cameroon
• NGONG ESSAM JEAN PIERRE, HABITANT - Cameroon
• MEPONG Gerard, habitant - Cameroon
• EVES Sylvestre, habitants - Cameroon
• EYOUM BIPAN, HABITANT - Cameroon
• ANDJIHA ADEM PHilemème, habitant - Cameroon
• NTANG Marguerite, habitant - Cameroon
• MVO'O OSSAM ma, habitant - Cameroon
• ENDJANGA GEORGES, HABITANT - Cameroon
• ALEMBE Jean, habitant - Cameroon
• NDOME DIA NICOLE, HABITANT - Cameroon
• ETOUA NANGA MARGAIRITTE, HABITANT - Cameroon
• NYIBESSE epse BEKALA M, HABITANT - Cameroon
• MEZOK NKONDO Ebenerzer, habitant - Cameroon
• ESER Henre, habitant - Cameroon
• MINTOM JOSEPA, HABITANT - Cameroon
• AVOM NANG laurent, habitant - Cameroon
• NYAMBARA Beng irène, habitant - Cameroon
• WATEBA dieudonne, habitant - Cameroon