Introduction 

On January 25, 2016 one of the UNFPA publications in Cameroon denounced the case of sexual violence in Cameroon. According to the publication, “In Cameroon, 55% of women report having been victims of physical violence before attaining  age 15. More than a one-third of women have experienced rape or sexual assault in their lives. The issue of rape in Cameroon is misunderstood, delicate, difficult and even taboo, especially in certain communities or families.

Sexual violence in Cameroonian society

Many rape victims are afraid to denounce rape cases for fear of stigmatization, misunderstanding, and so on. Even when the victim decides to break the silence, the complaints are not successful. The question of proof of rape remains, it is the victim’s word against that of her attacker. The victim keeps to  herself and looks for other ways to cope.

If sexual assault on women is taboo, let alone sexual violence against children, especially boys, who are victims of sexual violence by sodomy. Many NGOs that campaign for women’s rights only address physical and sexual violence against women and girls, with the famous slogan “NO to violence against women and girls”, we never see denunciations of the cases of boys, although it is very important to prevent sexual assault among boys and girls. However, law 2016/007 of 12 July 2016 modifies article 296 of the 1967 Penal Code by including the gender of men and women. It now admits rape against men and women, and this in an equal manner. When one is still a child, one has not yet reached the stage of a young girl or woman, in a case of child abuse it is the parents or legal guardians who take charge of the situation. Parents who dare to denounce are slowed down by the legal procedures.

Article 296 of the Cameroonian Penal Code states that “anyone who, by means of physical or moral violence, forces a person, even a pubescent, to have sexual relations with him or her, shall be punished by imprisonment for five (5) to ten (10) years”. However, the victims of sexual violence are faced with difficulties. One of the difficulties is the proof of evidence to support the claim of the abuse or rape. It is recommended that rape victims denounce their aggressors and make sure they have as much evidence as possible to support their statements. The “proof” usually the medical certificate is rejected by the court because the doctor does not establish the case of rape in a medical way but “declares” in writing that “there has been” a case of rape according to the victim’s account. This statement is rejected by the court because it is a statement and not a medical fact.

Conclusion

To conclude, in the context of sexual violence in Cameroon, there are many subjects to be dealt with, namely: the prevention of such violence, the care of victims, judicial difficulties, denunciation and proof, the consideration of rape as taboo in Cameroonian society among others. A medical examination should be conducted immediately after the assault to treat any injuries, test for sexually transmitted diseases, and collect forensic evidence, such as fingernail scrapings and hair could support evidence.