Human Rights Watch has accused the Cameroonian government of falling far short of its own promises to curb violence against women and girls, warning that systemic failures are leaving survivors without protection, support, or justice.

In a detailed assessment of the country’s response to gender-based violence, the rights group says Cameroon has not delivered on commitments made more than a decade ago to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and provide services for victims. Instead, it finds that women continue to face a pattern of violence that is both widespread and largely hidden.

Researchers highlight what they describe as “social norms that justify and perpetuate violence against women,” noting that many abusive practices are tolerated or minimized within families and communities. Most reported attacks occur in the home and are carried out by husbands, intimate partners, or male relatives, according to the report.

Official figures cited by Human Rights Watch show that at least 77 women were killed by their partners in Cameroon in 2024. The organization believes the real toll is significantly higher, pointing to pervasive underreporting driven by fear of stigma, economic dependence, and mistrust of authorities.

The report links the violence to entrenched gender inequality and discriminatory laws that continue to place women at a disadvantage. It notes that husbands often control their wives’ income, widows are frequently stripped of land and property, and inheritance rules routinely favor male relatives. These economic pressures, it argues, trap many women in abusive relationships.

Cameroon’s poor performance on global gender indicators underscores the scale of the problem. The country ranked 148th out of 162 on the United Nations Development Programme’s gender inequality index, reflecting deep gaps between women and men in education, employment, and reproductive health.

Human Rights Watch criticizes weak institutions, corruption within police and judicial bodies, and chronic underinvestment in prevention and survivor services. Many women who seek help, it says, encounter indifference, demands for bribes, or pressure to reconcile with their abusers rather than pursue justice.

The organization is urging the government to overhaul discriminatory family laws, criminalize all forms of domestic violence, and create a coordinated national response that includes shelters, legal aid, medical care, and psychosocial support accessible across the country.

Without decisive reforms and sustained funding, Human Rights Watch warns, Cameroon will continue to fail the women and girls it has pledged to protect.