Civil society organizations supported by the European Union have implemented the initiative “It’s Worth It” to strengthen the rule of law and promote respect for human rights and human dignity in prisons.
Detained persons have benefited from various support and assistance actions from civil society organizations thanks to the financial support of the European Union. Through the “It’s Worth It” project implemented in six regions and 11 localities of the country, 6,000 adults and minors, pregnant and breastfeeding women, in pre-trial detention, awaiting their trial, received multifaceted assistance. This has helped reduce judicial procedure delays, limit unjustified prolonged detentions, propose alternatives to detention, and enhance the rehabilitative function of sentencing.
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Motivated by prison overcrowding in Cameroon and endowed with a budget of 655 million CFA francs, or one million euros, the initiative was 90% funded by the European Union with the support of international partners. Promoted and implemented by a consortium of civil society organizations engaged on the ground, the project specifically provided targeted food support, strengthened health services in prisons, offered psychosocial support, legal clinics, and training for the social reintegration of youth.
All these actions “are worth it” in a context where prison overcrowding is a concern. As of April 24, 2024, the National Human Rights Commission of Cameroon sounded the alarm on a 21% increase in the prison population over the previous five years. According to the commission, prison capacity increased from 19,155 places in 2019 to 20,955 places in 2024. Over the same period, the number of detainees rose from 30,606 to 37,150. As of December 8, 2024, the country thus had 37,150 detainees for 20,955 places. The occupancy rate thus reached 177% at the end of 2024.
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By implementing the “It’s Worth It” initiative, civil society organizations aim to restore dignity and guarantee the fundamental rights of detainees. The goal is to strengthen collaboration between public, private actors and civil society to build a more effective justice system that respects human rights. The project closure takes place this April 29 in Yaoundé and brings together various stakeholders around a workshop.
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