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)

• TATCHOU Guy Merlin, BAODL (Bureau d'Appui aux Organisations de Développement Local) - Cameroon
• Nzeutchouang Gertrude, Système Urbain de Partage du Risque Maladie (SUPRM) - Cameroon
• Mefoa Marguerite, Restaurant Alternatif du Cameroun (Resto Alter Cam) - Cameroon
• Nguebou Guy, Multiservice center (MSC) - Cameroon
• Liwouo Ernest, Groupe d'Initiative Commune pour l'Hydrolique, l'Artisant et la Culture (GIC GAC) - Cameroon
• Yankam Christian, Groupe d'Initiative Commune des Maîtres pour l'Habitat et la Mutualité au Cameroun (GIC MAHAMUM) - Cameroon
• Tatchou Guy Merlin, Bureau d'Appui aux Organisations de Développement Local (BAODL) - Cameroon
• Noupéou Achille, Alliance camerounaise du Budget Participatif et de la Finance Locale (ACBP-FL) - Cameroon
• Ndaimai Achille, Plateforme des organisations de la société civile pour la promotion des Droits économiques, sociaux et cuturels au Cameroun (Plateforme DESC Cam) - Cameroon
• Nzeutchouang Gertrude, Mutuelle Communautaire de Santé du Cameroun (MUCOSACAM) - Cameroon
• Nguiffo Pierre Armand, Coopérative d'Habitat Social de Yaoundé (COOPHABITAT SOCIAL) - Cameroon
• Jipwouo Pascal, INALODE (International Agency for Local development) - Cameroon
• Ngo Lima Yvonne, Bureau d'Appui aux Mutuelles et coopératives d'habitat (BAMCOH) - Cameroon
• MALA William, AJADES - Cameroon
• Guembou Guy Bertrand, Centre de Ressources pour le Développement Local (CRDL) - Cameroon
• Mefoa Marguerite, MUSSED - Cameroon
• ERNESTO DOMINGO PAEZ, MO.DE.VI.FA. (Movimiento en Defensa de la Vivienda Familiar) Mendoza - Argentina - Argentina
• NONO GUSTAVE, ASSOAL - Cameroon
• TALLA TAKAM Bertrand, ASSOAL (Association des Amoureux du Livre) - Cameroon
• TATCHOU Guy Merlin, ASSOAL ( Association des Amoureux du livre) - Cameroon
• LUIS ENRIQUE ESCOVAR GIRALDO, ASOCIACION VOLUNTARIA DE DEUDORES DEL SISTEMA UPAC "AGOBIADOS POR EL UPAC" - Colombia
• Maquet Makedonski Paul, Cenca - Peru
• Janampa Gutierrez Nicanor, Fovelic - Peru
• Guillermo Rodríguez, Unión de colonos, inquilinos y solicitantes de vivienda-Pobladores - Mexico
• NIBIZI Emmanuel, Coalition pour le Développement et la Réhabilitation Sociale-CODR UBUNTU - Burundi
• NKESHIMANA JEAN, TERRE DES JEUNES DU BURUNDI-TRANSNATIONAL - Burundi
• NTIRAMPEBA ESPERANCE, SFBLSP_BURUNDI - Burundi
• Motanbou Bernalds, habitant - Cameroon
• EDGAR OGUTU, INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF INHABITANTS EAST AFRICA.BUNGE LA MWANANCHI SOCIAL MOVEMENT. - Kenya
• Thys Pascale, Habitat et Participation - Belgium
• YIA NGNINGNI DANIEL, EDUCATIONS SANS FRONTIERES - Cameroon
• Fotso Vincent, - Cameroon
• Sino Franclin Vermont, habitant - Cameroon
• Wandji Anne, camerounaise - Cameroon
• Nokemi André, habitant - Cameroon
• Noupeou Achille, AC-BP-FL - Cameroon
• Prashanth Anthony, National Forum for the Urban Poor, India - India
• Kamotho Githinji, Baraza La Taifa - Kenya
• Mwadhini Myanza, IRTECO - Tanzania, United Republic of
• Helen Jones, Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange - United Kingdom
• jan kilsby, - United Kingdom
• Mark Aldiss, projectbrainsaver - United Kingdom
• DJITOUO EUSTACHE DESIRE, UN MONDE AVENIR - Cameroon
• Nguebou Jules Dumas, ASSOAL - Cameroon
• Wahler Hans, Kali Ji Institute - Greece
• Joseph G. Jones, The Gypsy Coumcil - IAI - United Kingdom
• Wilfred Dcosta, Indian Social Action Forum - India
• BIKOKO Jean Marc, CSP (Centrale Syndicale du Secteur Public) - Cameroon
• Paolo Rossi, Unione Inquilini - Italy
• Sam L Jackson Housing is a Human Right Initiative, Mayday New Orleans - United States