Cameroon faces rising femicide and violence against women, with over 50 killings in seven months

Between January and April 2026 alone, over 50 femicides were recorded, alongside 13 infanticides and numerous rape cases. This follows 50 killings in 2023, 67 in 2024, and 77 in 2025. The Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Family stated that these statistics represent only "the visible part of the iceberg" due to underreporting, with fear of retaliation, social stigma, and family pressure deterring many victims from filing complaints.

Health surveys reveal that nearly 4 out of 10 women report physical violence, and 13% report sexual violence, often perpetrated by close relatives, partners, or neighbors. Local media, Baatonu info, highlights that despite emergency numbers and support structures, many victims report a lack of support and protection, sometimes being judged or sent back to their abusers. Authorities acknowledge that persistent impunity, insufficient resources for combating violence, security crises, and an inadequate legal framework contribute to the situation.

A bill on gender-based violence, developed in 2024 with international support, awaits parliamentary review. JournalduCameroun.com, citing civil society organizations, reported 53 femicides and seven cases of young girls raped and killed between January 1 and July 29, 2026. 237 online.com noted that in one week, seven women were killed by their partners or compani