African Traditions and The Modern Human Rights Mechanisms: The Case for Women in Cameroon and Africa

The main tools that are used in most African societies to stigmatise women are specific elements of customs and customary law-vestiges of the colonial era. Not that these precepts are all inherently deleterious and pestiferous. Rather, some are outdated and outmoded. The world is moving and Africa needs to catch up by adapting its institutions to tame or respond appositely to unstoppable global trends. Global trends will not adapt to Africa's spasmodic autistic proclivities, one of which is the disregard of women's rights in certain societies and with regard to certain aspects of personal law. Africa has a wealth of traditional models for public parley. Yet in the private domain of personal law, women continue to play second fiddle from the womb of grave.