Criminalization of “Genital Mutilation” in Cameroon: The Inadequacy of the Criminal Law

Abstract

This paper addresses the inadequacies of the criminal law in eradicating FGM in Cameroon. It adopts a qualitative methodology grounded in doctrinal studies and based on the interpretation of primary and secondary data. FGM is entrenched in some regions of Cameroon and has met with a variety of responses from the state ranging from sensitization campaigns to outright criminalization. “Genital mutilation” was explicitly penalized under section 277-1 following the amendment of the Penal Code in 2019. The euphoria that greeted this initiative is questionable as the implementation of the provision has largely been ineffective. The complexity of the practice, the absence of political will on the part of the state, and the non-proactive approach of the criminal law are among the factors that have rendered ineffective the criminal law. Consequently, incidences of the practice increased during the era of the COVID-19 pandemic with devastating effects on victims. The eradication of the practice requires an approach that goes beyond the purview of the criminal law, which in its current form, remains a weak link in the fight against the scourge.