Cameroon
Practice Relating to Rule 87. Humane Treatment
Cameroon’s Disciplinary Regulations (1975) instructs combatants to “treat humanely … all persons
hors de combat”.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) instructs combatants to “treat humanely … all regular combatants
hors de combat”.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006) states that members of the armed forces are obliged “to treat humanely … all regular combatants
hors de combat”.
The manual, in a section entitled “Safeguarding the enemy
hors de combat”, also states: “The fundamental principle consists of preserving the human dignity of each victim of war in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.”
The manual, under the heading “Responsibility for Acts or Omissions of Which Subordinates Are Accused”, further states that a commander may be held responsible for any “inhuman treatment” committed by his subordinates.
The manual also states:
The following acts constitute grave breaches [of IHL]:
a) … inhuman treatment;
b) intentionally causing great suffering or grave infringements of physical or psychological integrity;
c) inhuman or degrading practices which result in outrages upon personal dignity.
Cameroon’s Disciplinary Regulations (2007) states:
Article 31: Humanitarian rules
…
Every soldier must:
- treat humanely, without distinction, all persons placed
hors de combat.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) instructs the soldier to treat civilian persons in his or her power humanely.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006), under the heading “Rules for Conduct in Combat”, states: “Civilians: respect them; … treat them humanely if they are in your power … protect them from ill-treatment [and] acts of vengeance.”
The manual also states under the heading “Responsibility for Acts or Omissions of Which Subordinates Are Accused” that a commander may be held responsible for any “inhuman treatment” or “unjustified brutalities against civilian populations” committed by his subordinates.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) provides: “The sick, wounded and shipwrecked shall be treated humanely … and protected.”
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006) states: “The sick, wounded and shipwrecked must be treated humanely, cared for and protected.”
Cameroon’s Disciplinary Regulations (1975) provides: “From the moment of their capture, prisoners must be treated humanely. They must be protected against any acts of violence, insults and public curiosity.”
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) provides that captured enemy combatants shall be treated humanely.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006), under the heading “Rules for Conduct in Combat”, states: “Enemy combatants who surrender: treat them humanely.”
The manual, under the heading “Protection of Enemy Combatants”, also states that prisoners of war “must be spared and treated humanely … Such treatment applies only to combatants who refrain from any hostile acts.”
Cameroon’s Disciplinary Regulations (2007) states:
Article 33: Treatment of prisoners of war
From the moment of their capture, prisoners must be treated humanely. They must be protected against any acts of violence, insults and public curiosity. They are entitled to respect for their person and their honour as soldiers.