The legal framework
The Code pénal protects minors against sexual offences (atteintes sexuelles); in the penal codes of the region the ages of protection most often lie between 16 and 18, and the penalties are increased when the perpetrator has authority over the victim — as a teacher, a family member or in another position of power. Several countries of the region have adopted specific laws on gender-based violence in recent years. Early marriage is the main risk factor, since in practice it takes young girls out of the scope of protection; human rights organisations call for a minimum marriage age of 18 for both spouses. Marital rape (viol conjugal) is rarely made an offence in its own right in the region. The difficulty lies less in the texts than in their application: medical evidence that is hard to obtain, family arrangements (arrangements familiaux) and courts that are far away. The medical certificate (certificat médical) is required in practice and is sometimes charged for, which is a real obstacle; associations often obtain it free of charge. For minor victims, the social services and the centres de promotion sociale (social welfare centres) can refer the case to the juge des enfants (children's judge); brigades de protection des mineurs (units for the protection of minors) and specialised police units exist, and one-stop centres (guichets uniques) bringing together health care, police and legal support are being developed. The Penal Code applies throughout the country, in the English-speaking North-West and South-West regions as elsewhere.
In Cameroon, protection in practice depends on a few steps: going quickly to a health facility, obtaining a written certificate, being supported by an association. The 72 hours after an assault count twice — for the medical evidence and for the preventive HIV treatment, which no longer works afterwards — and medical care does not depend on making a complaint. Family arrangements do not replace a complaint and do not protect the victim; it is the associations that bring cases to a conclusion, because they know the procedures and follow the files through. British nationals assaulted in Cameroon can also turn to the British High Commission in Yaoundé, which covers Chad, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea as well: according to the FCDO's guidance, its staff can help arrange a medical examination, by a female doctor where possible, and a consultation with a doctor who can advise on HIV and on pregnancy, go to the police station with the victim depending on the place and time, provide lists of local lawyers and interpreters and put her in touch with Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis, which offers online support to British women and girls abroad; they cannot collect evidence or investigate. Irish citizens contact the Department of Foreign Affairs.
UK law sets the age of consent at 16 throughout the UK; in Ireland it is 17. In England and Wales a person consents only if he or she agrees by choice and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice (Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 74), and rape within marriage has been a crime since the House of Lords' judgment in R v R in 1991. These rules travel with British nationals: under section 72 of the same Act, as amended, a UK national or UK resident who commits a sexual offence abroad can, subject to certain conditions, be prosecuted in the UK, whatever the victim's age and even where the act is not an offence in the country where it was committed. By contrast, UK police have no jurisdiction to investigate an attack on a British victim in Cameroon: they can pass the information on, but the Cameroonian authorities decide whether to investigate, which is why reporting before leaving is far more effective. Cameroonians living in the UK — many of them from the English-speaking regions — have the same rights as any victim there: sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) provide free medical care and forensic examinations, in England the treatment of conditions caused by sexual violence is free for everyone, overseas visitors included, and Rape Crisis services are free. In England and Wales the minimum age of marriage has been 18 without exception since 27 February 2023, and causing a child to marry is an offence, including when the marriage is arranged abroad.
Key points
| Protection of minors | In the Code pénal; ages of protection in the region's penal codes mostly between 16 and 18 |
|---|---|
| Authority, teacher, family member | Aggravating circumstances |
| Early marriage | Main risk factor: in practice it takes girls out of the scope of protection |
| Marital rape | Rarely an offence in its own right in the region |
| Medical certificate | Required in practice, sometimes charged for; often free through an association |
| 72 hours | Decisive for HIV prophylaxis and for the quality of the samples |
| Specialised units | Brigades de protection des mineurs and specialised police units |
| One-stop centres | Health care, police and legal support under one roof, being developed |
| Minor victims | The social services and the centres de promotion sociale can refer the case to the juge des enfants |
| British and Irish nationals | Age of consent 16 in the UK, 17 in Ireland; UK nationals and residents can be prosecuted in the UK for sexual offences committed abroad, against children as against adults (Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 72, as amended); FCDO consular support after an assault, no investigation |
In practice
- Go as quickly as possible to the nearest health centre or district hospital (hôpital de district) for an examination and a certificate, within 72 hours if you can — this time limit also governs access to preventive HIV treatment; medical care does not require a complaint.
- Have the certificate drawn up in writing and keep a copy away from home.
- Report to the police or the gendarmerie; where a child is concerned, the brigades de protection des mineurs and the specialised police units deal with it.
- Ask an association to support you: associations often obtain a free certificate and follow the case through — that is what brings cases to a conclusion.
- For minor victims, the social services and the centres de promotion sociale can refer the case to the juge des enfants.
- British nationals contact the British High Commission in Yaoundé or the FCDO (+44 20 7008 5000) for consular support: help with a medical examination, lists of lawyers and interpreters, contact with support services. Irish citizens contact the Department of Foreign Affairs.
- Back in the UK, go to a GP, a sexual health clinic or a sexual assault referral centre (SARC); Rape Crisis England and Wales answers on 0808 500 2222. You can report to the UK police, who should send the information to Cameroon, but it is for the Cameroonian authorities to decide whether to investigate.
Cost and coverage
Reporting is free. The medical certificate is sometimes charged for — a real obstacle — but an association can often obtain it free of charge; add the journeys to the health facility, the police and the court, which can be far away outside the cities. In the UK, SARCs provide free medical care and forensic examinations, Rape Crisis services are free, and in England the treatment of conditions caused by sexual violence is free for everyone. FCDO consular support is free, but the FCDO does not pay medical or legal costs; travel insurance may cover personal injury resulting from a crime, usually on condition that it was reported to the local police.
Recent changes
Regional organisations, notably through the Maputo Protocol, are pressing for a common age of protection of 18 and for an effective ban on child marriage; the one-stop centres that bring together health care, police and legal support are being developed. In England and Wales, the minimum age of marriage was raised to 18 without exception on 27 February 2023, and causing a child to marry became an offence.
Where to go
- Police and gendarmerie; brigades de protection des mineurs and specialised police units.
- Health centres, district hospitals and centres de santé de référence (referral health centres): certificate and HIV prophylaxis.
- Associations defending the rights of women and children, cliniques juridiques (law clinics) and victim support associations; the social services and centres de promotion sociale for minors.
- British High Commission in Yaoundé and the FCDO (+44 20 7008 5000): consular support, lists of lawyers and interpreters; Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis (online support for British women and girls abroad); in the UK, SARCs, Rape Crisis England and Wales (0808 500 2222) and the Forced Marriage Unit; Irish citizens: Department of Foreign Affairs.
Worth knowing
The 72 hours after an assault count twice: for the medical evidence, and for HIV prophylaxis, which no longer works afterwards. Go to the health facility before even deciding whether to report — care does not require it. And for British nationals: the UK age of consent of 16 does not stay at home — sexual activity with a child under 16 in Cameroon can be prosecuted in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
I was sexually assaulted in Cameroon: what should I do first?
Go to a health centre or a hospital at once, within 72 hours if possible: you will be examined, the evidence recorded and, if necessary, preventive HIV treatment started, which no longer works afterwards — no complaint is needed for that. Ask for a written certificate and keep a copy away from home. A women's rights or victim support association can obtain a free certificate and accompany you to the police or the gendarmerie. British nationals can also contact the British High Commission in Yaoundé or the FCDO, which can help with the examination and give lists of English-speaking lawyers and interpreters; back in the UK, a sexual assault referral centre or Rape Crisis can support you.
Does the UK age of consent apply to me as a British national living in Cameroon?
Yes. The age of consent is 16 throughout the UK, and under section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 a British national who commits a sexual offence against a child abroad can be prosecuted in the UK, whatever the local law. Cameroonian law applies as well: the Code pénal protects minors and punishes perpetrators with authority — teachers, family members — more severely. Marriage changes nothing: in England and Wales nobody under 18 can marry, and causing a child to marry is an offence, including when the marriage is arranged abroad.
A young relative in Cameroon is to be married as a minor: what can be done?
Early marriage is the main risk factor, because in practice it takes girls out of the scope of protection; human rights and regional organisations, relying on the Maputo Protocol, call for a minimum age of 18 for both spouses. For a minor, the social services and the centres de promotion sociale can refer the case to the juge des enfants, and women's and children's rights associations and cliniques juridiques advise and support families. From the UK you can point the family to them; the Forced Marriage Unit advises anyone in the UK and can help British nationals abroad.
Can I report in the UK an assault that happened in Cameroon?
Yes, but the UK police cannot investigate an attack that took place abroad: they will send the information to Cameroon, where the authorities decide whether to investigate — reporting before you leave is far more effective. The exception is a suspect who is a UK national or UK resident: subject to certain conditions, he or she can be prosecuted in the UK for a sexual offence committed abroad. Depending on the country, compensation may be possible, usually only if the crime was reported to the local police, and some travel insurance policies cover personal injury resulting from a crime.
Official sources and links
- Services du Premier ministre — official government website — laws and regulations of Cameroon, including the Penal Code (French version)
- GOV.UK — victim of rape and sexual assault abroad — FCDO support, reporting in the UK, prosecution of British perpetrators, support services
- British High Commission Yaoundé — consular assistance for British nationals in Cameroon, Chad, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea