NCHRF Calls For Responsible Use Of Social Networks

Dr Chemuta Divine Banda on December 13, 2016, in Yaounde, urged the public to use social networks to denounce rights violations.

The 68^th International Human Rights Day was celebrated in Yaounde on December 13, 2016, by the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms, NCHRF on the theme, “Stand up for someone’s rights today.” NCHRF Chair, Dr Chemuta Divine Banda, said the day was an opportunity to pay tribute to “men and women who boldly fight everyday for justice, freedom or dignity and against discrimination and denial of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of vulnerable groups.”

“Wherever human rights are violated, it is our common humanity which is tampered with,” Dr Banda warned. While commending the use of social networks in denouncing human rights violations, he cautioned against their use to stir up hatred and violence. “Gone are the days when governments had total control of information and could silence critics, and prohibit public debates and deny freedom of expression,” the NCHRF Chair noted.

Dr Chemuta Divine Banda expressed concern at the human rights situation in the country, saying under his leadership, NCHRF has developed and organised many training sessions on human rights for the military, security forces and judicial authorities. “We worked so hard for our country to adopt a National Action Plan on the ...