PIC North-West Reviews Disability Protection Law, Sensitizes Persons with Disabilities
The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) of the North-West Region has carried out a two-day seminar aimed at educating Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) on the national legal instruments that protect their rights and guide their participation in local governance.
The seminar, held on December 4 and 5, 2025, at the PIC North-West auditorium, brought together stakeholders from decentralized institutions, civil society, and organizations of persons with disabilities.
Established by Law No. 2019/024 of 24 December 2019 and Decree No. 2020/773 of 24 December 2020, the PIC is mandated to promote and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens in their interactions with the Regional Assembly and local councils. The institution acts as a watchdog against discrimination and works to ensure that councils operate with fairness, inclusiveness, and respect for diversity.
In keeping with this mandate, the PIC focuses particularly on the protection of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, minority communities, and remote populations, by empowering them to understand council functioning, their rights, and their civic duties.
Cameroon’s legal framework for disability inclusion is anchored in Law No. 2010/002 of 13 April 2010 on the protection and promotion of persons with disabilities, as well as its implementing Decree No. 2018/6233/PM of 26 October 2018. Despite these instruments, many PWDs continue to report discrimination, exclusion, and limited participation in public life.
Speaking at the opening, Public Independent Conciliator Mr. Tamfu Simon Fai noted that the ongoing challenges stem largely from the “ineffective, uneven, and insufficiently monitored implementation” of the law by decentralized entities.
Workshop Objectives
The seminar sought to:
i. Assess the level of implementation of the 2010 Law and 2018 Decree by the Regional Assembly and local councils in the North-West Region.
ii. Review the legal and institutional responsibilities of local authorities under these instruments.
iii. Analyze data on disability inclusion in public services across the North-West Region.
iv. Identify financial, technical, and institutional barriers hindering effective implementation.
v. Examine how disability inclusion is integrated into local policies, budgets, and programmes.
vi. Share best practices from councils—such as Bamenda III, which presented a case study on inclusive governance.
vii. Develop a roadmap and actionable recommendations to enhance compliance at the municipal level.
Collaborating Institutions
The workshop was organized by the PIC in partnership with:
1. CBC Health Services (Socio-Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities);
2. Coordinating Unit of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (CUA-PWD);
3. The North-West Regional Assembly;
4. The United Cities and Councils of Cameroon (UCCC).
Representatives from several ministries — including Public Health (MINSANTE), Decentralization and Local Development (MINDDEVEL), Basic Education (MINEDUB), Social Affairs (MINAS), and Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) — outlined measures their services are undertaking to improve accessibility and disability inclusion.
Outcomes
The seminar has as outcomes:
1. A detailed report on the status of implementation of the 2010 Law and 2018 Decree by decentralized entities in the North-West Region.
2. Concrete recommendations to improve local-level compliance.
3. A draft roadmap to strengthen disability-inclusive governance at the municipal level.
4. Improved collaboration between councils and organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs).
5. Practical solutions to address gaps in legislation and implementation.
6. Reinforced partnership between the PIC and disability groups to promote inclusiveness in regional and council administrations.
