A Preliminary Investigation into the Place of Victims of Sexual Harassment, Assault and Misconduct at Places of Work under Cameroonian Law: A Critical Appraisal

Abstract

Almost everywhere in a contemporary world, even in countries are very much proud ofr can sometime boost of a high level of civilisation, industrialization, democracy, high rate of respect for human rights and dignity, women are always faaced with the problem of employment and occupational injustice at their various places of work. As a matter of fact, even some couutries around the world in general and Cameroon in particular that have ratifiedthe two ILO Convention[1] in relation to the topic under discourse still witness high rate of sexual harassment, assault and misconduct amongst most of their women at their so called places of work. In reality, the current regulatory framework governing an employment relationship in Cameroon is Law No. 92/007 of 14 August 1992, instituting the Labour code has failed to address this issue of sexual harassment of most women at places of work which seriously disturbs the working atmosphere of female workers. However, the subsequent revision of the Cameroon penal code in 2016 which punishes sexual harassment is flawed with many ambiguities which raise worries as to its applicability. Consequently, this paper has as main objective to critically examine the effective application of the Cameroonian law in guaranteeing an enabling atmosphere for female workers at their various places of work across the entire territory. In this light, adopting an in-depth content analysis based on primary and secondary sources of data collection and data analysis is imperative. Thus, this research concludes that the repression of sexual harassment, assault and misconduct at places of work under Cameroonian Law contains some impediments and these drawbacks (limitations) will therefore necessitate the suggestion of some possible recommendations to provide an enabling legal atmosphere for the female workers at their various places of work in Cameroon.