ABSTRACT
A casual observation of prison facilities in Cameroon would
reveal a dysfunctioning of the penitentiary structure which is manifested by
the worsening of prison conditions and the normalization of all sorts of
violations of prisoners' rights which go against international rules and
Cameroon's international engagements. Prison facilities, which in this work
refer to all places where legal measures involving the deprivation of liberty
are executed, are characterized by a continuous worsening of detention
conditions. The humanization of prison facilities in Cameroon, which is highly
wished for, is thus faced with obstacles essentially resulting from very little
expressed political will on the part of the State of Cameroon in the protection
of the rights and interests of persons deprived of their liberty.
Though the economic context can serve as an excuse, it does
not in itself alone completely justify the absence of humanity in prison
facilities. This because Cameroon benefits from substantial support from the
civil society and foreign partners in the fight for the permanent respect of
the fundamental rights of imprisoned persons though this support is at times
instrumentalised.
The humanization of prison facilities, as a process which in
the long run would lead to the permanent respect for the fundamental rights of
the prisoner, is not aimed at creating a caste of delinquents in the society
benefiting from all the privileges accorded to them by the international
protection they enjoy. On the contrary, respecting their dignity would instill
self respect and respect for others in these prisoners. Consequently, the
tribute they pay to society through their loss of liberty, instead of making
them citizens apart, would instead contribute to their resocialisation. This
calls for the emergence of a new penitentiary policy which gives privilege to
other alternatives than imprisonment.
Key words
Detention facilities - humanization - alternative penalty -
human dignity - imprisonment-fundamental rights - detention - préventive
detention - liberty - human rights.
SOMMAIRE
Introduction
générale....................................................................................0
Première partie : L'APPLICATION
LIMITEE DES MESURES EXISTANTES........13
Chapitre 1er :LA MINIMISATION
DES PRINCIPES JURIDIQUES INTERNATIONAUX APPLICABLES AUX PERSONNES
INCARCEREES............15
Section 1 : Une application mitigée des
principes de protection des droits physiques des personnes
détenues.......................................................................................15
Section 2 :Une minoration des garanties
procédurales et des règles
d'incarcération.............................................................................................24
Chapitre 2 : UN CADRE
JUDICIAIRE PEU FAVORABLE A LA PROTECTION DES PERSONNES
INCARCEREES..........................................................................33
Section 1 : L'inadaptation de
l'institution judiciaire à l'exercice des droits processuels des
personnes privées de
liberté.......................................................................33
Section 2 : La timide répression
des atteintes à la dignité humaine dans les lieux de
détention....................................................................................................41
Seconde Partie : L'INNEFICACITE DE LA
POLITIQUE PENITENTIAIRE............49
Chapitre1 :L'INADEQUATION DES RESSOURCES
HUMAINES ET MATERIELLES AUX REALITES DU MILIEU
CARCERAL..............................................................51
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