Research Key

The respect of habeas corpus during criminal proceedings in Cameroon: A legal appraisal

Project Details

Department
LAW
Project ID
L015
Price
5000XAF
International: $20
No of pages
45
Instruments/method
QUALITATIVE
Reference
YES
Analytical tool
CONTENT ANALYSIS
Format
 MS Word & PDF
Chapters
1-5

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Abstract

Under the Cameroon criminal justice system, the rights to Habeas corpus enshrined in the new criminal procedure code of the Republic of Cameroon of 1“January 2007.

Despite the existence of international, regional, and national legislations guaranteeing the respect of the rights to habeas corpus, illegal detention is still prevalent in Cameroon.

This research is aim at examining the legal mechanisms regulating the respect of habeas corpus, sanctions for their non-respect as well as the main challenges hindering its non-respect during proceedings in Cameroon,

to explore the main legal frameworks regulating the respect of the right to habeas corpus during criminal proceedings in Cameroon and to determine the constraining factors hindering the respect of the right to habeas corpus in Cameroon during criminal proceedings,

in order to realize these objectives, the researcher employs a qualitative research method. However, a review of related literature has been carried out in this research. Habeas corpus is a fundamental human right enshrined under the UDHR

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

The right and respect of habeas corpus cannot be ignored in any society.  This is because it is the right that protects a prisoner. It allows a prisoner to indicate that his or her constitutionally guaranteed right to fair treatment in a trial has been infringed upon. 

The origin of the right to habeas corpus is traceable into law in the 17th Century in England when the Catholics were considered disloyal to the throne of King Charles II.

During this era, it was a common phenomenon for Catholics to be imprisoned as a result of their religious allegiance, which in most cases were against the policies of the king.

As such, habeas corpus is a way for a prisoner to question the legality of his or her imprisonment. It is an important aspect of the law, which has been incorporated in the legislation of many countries.

The right to habeas corpus is thus a fundamental human right, which is essentially required for human development. The right to habeas corpus is justified through a writ to habeas corpus.

This is an order by the judge, which a prisoner should be brought to court. The writ to habeas corpus has grown in popularity and today, it has been adopted in many forms especially in common law jurisdictions.

Several legislations have been enacted to ensure the respect of the right to habeas corpus the world over. These legislations have global, regional, and national jurisdictions.

At the global level, the main legislation is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

At the regional level, we have the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom (1950), the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (1948) and Convention on Human Rights (1969), and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (1981), and at the national levels, we have the various constitutions and other national legislations of states.

Cameroon in particular has been one of those countries which have introduced statutory provisions relating to habeas corpus.

Constitutionally, the Preamble of the Cameroon 1996 Amended Constitution notes that “…no person may be judged and punished, except by virtue of a law enacted…the law shall ensure the right to every person to a fair hearing before the courts; every accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty during a hearing conducted in strict compliance with the rights of defense..”.

apart from this constitutional provision endorsing a citizen’s right to habeas corpus, it should be noted that in 2006, there were major modifications of Cameroon’s Penal Code, following the promulgation of a uniform Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), applicable in both the Anglophone regions, where the common law is applied and the Francophone regions, where the French civil law is applicable. One of the major innovations of the CPC is the reform of the law on habeas corpus which was partially reliant on inherited English rules of procedure.

1.2 Statement of the problem

The ultimate purpose of a writ of habeas corpus is to provide a remedy in cases of illegal restraint or confinement by testing the legality of a person’s detainment. Habeas corpus per se is an ancient and fundamental principle of English constitutional law.

It originated through the common law and has been confirmed and regulated by a number of statutes that date back to the Magna Carta.  It has been replicated by many countries including Cameroon to date.

Besides these, it has been backed up by international, regional, and national legal instruments.

Internationally, it is supported by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948; regionally, by the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and in Cameroon, it is supported by the constitution, the CPC, Penal Code among other supportive legislations.

In spite of the existence of these international, regional and national legislation guaranteeing the respect of the rights to habeas corpus, illegal detention is still prevalent in Cameroon.

Multiplicities of cases have been documented in Cameroon by human rights associations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and states such as the United States, Britain, France amongst others to justify the denial of citizens’ rights to habeas corpus by the government.

What accounts for this state of affairs?.. In other words, what accounts for the continuous denial of some detainee’s rights to habeas corpus or illegal detention in Cameroon despite the existing international and national legislation in place?.

Hence, this study seeks to examine the extent to which the respect of the right to habeas corpus is upheld in Cameroon during criminal proceedings within the framework of existing legislation.

1.3 Research questions

The main research question

The main research question of this study is as follows:

  • What are the legal mechanisms regulating the respect of habeas corpus, sanctions for their non-respect well as the main challenges hindering its non-respect during proceedings in Cameroon?
specific research questions

This study is based on the following specific research questions:

  • What are the legal mechanisms regulating the respect of the right to habeas corpus during criminal proceedings in Cameroon?
  • What are the sanctions for the non-respect of habeas corpus during criminal proceedings in Cameroon?
  • What are the constraining factors for the respect of the right to habeas corpus during criminal proceedings in Cameroon?

1.4 Objectives of the study

The main objective

  • To examine the legal mechanisms regulating the respect of habeas corpus, sanctions for their non-respect as well as the main challenges hindering its non-respect during proceedings in Cameroon.

Specific research objectives

This study has the following specific objectives:

  • To explore the main legal frameworks regulating the respect of the right to habeas corpus during criminal proceedings in Cameroon.
  • To bring out the sanctions for the none respect of habeas corpus during criminal proceedings in Cameroon
  • To determine the constraining factors hindering the respect of the right to habeas corpus in Cameroon during criminal proceedings

FURTHER READING: SIMILAR LAW PROJECT TOPICS WITH MATERIALS

THE APPLICATION OF HABEAS CORPUS IN CAMEROON

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