Introduction
In Cameroon, talking about sexual abuse remains, in many social circles, a taboo subject. Shame, fear of social judgment, family pressure and cultural weight push thousands of victims into silence. And yet, according to the Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey (DHS-V, 2018), 13% of women have been victims of sexual violence at some point in their lives. Data from the Association for the Fight Against Violence Against Women (ALVF) further reveals that 29% of women report having been victims of acts of sexual violence, and that 39% of victims have never spoken to anyone about what they experienced.
These alarming figures hide an even deeper reality: a large proportion of sexual abuses are not recognized as such by the victims themselves. Why? Because abuse does not always look like what we have been taught to identify. It does not necessarily happen in a dark alley, committed by a stranger. It can come from a husband, a teacher, a supervisor, a family member, or even take place behind a phone screen.
In this article, the association Femmes et Enfants presents 5 often overlooked forms of sexual abuse, with insight into Cameroonian law, local realities, and resources available to victims.
1. Sexual Coercion: When “Yes” Is Taken, Not Freely Given
What is it?
Sexual coercion refers to any situation in which a person is led into sexual activity without freely consenting — not because they were physically forced, but because they gave in under pressure, emotional blackmail, guilt-tripping or persistent insistence.
In Cameroon, this form of abuse is particularly common in romantic or engaged relationships. Phrases such as “If you loved me, you would agree”, “You promised me”, “You owe me this after everything I’ve done for you”, or “If you refuse, I’ll go find someone else” are tools of coercion. The victim says “yes” — but that yes was extracted through fear, exhaustion, guilt, or economic dependency.
Why is it difficult to recognize in Cameroon?
In our cultural context, there is strong social pressure on women to “satisfy” their partner. Expressions like “a good woman doesn’t refuse her husband” or “it’s normal in a relationship” normalize these behaviors and prevent victims from identifying them as abuse. Many young girls and women believe they have no right to refuse once there is an emotional commitment or a relationship of dependency.
What Cameroonian Law Says
The Cameroonian Penal Code (Law No. 2016/007 of 12 July 2016) punishes rape committed through physical or moral violence (Article 296). Moral constraints — intimidation, psychological pressure, blackmail — are therefore legally recognized constitutive elements. A “yes” obtained under pressure is not valid legal consent.
2. Sexual Violence Within Marriage and Intimate Relationships
What is it?
One of the most widespread myths in Cameroon is that marriage implies permanent and unlimited sexual consent. This belief is wrong, both morally and legally. Being married does not mean having signed an agreement of permanent availability. Every sexual act requires free and explicit consent, every single time.
Marital rape — that is, forcing one’s wife or partner into a sexual act against her will — is a reality experienced by thousands of women in Cameroon. ALVF data shows that 51.4% of acts of violence are committed by husbands or partners. Other behaviors fall into this category: initiating sexual contact while a partner is asleep, refusing to use a condom against the partner’s wishes, or using sex as punishment or reward.
Why is it difficult to recognize?
Cameroonian society still frequently views a married woman’s body as the “property” of her husband. This view is reinforced by certain traditions, misinterpreted religious teachings, and the absence of specific legislation on domestic violence. Many victims do not identify themselves as such because they grew up with the idea that refusing one’s husband is a failing.
What Cameroonian Law Says
The Cameroonian Penal Code recognizes rape committed by any person, including within a marital context. Article 296 punishes rape with imprisonment of 5 to 10 years. Sentences can be increased to 10 to 20 years if the perpetrator holds authority over the victim (Article 298), which can include a dominating spouse. It is important to note, however, that customary law and local judicial practices do not always fully recognize marital rape — which is precisely one of the battles that associations like ours are fighting.
3. Digital Sexual Violence: A Real Abuse, Even Behind a Screen
What is it?
With the proliferation of smartphones and social media in Cameroon, a relatively new form of sexual abuse has exploded: cyber sexual violence. It includes in particular:
- Non-consensual sharing of intimate photos or videos (revenge porn) — often after a breakup or as an act of revenge
- Sextortion: blackmail carried out using intimate images or videos obtained fraudulently
- Unsolicited sending of sexual content via WhatsApp, Facebook, or other platforms
- Online manipulation to extract intimate images from young girls or minors
The Cameroonian Reality
In Cameroon, young women are regularly blackmailed by former partners who threaten to share intimate photos unless they resume the relationship or pay money. This form of abuse is frequently under-reported out of shame and fear of social judgment, which tends to blame the victim for having taken or shared such photos.
What Cameroonian Law Says
Law No. 2010/012 of 21 December 2010 on cybersecurity and cybercrime in Cameroon criminalizes sexual abuse committed online. Article 79 provides for penalties of 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines of 5 to 10 million FCFA for acts of indecency committed electronically. Articles 74 and 75 of the same law repress cyber harassment. Victims can contact the Cybercrime Unit (DGSN) to file a complaint.
4. Grooming: The Manipulation of Children by Trusted Adults
What is it?
Grooming (or “preparation for abuse”) is a process of progressive manipulation through which an adult builds a relationship of trust and affection with a child or teenager, with the ultimate goal of sexually abusing them.
The abuser — who is very often someone the child knows: an uncle, a guardian, a teacher, a neighbor, a religious leader, an association official — proceeds step by step. They appear generous, understanding, and caring. They offer gifts, money, academic support. They gradually create an exclusive relationship, isolate the child from their loved ones, slowly introduce sexual conversations or behaviors, and impose secrecy.
The Cameroonian Reality
In Cameroon, a public health study of 37,719 girls and women reveals that 5.2% have been victims of rape, and that a quarter of them were under 10 years old at the time of the assault. As field associations point out: “The perpetrator can be an older brother, it can be an uncle.” Abuse occurs within families, neighborhoods, and schools — spaces where children are supposed to be safe, which makes recognition and reporting even more difficult.
Warning Signs to Watch For in a Child
- Unexplained gifts or money received from an adult
- A secret shared with an adult, accompanied by a request to say nothing
- Progressive withdrawal from parents, friends or usual activities
- Behavioral changes: aggression, withdrawal, sleep disturbances
- Language or behaviors that are sexualized in a way unusual for the child’s age
What the Cameroonian Penal Code Says
Article 346 of the Penal Code punishes indecent assault on a minor under 16 years of age with imprisonment of 2 to 5 years and a fine. Article 347 provides that when rape is committed against a minor between 16 and 21 years of age, the sentences are doubled — that is, 15 to 25 years’ imprisonment. If the perpetrator is a parent, guardian, teacher, or any person in authority over the child (Article 298), the sentence can go up to life imprisonment.
5. Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
What is it?
When a relationship involves a power imbalance — between an employer and an employee, a teacher and a student, a manager and a subordinate, a religious leader and a congregant — any sexual pressure exerted by the more powerful party constitutes abuse.
Sexual harassment takes many forms: persistent sexual propositions, inappropriate staring, non-consensual touching, comments about a person’s body, promises of promotion or threats of dismissal linked to the acceptance or refusal of sexual acts, and more.
The Cameroonian Reality
In businesses, universities, public administrations, and even religious organizations, this form of abuse is particularly widespread. Female students are forced to grant sexual favors to teachers in order to pass their exams — sometimes referred to as “sex for grades”. Domestic workers — often young women from rural areas with no safety net — are victimized by their employers without daring to speak out, for fear of losing their job or being evicted from their housing.
What the Cameroonian Penal Code Says
Article 302-1 of the Cameroonian Penal Code (Law No. 2016/007) expressly punishes sexual harassment:
- 6 months to 1 year imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA for anyone who, using their authority, harasses another person to obtain sexual favors (paragraph 1)
- 1 to 3 years’ imprisonment if the victim is a minor (paragraph 2)
- 3 to 5 years’ imprisonment if the perpetrator is responsible for the victim’s education — a teacher, trainer, or educator (paragraph 3)
Victims may file a complaint with the competent Public Prosecutor or join the proceedings as a civil party before the competent court.
Why Is It So Important to Name These Abuses — Especially in Cameroon?
In Cameroon, 48% of victims of violence have never sought help, and 39% have never spoken to anyone about it (ALVF, 2011). These figures do not reflect the indifference of victims — they reflect the power of the silence imposed by fear, shame, and isolation.
Putting a name to what one has experienced is the first step toward recovery. As long as a victim doubts the legitimacy of their pain, they cannot seek support, access justice, or protect themselves in the future.
Naming these abuses also enables people to:
- Break the isolation and shame that paralyze
- Understand their own reactions (withdrawal, anxiety, anger, depression) as normal responses to an abnormal experience
- Seek appropriate help: psychological support, legal assistance
- Protect other women and children by finding the courage to speak out
And let us be clear: what you experienced is real, even if no one around you recognized it. It is not your fault.
What to Do If You Are a Victim or Know a Victim
Immediate Steps
- Get to safety — distance yourself from the abuser if possible.
- See a doctor or visit a health center as soon as possible, especially if the abuse is recent: a medical certificate is an essential piece of evidence. Explicitly request a medical report for sexual violence.
- Do not shower before the medical examination if the assault was very recent — biological evidence may still be preserved.
- Talk to a trusted person or contact an association directly.
- File a complaint at a police station, a gendarmerie brigade, or directly with the Public Prosecutor.
Resources Available in Cameroon
- ALVF (Association de Lutte contre les Violences faites aux Femmes) Vie de Femmes Centers in Yaoundé, Douala, Maroua and Bafoussam Tel. Yaoundé: (237) 22 20 52 94
- MINPROFF (Ministry of the Promotion of Women and the Family) Institutional entry point for women in distress
- Cybercrime Unit (DGSN) For sexual violence committed online (sextortion, non-consensual sharing of images)
- UN Women Cameroon — Yaoundé Communication focal point: nelly.kamdem@unwomen.org
- Alert GBV — Information platform on gender-based violence in Cameroon Website: alertgbv.com
Conclusion
Sexual abuse does not always look the way we imagine. In Cameroon, it most often occurs in spaces of trust — the home, the school, the workplace, the phone — committed by people known to the victim. Coercion, marital violence, cyber violence, grooming, and abuse of authority are real, serious, and punishable forms of sexual violence under Cameroonian law — even when they leave no visible marks.
Our association, Femmes et Enfants, firmly believes that information is the first shield against these forms of violence. Sharing this article may allow someone to recognize what they have experienced — and find the courage to speak about it.
You are not alone. You are not guilty. And there are people and organizations ready to support you.
Article written by the association Femmes et Enfants for informational and educational purposes. It does not replace the support of a health professional, legal advisor, or specialized organization. In case of emergency, please contact the nearest gendarmerie or police services.