Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
As debates over inheritance and women’s property rights gain momentum in Cameroon, the Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI) is renewing its call for stronger recognition of women’s constitutional freedoms.
The institute argues that women’s economic participation is key to growth and development, but outdated laws and customs continue to hold them back.
Earlier this year, on March 7, 2025, CEPI convened a training session in Bastos that brought together women entrepreneurs, legal experts, and community leaders to examine the barriers women face in exercising their rights.
The session, held on the eve of International Women’s Day, focused on provisions in the Civil Code that allow men to control household property and restrict women from working — despite Article 18 of the Constitution, which guarantees gender equality.
CEPI’s founder, Henri Kouam, emphasized the urgent need to harmonize customary law with the Constitution and land decrees.
He presented evidence showing that communities empowering women entrepreneurs experience faster growth, better incomes, and job creation.
Participants were reminded to spread awareness of property rights in their communities, ensuring that women are not sidelined by discriminatory customs.
Women at the event raised concerns about men preventing them from starting businesses or trading. Trainers stressed that Article 7 of the Labour Code guarantees fair and equal workplace conditions for both sexes.
Kouam also pointed to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), underscoring its relevance in protecting widows and vulnerable women from exclusion.
As Cameroon weighs reforms to inheritance and land rights, CEPI insists that women must be at the center of these debates.
“Empowering women to own property and work freely is not just about justice — it is about unlocking Cameroon’s economic future,” Kouam said.
