Cabral Libii calls for gradual end to death penalty in Cameroon
Speaking at the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty in Paris, the Cameroonian deputy is pushing for a phased abolition of capital punishment in Cameroon.
Cabral Libii argued, “A truly democratic society is precisely one that can balance the protection of life, the demands of justice, citizen safety, and respect for the rule of law. The challenge is not only to abolish the death penalty, but also to build institutions strong enough that justice inspires confidence without needing to resort to the irreversible.”
“We are honoured to be among the officials, parliamentarians, and justice ministers from over 130 nationalities taking part in the World Congress against the Death Penalty. Cameroon has not yet abolished the death sentence, but it has carried out no executions since 1997. It can therefore be considered a de facto abolitionist state. This observation leads us to the following reflections, which we shared at the 9th World Congress:”
- Protection of life is a fundamental value. The international community (two-thirds of countries) is generally moving toward a gradual reduction in the use of capital punishment, and this trend deserves to be viewed with optimism. Moreover, ending an offender’s life—killing to show that killing is wrong, or that the act is unforgivable—undermines several things: repentance, removing the condemned person from the heaviest burden of guilt and lasting remorse, and the possibility of correcting a judicial error.
- Each state operates within its own historical, cultural, and security context. Progress toward abolition can only be sustainable if it results from an internal democratic process, driven by national institutions and accepted by society. That is why awareness-raising and public education are essential. The role of elected officials and civil society is particularly important here.
- Although the death penalty remains in Cameroon’s positive law, the country has observed a de facto moratorium on executions for nearly thirty years. This practice reflects an evolution that deserves to be noted with optimism.
- The fight against crime depends above all on the quality of the justice system. The real response to the most serious crimes lies in an independent, impartial, effective judiciary that respects fundamental rights, more than in the severity of sentences alone. That is our premise and the meaning of our personal struggle in our home country, Cameroon.
- The progress of fundamental rights is part of a global movement toward democratic standards, but these standards must be implemented considering national realities to preserve legitimacy and accelerate progress. Ultimately, the debate on the death penalty should not pit human rights defenders against advocates of security or judicial rigidity.
“A truly democratic society is precisely one that can balance the protection of life, the demands of justice, citizen safety, and respect for the rule of law. The challenge is not only to abolish the death penalty, but also to build institutions strong enough that justice inspires confidence without needing to resort to the irreversible,” Cabral Libii wrote.
