Attending the 9th World Congress against the death penalty in Paris, France, the Cameroonian deputy is pushing for a phased abolition of capital punishment in Cameroon.
Cabral Libii argued that “a true democratic society is precisely one that manages to balance the protection of life, the demand for justice, citizen security, and respect for the rule of law. The challenge is not only to abolish the death penalty but also to build sufficiently strong institutions so that justice inspires confidence without needing to resort to the irreversible.”
“We are honoured to be among the officials, parliamentarians and ministers of justice from over 130 nationalities participating in the World Congress against the Death Penalty.
Cameroon has not yet abolished the death penalty, but it has carried out no executions since 1997. It can therefore be considered a de facto abolitionist state. This observation inspires the following reflection, which we shared at the 9th World Congress:
1. The protection of life is a fundamental value. The international community (two-thirds of countries) is generally moving toward a progressive reduction in the use of capital punishment, and this trend deserves to be viewed with enthusiasm.
Furthermore, shortening the life of an offender — killing him to show that killing is wrong, that his act is unforgivable — compromises several things, including: repentance, removing from the condemned the heaviest of penalties — the weight of his guilt and the lasting remorse it generates — and the possibility of correcting a judicial error.
2. Each state evolves in its own historical, cultural and security context. The move toward abolition can only be sustainable if it results from an internal democratic process, carried by national institutions and accepted by society. This is why public awareness and education efforts are essential. The role of elected officials and civil society is particularly important here.
3. Despite retaining the death penalty in its positive law, Cameroon has observed a de facto moratorium on executions for nearly 30 years. This practice reflects an evolution that deserves to be noted with optimism.
4. The fight against crime depends above all on the quality of justice. The true response to the most serious crimes lies in an independent, impartial, efficient judiciary that respects fundamental rights, more than in the mere severity of sentences. This is our premise and the meaning of our personal struggle in our country of origin, Cameroon.
5. The progression of fundamental rights is part of a global movement toward higher democratic standards, but this standard must be implemented taking into account national realities, in order to preserve its legitimacy and accelerate progress.
Ultimately, the debate on the death penalty should not pit human rights defenders against defenders of security or judicial rigidity.
A true democratic society is precisely one that manages to reconcile the protection of life, the demand for justice, citizen security 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,” wrote Cabral Libii.
