Viviane Tathi
Viviane Tathi is the Executive Coordinator of the Association Sourire de Femmes, which is an organisation that provides emergency services (psycho-social support, psychological support, medical support and legal support) to women and girls who are victims of violence. She is also a founding member of the Cameroonian feminist coordination, which is a working group with Cameroonian feminists from the diaspora and Cameroon to think about and revitalise feminist action in Cameroon.
Human rights defenders and journalists critical of the government are particularly targeted and often face harassment. Security forces have tortured, beaten, harassed, and abused citizens, journalists, detainees and human rights defenders. In the context of the government’s response to the Anglophone crisis, which began at the end of 2016, and attacks from the armed group Boko Haram in the North, excessive force has been used by security forces to police assemblies, and peaceful protesters have been subjected to arbitrary detention. Access to internet and social media was also blocked to prevent peaceful protests and authorities have banned news outlets deemed sympathetic to Anglophone protesters. In October 2018, President Paul Biya was re-elected in elections results challenged by the opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, who claimed victory. In October 2019, president Paul Biya ordered the release of several political detainees and human rights defenders following the national dialogue.
