International Internship Projects

"it is good to have international unbiased eyes also looking at issues in Cameroon". US Embassy staff

Prisoner's Rights:

Cameroon's Prisons are the site of numerous human rights abuses ranging from detention without trial and lack of access to bail, to poor living conditions, medical neglect and torture.

Duties:

• investigating and documenting human rights conditions in Kumba Prison,
• evaluating the success of previous GCI projects to improve human rights in the prison,
• identifying areas in which human rights improvements are required
• devising and implementing (through cooperation with lawyers and officials) a strategy to improve the prison's human rights situation.
  

Centres of Arbitration and Mediation (CAMs):

This project is concerned with establishing CAMs in local councils to resolve low-level disputes through mediation in order to improve access to justice by avoiding the lengthy and expensive urban judicial system. An evaluation of the first phase of this project was recently completed and the next stage will focus on reinforcing the practice in councils which have already received training, and extending the programme to more villages.

Duties:

• Interviewing participants and mediators to evaluate the success of previous Mediation training,
• Devising and modifying training workshops on Mediation,
• Visiting local and traditional councils in Kumba and surrounding villages to train mediators.
  

Human Rights Clubs:

Corruption is a major obstacle to human rights in Cameroon . Through Human Rights Clubs we intend to encourage students to think in terms of respect for others and human rights for all, in order to reduce corruption in the future.

Duties:

• Setting up clubs in secondary schools to enable students to learn about human rights,
• Visiting Kumba's 30 secondary schools to encourage student participation and to disseminate information,
• Planning and executing training for club coordinators,
• Organising meetings for coordinators to exchange ideas with one another and with GCI,
• Extending the Project to primary schools.
  

Environmental Health:

A lack of effective refuse disposal in Kumba puts the right to health in danger for many.

Duties:

• Investigating how to address the refuse disposal issue,
• Working with the local councils to secure cooperation on the project,
• Sensitising the population to the importance of proper refuse disposal.
  

Media Watch Project :

This project is concerned with human rights abuses committed both against journalists (lack of press freedom, intimidation, physical and verbal assault, imprisonment) and by journalists (namely printing stories without evidence to back them up, amounting to baseless accusations which are perceived as fact).

Duties:

• Monitor the Anglophone press in Cameroon for stories related to human rights abuse.
• Conduct periodic interviews with journalists on the human rights conditions of their working environment.
• Design and run training workshops on reporting in challenging circumstances (eg riots), unbiased reporting, the law as it relates to journalism, etc.
  

Collaborative Projects

The Human Rights Hour radio programme is broadcast once a week on Ocean City Radio (88.5FM) The programme is coordinated by the Communication Officer and all interns who work on projects have the opportunity to take part in it. Your input would be most welcome. Notify the Communication Officer of your interest when you arri

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