Douala
1 August 2017
Dear Reader:
We are pleased to share with you a publication under our Law & Public Policy Working Paper Series, entitled ‘Managing Cameroon’s bilingual and bi-jural character and its multiple heritages: analysis and proposed legislative reforms on Language use and policy, co-existence of Educational systems, and co-existence of Legal systems’. This working paper is a self-funded initiative of the Centre for Law & Public Policy, and is the outcome of five months of research, analysis, and drafting.
Against the backdrop of Cameroon’s recent challenges in managing its diversity, the paper makes twenty (20) proposals for legislative and policy actions in the following areas: (i) the use of official languages, (ii) the co-existence and preservation of education systems, (iii) the co-existence and preservation of legal practice systems, and (iv) institutional arrangements to secure diverse language, education, and legal systems.
Examining Cameroon’s situation from the perspective of other multilingual States – such as Canada, Belgium, and Switzerland – which have faced real challenges in managing their diversity, the paper highlights the need for a sombre and measured approach on all sides, while responding to the grievances expressed with specific corrective legislative, policy, and institutional actions. While longer than standard policy papers, the complex and transversal nature of the issues covered often required more than cursory analysis.
Happy reading.
Author: Center for Law and Public policy (CLPP)