Maarit Kohonen Sheriff yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister Philemon Yang.

The new Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa and the Regional Representative of the UN High Commission for Human Rights, Maarit Kohonen Sheriff yesterday, March 18 during a maiden courtesy visit to Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, outlined the five thematic priorities in which the Centre intends to work on for the next two years.

The Director, Maarit Kohonen who came to Cameroon in mid January 2010, presented the advanced copy of her letter of introduction to the Minister of External Relations last February 18, was at the Prime Minister's Office as part of her ongoing contact visit to Cameroon government officials. She said the five thematic priorities of the Centre discussed with Mr Yang, include the protection of the economic, social and cultural rights, elimination of impunity and strengthening of the role of law, promotion of democracy and good governance. Other key priorities, she stated, are the elimination of discrimination, particularly discrimination against people with disabilities, migrant workers and their families and against indigenous people and the engagement with UN Human Rights mechanisms.

The new Director of the sub-regional centre for human rights and democracy said, the audience with Mr Yang served as an occasion for her to thank Cameroon for hosting the centre that covers 11 countries in the Central African sub-region. She said the UN Commission for Human Rights will like to support the Cameroon government and will also like Cameroon vis-à-vis the member States of Central Africa, to take a leading role in promoting human rights. The Prime Minister, she stated, proposed that the centre should equally work with civil society organisations to cause the population to register for elections and perform their civic rights.