02/08/2024
Agbor Balla receives international Human Rights Award from the American Bar Association
His Acceptance Speech
Salutation according to protocol
Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen
I grew up in a locality in the South West Regional Capital Of Cameroon known as Great Soppo, popularly known as Soppo
From not very well to do parents, I attended a Baptist mission Primary School in Great Soppo, Buea, and then a catholic mission secondary school, the prestigious St. Joseph’s College, Buea, where I passed the GCE Ordinary Levels in Form Four which is one class before the final year of secondary studies.
I went to anther college known CCAS Kumba and then to the Musole GCE Evening Classes after I was wrongfully dismissed from CCAS Kumba for subversive writing popularly known as “Lavoir” which was an article challenging abuses and wrong actions by school administrators.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This marked the starting point of my activism and working towards guaranteeing the respect of all fundamental human rights of persons.
I rather described my dismissal as a blessing in an interview, because it earned me a meeting with Late Bate Besong, renowned Anglophone playwright, poet and critic.
My unwavering search for knowledge on how to defend and protect the Rights of others took me to from Cameroon to Nigeria, Brussel and Indiana, USA.
After working abroad as a researcher at the Centre for International Law in Belgium, as an assistant legal officer at Sierra Leone International Criminal Court and a human right officer at United Nations office in Afghanistan and Congo I felt it was time to come back home to my people and defend their rights.
Ladies and gentlemen, that was when I founded the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, a nongovernmental Organization that has stayed focus on its missions since its creation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My passage as president of the Fako Lawyers Association in Cameroon; former vice president of the African Bar Association; Central African Region and a member of numerous African and international law associations I could not stay back and watch the sufferings of my people, I mean the People form The English-Speaking Regions of Cameroon.
As leader of the leader in the civil society movement to challenge the marginalization of and systemic discrimination against Anglophone Cameroonians, in 2016, I joined other prominent activists in leading peaceful protests of Anglophone lawyers and teachers to express their grievances against the increasing marginalization of the English language, the Common Law in the courts, and schools of Anglophone Cameroon.
In January 2017, the Anglophone Civil Society Consortium was banned by the Government of Cameroon, and Myself and other leaders of the peaceful protest were arrested and charged with treason, terrorism, civil unrest, and jeopardizing the peace and unity of the Republic of Cameroon.
After pressure from the international community, on August 31, 2017, myself and some other leader were released while a good number are still detained under deplorable conditions.
From that point till date, Myself, my organization and partners, have to advocate solutions to the Anglophone problem in Cameroon, and to draw attention to the growing humanitarian crisis that has resulted since it escalated in 2016.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As speak, the Human Rights Violations and Abuse cases in Cameroon is on the rise by day and changing in form by night.
However, we are determined to do all we can to reduce the rate to the barest minimum while calling on the international communities to put an eye on us as we try to wrestle with power and undemocratic leadership.
As human rights defenders, we have been working tirelessly, advocating in support of human rights and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Ladies and gentlemen often at times, our work is dangerous.
UN Secretary General António Guterres puts it this way
“We regularly hear of abuses against human rights defenders – murder, disappearances, torture, arbitrary imprisonment and other attempts to silence them. Yet these courageous individuals and groups remain committed to shining a light on the dark corners of the globe, wherever human rights violations occur. Human rights defenders give voice to the voiceless and shield the powerless against injustice. They support the rule of law or work peacefully to change laws so women and girls, indigenous communities, minorities and other marginalized groups may exercise their rights. They work to empower people through education. And they help to protect other human rights defenders from harassment, intimidation or arrest. We salute them all.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the salutation I am getting today on behalf of all the human rights defenders in the world.
I accept I want to thank the American Bar Association for the initiative of the which award recognizes exceptional achievements by an individual or organization as a champion and/or defender of human rights outside the United States, consistent with international human rights law.
This is a big honour for me, I mean, having this award from the prestigious American Bar Association,
It also shows that hard work, resilience, and being focused and doing what you believe in, someday you would have a recognition.
I dedicate this award to my family in particular because they have been with me throughout my trying period.
And also, to the entire staff of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, for the support, for the enormous work that they've been doing, to all civil society leaders who we've worked together, who are fighting for the protection and the promotion of human rights, and equally to all victims of gross human rights violations.
This award is therefore a call to service and I will do just that
Thank You for listening
Felix Nkongho Agbor
