Cameroon Justice Ngassa Speaks to CILC's Global Audience About Protecting Women's Rights

Cameroon Supreme Court Justice and women’s rights leader Vera Ngassa spoke to a global audience on March 2 as part of the California International Law Center (CILC) series “Global Voices on Human Rights,  Democracy, and Social Justice.”

Justice Ngassa, a self-described judicial activist on women’s rights, discussed colonialization, the development of the Cameroon legal system, and the laws and historical culture that make it difficult to protect women and children from abuse. In particular, Justice Ngassa spoke about the impediments that make it nearly impossible for women to own property. Property ownership is one of the strongest protections women have to maintain independence and protect themselves from abuse.

Throughout her career, Justice Ngassa -- whose sister, Estella Atekwana, is the dean of UC Davis Law's College of Letters and Science, has been an outspoken advocate for gender and literacy programs and has sought to bring accountability for all offenses against women, securing groundbreaking convictions as a prosecutor. Justice Ngassa has advocated successfully throughout her career for gender-sensitive law reform, and as a jurist, brings a gender perspective, incorporating gender norms into her rulings. Justice Ngassa also has taught Human Rights and the Law for many years at the University of Buea in Cameroon.  She’s a member of many prestigious legal organizations in Cameroon and internationally. She’s also the founder of Samaritan House of Empowerment, which is dedicated to supporting victims of gender-based violence and human trafficking.

Beth Greenwood, director of CILC, said “We were honored that Justice Ngassa spoke to our King Hall global audience from Cameroon. Justice Ngassa is an outstanding advocate and an inspiration to all who care about protecting women and children from abuse – a challenge in every country and culture.”

Justice Ngassa’s career as a prosecutor and jurist was featured in the 2005 documentary Sisters in Law. The award-winning documentary was featured at Cannes and illustrates the dedicated advocacy of Justice Ngassa and her colleagues in protecting the rights of women in a legal environment that is not supportive of women.

For additional information about CILC, please contact Associate Dean and CILC Director Beth Greenwood at bgreenwood@ucdavis.edu.