Earlier this month, the Council of the Socialist International convened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, NY. The council’s extensive agenda included adopting a resolution calling for the rights of prisoner Marafa Hamidou Yaya in Cameroon. This is a particularly profound development given that Marafa is not a political party leader and his party, the CPDM, is not a member of the SI.
The SI is the worldwide organisation of social democratic, socialist and labour parties. It currently brings together 152 political parties and organisations from all continents. Pictured is a session of its most recent meeting in New York which prompted a written appeal for Marafa’s freedom to be issued:
Meeting of the Council of the Socialist International - United Nations, New York, 6-7 July 2015; APPEAL FOR THE RELEASE OF MARAFA HAMIDOU YAYA IN CAMEROON – The Socialist International expresses its concern at the imprisonment of Marafa Hamidou Yaya in Cameroon, on seemingly politically motivated charges. Though steps are needed to tackle corruption and embezzlement in Cameroon, this process should not be used as an excuse to settle political scores. The SI calls on the government of Cameroon to ensure that human rights, the United Nations charter and Cameroon’s constitution are respected in this matter.
