LAWN 2019/019 OF 2 4 DEC 2019
ON THE PROMOTION OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN CAMEROON
# CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
# I - PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE LAW
SECTioN 1: This law lays down the general legal framework for the promotion of official languages in Cameroon.
SECTioN 2: (1) The official languages of Cameroon shall be English and French.
(2) The official languages of Cameroon shall have equal value.
SEcTioN 3: This law shall apply to all national public institutions and regional and local authorities.
SECTioN 4: The State shall encourage the promotion of official languages in private entities, employers' and labour organizations, civil society organizations and voluntary agencies.
SECTioN 5: (1) The purpose of this law shall be to ensure the equal use of English and French in public services and bodies, and to encourage Cameroonians to express themselves in English and French.
(2) Specifically, it seeks to:
guarantee the systematic use of both official languages as working lanquages in public entities and services open to the public: guarantee the right of every citizen to obtain information and official documents in the language of their choice: guarantee the right of every citizen to freely communicate with the Public Administration, and to obtain the services they desire therefrom in the lanquage of their choice: guarantee the simultaneous publication and dissemination of legislative and regulatory instruments in both official languages, each version being equallv valid: promote the teaching of Enalish and French in the educational svstem.
SEcTioN 6: (1) Officials of government services and regional and local authorities shall, in the entities under their responsibility, ensure the training of their staff in the use of English and French.
# II - DEFINITIONS
SECTION 7: Within the meaning of this law and the measures taken for its implementation, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) bilingualism: everyday use of the two official languages by Cameroonians; (b)public entity: public law corporate body, including the State, public establishments and enterprises and regional and local authorities; (c) incentives: all measures taken by the State to promote English and French; (d) interpretation: oral translation of a speech or statement as it unfolds, by professionals in the field; (e)constitutional organs: institutions such as the Parliament, the Constitutional Council, the Supreme Court, Municipal and Regional Councils, and the Economic and Social Council; (ftranslation: transposition of a written text or document from one language to another, by professionals in the field.
# CHAPTER ROLE OF THE STATE
sEctioN g: The State shall guarantee the equality of English and French in all sectors of admìnistrative, economic, social and political activity.
SECTiON 9: The State shall ensure the effective use of English and French in government services.
SECTIoN 10: The State shall ensure that information on manufactured products intended for the public is presented in both official languages.