SECTION 1

(1) The Ministry of Justice shall be placed under the authority of a Minister. (2) The Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals shall be responsible for: - drafting legislative and statutory instruments relating to nationality, rules concerning conflicts of laws, rules and regulations governing Judicial and Legal Officers, the organization and functioning of the High Court of Justice, the Supreme Court, the Higher Judicial Council and to the judicial organization; - drafting legislative and statutory instruments relating to the status of persons and property, rules governing contracts in civil and commercial matters (civil and commercial legislation), rules of procedure and competence before all civil courts, general and special criminal Law; - drafting and implementing penitentiary policy; - studying applications for clemency and conditional release; - keeping and appending the seals of the Republic of Cameroon; - monitoring the implementation of the criminal policy; - organizing and following-up the functioning of detention centres and prisons, as well as managing the penitentiary administration staff; - judicial cooperation, in coordination with the Ministry of External Relations; - following-up OHADA files, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministries concerned; - following-up human rights and the fight against torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; - following-up of activities of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF); - following-up Advocates, Notaries, Bailiffs and Auxiliaries of Justice. (3) The Minister of Justice shall be the Chairman of the Commissions of Legislative and Judicial Reform and shall ensure the functioning of Courts. (4) He shall follow-up the training activities of Judicial and Legal Officers, Court Registrars, Advocates, Bailiffs, Notaries and other Auxiliaries of Justice, in coordination with the Administrations and Professional Institutions concerned. (5) He shall ensure discipline of Judicial and Legal Officers, Court Registrars and Civil Servants under his authority. (6) He shall ensure discipline of Advocates, Notaries, Bailiffs and Auxiliaries of Justice. (7) He shall follow-up the activities of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCHR), in conjunction with the Ministry of External Relations. (8) He shall be the Government’s Counsel in legal matters. (9) He shall supervise the National School of Penitentiary Administration. (10) He shall be assisted by a Minister Delegate and a Secretary of State in charge of Penitentiary Administration.