At least eight women have been murdered in Cameroon in just over a week, triggering widespread condemnation from politicians, celebrities, and civil society groups who are calling on the government to do more to protect women and girls. The killings are part of a longer trend: at least 50 women were killed between January and April this year alone, following 77 deaths across the whole of the previous year, with the majority of cases involving husbands, relatives, or neighbours rather than strangers. Cameroon's Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Family has said legislation to combat gender-based violence is in preparation, but human rights organisations and opposition parties argue that progress remains far too slow.