―[c]utting off access to the Internet, or parts of the Internet, for whole populations or segments of the public (shutting down the Internet) can never be justified, including on public order or national security grounds. The same applies to slow-downs imposed on the Internet or parts of the Internet.‖18 The special experts also declared that the; ―[m]andatory blocking of entire websites, IP addresses, ports, network protocols or types of uses (such as social networking) is an extreme measure – analogous to banning a newspaper or broadcaster – which can only be justified in accordance with international standards, for example where necessary to protect children against sexual abuse.‖19 In 2015, the special mandate holders including from the African Commission addressed these issues again, declaring that the; ―[f]iltering of content on the Internet, using communications ‗kill switches‘ (i.e. shutting down entire parts of communications systems) and the physical takeover of broadcasting stations are measures which can never be justified under human rights law.‖20 Despite these clear condemnations, however, such shutdowns continue in several regions of the world, in violation of international human rights law. In March 2017, the 30 governments in the Freedom Online Coalition issued a joint statement ―expressing deep concern over the growing trend of intentional state-sponsored disruptions of access to or dissemination of information online‖.21 3. Cameroon Commitments to International Law The preamble of the Cameroonian Constitution explicitly commits the government to respect regional and international frameworks that support human rights, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples‘ Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United 18 UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, OAS Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and African Commission Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, Joint declaration on freedom of expression and the Internet, 1 June 2011, par. 6(b). 19 Id., par. 3(a). 20 UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, OAS Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and African Commission Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and responses to conflict situations, par. 4(c). 21 See Freedom Online Coalition, “FOC Issues Joint Statement and Accompanying Good Practices for Government on State-Sponsored Network Disruptions”, available at <https://www.freedomonlinecoalition.com/news/foc-issuesjoint-statement-and-accompanying-good-practices-for-government-on-state-sponsored-network-disruptions>.