Human rights in Niger

According to the Republic of Niger's Constitution of 1999, most human rights, as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are upheld and protected. Despite these protections, concerns of both domestic and international human rights organizations have been raised over the behavior of the government, military, police forces, and over the continuation of traditional practices which contravene the 1999 constitution. Under French colonial rule (1900-1960) and from independence until 1992, citizens of Niger had few political rights, and lived under arbitrary government power. Although the situation has improved since the return to civilian rule, criticisms remain over the state of human rights in the country.

Constitution of 18 July 1999

These include rights to equality before the law, due process, universal suffrage, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. [ [http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/CAFRAD/UNPAN002961.pdf Constitution du Niger du 18 juillet 1999] and [http://www.parliament.go.th/parcy/sapa_db/cons_doc/constitutions/data/Niger/Niger(english%20summary)(rev).doc CONSTITUTION OF THE FIFTH REPUBLIC OF NIGER. Adopted on 18 July 1999, promulgated on 9 August 1999] . ]

* "Title I, Article 9" states:

The same prerogatives shall be accorded every citizen of Niger enjoying full civil and political rights and fulfilling the conditions of eligibility as provided for by the law.

* "Title II: Rights And Duties Of The Individual" includes:

Article 23:Each person shall have the right to freedom of thought, opinion, expression, conscience, religion, and worship. The state shall guarantee the free exercise of worship and expression of beliefs. These rights shall be applicable in regard to public order, social tranquillity, and national unity.

International conventions

Niger is a signatory of a number of international human rights conventions, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights of 1986, for which it submits regular reports to the African Union's African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. [ [http://www.achpr.org/english/_info/status_submission_en.html STATUS ON SUBMISSION OF STATE PERIODIC REPORTS TO THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN & PEOPLES’ RIGHTS] .] Niger is one of the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

History since Independence

Niger has had four republican constitutions since independence in 1960, but four of its seven presidents have been military leaders, taking power in three coups. The first presidential elections took place in 1993 (33 years after independence), and the first municipal elections only took place in 2007. The 1999 constitution followed the the coup against and murder of President Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara by fellow military leaders. Prior to the 1992 uprising that led to free elections, Nigeriens have had little say in their nation's governance. In 2004 Mamadou Tandja was elected to his second five-year presidential term in an election that international observers deemed generally free and fair.

While the 1999 constitution guarantees a right to free assembly, in practice the government places restrictions on political gatherings, especially at time of popular unrest. There have been three blanket states of emergency declared since 1999, the longest beginning in August 2007 for the entire Agadez Department, and renewed in November 2007. These states of emergency essentially remove all rights to protest, gathering and free movement. They also allow detention without charge or trial. [ [http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL237003120071123 “Niger extends state of alert in uranium-rich north”] , Reuters, 23 Nov. 2007.]

Security forces

The involvement of the military in politics has historically led to regular, if infrequent, arbitrary arrest and detention, use of excessive force, torture, and extra-judicial killing by security forces and police. The judiciary has historically suffered from poor jail and prison conditions, prolonged pretrial detention, and executive interference in the judiciary. While all these have improved dramatically since the return to civilian rule, international human rights organizations continue to report sporadic incidents of all these abuses. Post-1999 there has been a marked improvement of civilian control of security forces, with the United States State Department contending every year since 2001 that the military was under civilian control. [For this section, see [http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/africa/west-africa/niger Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 2007] , [http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/12/19/niger17623.htm Human Rights Watch: Niger: Warring Sides Must End Abuses of Civilians, Combatants Engaged in Executions, Rape, and Theft] . (Dakar, December 19, 2007); and U.S. Department of State. Report on Human Rights Practices - Niger. [http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/democracy/hrp_index.html 1993-1995] to [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78750.htm 2006] .]

Current concerns

The United States, in line with the United Nations and Amnesty international has consistently found the post 1999 government's human rights record "generally poor; although there are improvements in several areas, some serious problems remain". With the 1999 election of President Tandja and members of the National Assembly in generally free and fair elections, citizens exercised their right to change their government. Since 2001, every year has seen less than a dozen prisoners die or go missing after having last been seen in the custody of military officers. Police and members of the security forces beat and otherwise abuse persons. Prior to the beginning of the Tuareg insurgency of 2007 the government has generally respected the right to association; however, several Islamist organizations that engaged in or threatened violence have been and remain banned. The government frequently restricts freedom of movement.

Domestic violence and societal discrimination against women continue to be serious problems. Female genital mutilation (FGM) persists, despite government efforts to combat it. There is societal discrimination against persons with disabilities and ethnic and religious minorities. Worker rights generally are respected; however, there are reports that a traditional form of servitude still is practiced. Child labor occurs, including child prostitution. There are reports of trafficking in persons.

Freedom of the Press

Niger has had a tradition of lively press opposition, punctuated by bouts of government repression. From 1999 to 2007, the independent press, especially radio has flourished. With the advent of the Second Tuareg Rebellion in 2007, the government has begun to prosecute under emergency powers, those foreign and domestic press who are accused of contact with rebel leaders, and have expelled members of the foreign press from the country. The north, under a state of emergency, has become a no-go zone for foreign press, and the independent "Radio Agadez" in the north has been closed by the government.

The government publishes a French-language daily newspaper, Le Sahel, and its weekend edition. There are approximately 12 private French-language weekly or monthly newspapers, some of which are affiliated loosely with political parties. The private press remains relatively assertive in criticizing government actions, though since mid-2007, there have been a number of arrests of foreign and local journalist. Two local journalists are (as of January 2008) imprisoned under charge of aiding the Tuareg insurgency in the north, and several radio stations have been closed. Foreign journalist circulate and reported freely prior to mid-2007, and are now restricted from reporting on or traveling to the north of the country (Agadez department). Since this time radio re-broadcasts of foreign news services have been restricted, have previously been a staple of Nigerien news coverage.

Since literacy and personal incomes are both very low, radio is the most important medium of public communication. The government-owned Radio Voix du Sahel transmits 14 hours per day, providing news and other programs in French and several local languages. There are several private radio stations, including Radio France International, Africa Number One, Radio et Musique, Radio Souda, Radio Tenere, Radio Anfani, and Radio Tambara; the last five are owned locally and feature popular news programs in local languages, including Djerma and Hausa. These private radio stations generally are less critical of government actions than are the private newspapers. Radio Anfani and Radio et Musique presented news coverage that has included a variety of points of view. The other private domestic radio stations are smaller and offer little domestic news programming. The government-operated multilingual national radio service provides equitable broadcasting time for all legal political parties during the year.

Prison and Detention Center Conditions

As of 2006, conditions in all 35 of the country's prisons were poor and life threatening. Prisons were underfunded, understaffed, and overcrowded. For example, in Niamey's civil prison, there were approximately 720 prisoners in a facility built for 350; at year's end an estimated 550 of them were awaiting trial. Family visits were allowed, and prisoners could receive supplemental food, medicine, and other necessities from their families; however, nutrition, sanitation, and health conditions were poor, and deaths occurred from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Corruption among prison staff is rampant. Prisoners could bribe officials to leave prison for the day and serve their sentences in the evenings. Some prisoners bribed officials to serve their sentences in the national hospital in Niamey.

Pretrial detainees were held with convicted prisoners.

Human rights observers, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the National Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties Commission, and various NGOs, were granted unrestricted access to prisons and detention centers and conducted visits during the year.

Role of the Police and Security Apparatus

The armed forces, under the Defense Ministry, are responsible for internal and external security. The gendarmerie, also under the Defense Ministry, had primary responsibility for rural security. The national forces for intervention and security, under the Interior Ministry, are responsible for domestic security and the protection of high-level officials and government buildings, and the national police, also under the Interior Ministry, are charged with urban law enforcement.

The police are ineffective, primarily because of inadequate resources. Basic supplies such as vehicle fuel, radios, uniforms, handcuffs, batons, and badges are scarce. Patrols are sporadic, and emergency response time in Niamey can take 45 minutes. Police training is minimal, and only specialized police units had basic weapons-handling skills. Corruption remains pervasive. Citizens complain that security forces do not adequately police border regions. The gendarmerie is responsible for investigation of police abuse; however, impunity is often a problem.

Freedom of Religion

The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice. Nigerien society, although overwhelmingly Muslim, is respectful and tolerant of religious difference.

Islam is the dominant religion and the Islamic Association, which acts as an official advisory committee to the government on religious matters, broadcasts biweekly on the government controlled television station. On government controlled media, Christian programs generally are broadcast only on special occasions, such as Christmas and Easter, although the independent media regularly broadcast such programs.

Foreign Christian missionaries, while generally viewed with suspicion, operate openly and unmolested. Most large cities, due to the legacy of French colonialism, contain Christian churches and small Christian communities. There is also a small Bahá'í community in Niamey. Sharia law, though observed by more pious Nigeriens, is not enforced by government or community. Alcohol is sold openly and women, while generally dressing modestly, need not wear headscarves.

Religious organizations must register with the Interior Ministry. Registration is a formality, and there are no reports that the government refused to register a religious organization.

On February 10 2006, the government established an Islamic Council composed of 10 leaders drawn from Islamic associations including the Islamic Association of Niger and other NGOs, and 10 members from various government agencies. The Islamic Council advises the government on Islamic issues including preaching, mosque construction, payment of zakat, etc. The council's avowed goals are to "work toward promoting a culture of tolerance and social peace and encourage Nigeriens to participate in the country's economic, social, and cultural development." During the installation of the council, the prime minister said that the purpose of the council was in part "to address behaviors and practices inspired by foreign countries," a remark widely interpreted to mean Nigerian and middle-eastern-inspired theological change and mosque construction projects.

Conflict in the north

Since late 2007, press and international aid agencies have complained that they have been prevented from monitoring the situation or delivering aid, but both sides in the fighting report that the conflict continues to escalate. Humanitarian agencies in Niamey estimated in early December 2007 that there were around 11,000 people displaced by the fighting, in addition to the 9,000 Nigeriens who lost their homes in heavy flooding. Doctors Without Borders claimed at the time that no aid is being delivered by the government in the north, while 2,500 to 4,000 displaced people are estimated to have come to Agadez from the mostly Tuareg town of Iferouane, [ These numbers were also reported by the Nigerien NGO [http://www.nordnigersante.com/topic/index.html l'Association NORD NIGER SANTE] on November 17, 2007.] with the entire civilian population apparently fleeing after the army and rebels started fighting in the area in mid 2007. Humanitarian sources are quoted saying that the Army is operating with little control, and adding to, rather than suppressing banditry, drug-trafficking and lawlessness in the north. [ [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?Reported=75795 NIGER: Humanitarian access cut to north] , 10 December 2007 (IRIN). [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?Reported=75792 NIGER: News filtering out of north suggests grave conditions] , 10 December 2007 (IRIN).] Amnesty international and Human Rights Watch have both accused the government of carrying out widespread human rights abuses in the north of the country, claiming that there has been a pattern of extrajudicial killings and deliberate or indiscriminate attacks on civilians, especially in Tuareg communities. [ [http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/12/19/niger17623.htm Human Rights Watch: Niger: Warring Sides Must End Abuses of Civilians] . 19 December 2007. [http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/niger-extrajudicial-executions-and-population-displacement-north-country Amnesty International: Niger: Extrajudicial executions and population displacement in the north of the country] , 19 December 2007.]

During the First Tuareg Rebellion of the 1990s, the security forces carried out a massacre of over 100 civilians in the north of the country. No legal action was ever taken against the perpetrators. Similar massacres of ethnic Toubou communities in Bosso, came to light in 2001, some six years after the killings took place. Despite calls from domestic and international human rights groups, the government did not initiate an independent investigation into the mass grave at Bosso. In 1999 a mass grave containing 149 bodies alleged to be those of missing Toubou former rebels was discovered; the Toubous were last seen in the custody of the armed forces. The Government acknowledged the existence of the mass grave.

Diffa Arabs expulsions, 2006

In October 2006, Niger announced that it would deport the Arabs living in the Diffa Region of eastern Niger to Chad. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6087048.stm BBC NEWS | Africa |Niger starts mass Arab expulsions] ] This population numbered about 150,000. [ [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25138454.htm Reuters AlertNet - Niger's Arabs say expulsions will fuel race hate] ] While the government was rounding Arabs in preparation for the deportation, two girls died, reportedly after fleeing government forces, and three women suffered miscarriages. Niger's government had eventually suspended a controversial decision to deport Arabs. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6081416.stm BBC NEWS | Africa |Niger's Arabs to fight expulsion] ] [ [http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refworld/remain?docid=469638881e UNHCR |Refworld - The Leader in Refugee Decision Support] ]

Slavery

In Niger, where the practice of slavery was outlawed in 2003, a study has found that more than 800,000 people are still slaves, almost 8% of the population. [ [http://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=813618&page=1 The Shackles of Slavery in Niger] ] . [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4250709.stm Born to be a slave in Niger] By Hilary Andersson, BBC Africa Correspondent, Niger] Slavery dates back for centuries in Niger and was finally criminalised in 2003, after five years of lobbying by Anti-Slavery International and Nigerian human-rights group, Timidria. [ [http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0310/p07s01-woaf.html On the way to freedom, Niger's slaves stuck in limbo] ]

Descent-based slavery, where generations of the same family are born into bondage, is traditionally practiced by at least four of Niger’s eight ethnic groups. The slave holders are mostly from the lighter-skinned nomadic ethnic groups — Tuareg, Fula, Toubou and Arabs. [ [http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2005/september/bondage.php?page=3 Born into Bondage] ] In the region of Say on the right bank of the river Niger, it is estimated that three-quarters of the population around 1904-1905 was composed of slaves. [ [http://www.antislavery.org/homepage/resources/PDF/Full%20English%20Slavery%20in%20Niger.pdf Slavery in Niger] ]

Prior to the 20th century, the Tuareg captured slaves during raids into other communities and in war. War was then the main source of supply of slaves, although many were bought at slave markets, run mostly by indigenous peoples. [ [http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reported=53497 NIGER: Slavery - an unbroken chain] ] [ [http://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=813618&page=1 The Shackles of Slavery in Niger] ]

See also

* Listings of Human rights indicators:
** Abortion law: legal in cases of danger to mother only.
** Timeline of women's suffrage: Female suffrage enacted in 1948
** LGBT rights in Niger: laws are rather liberal, but homosexuality is completely taboo.
** Use of capital punishment by nation: while not outlawed, Niger is rated as"Abolished in practice", with the last state execution taking place in 1976.
** School leaving age: Children may leave compulsory education at 16, but may be employed legally at 14.
** Legal drinking age: 18 years old. Though overwhelmingly Muslim, alcohol sales are not prohibited.
** Freedom in the World (report) 2007 by the US based Freedom House rates Niger as "Partly Free"
** The Democracy Index of the UK based Economist Magazine rates Niger as 122 of 167 and an "Authoritarian regime".
** List of countries by Failed States Index 2007 by the US based Fund for Peace rates Niger as the 32nd from worst state in government ineffectiveness.
** Corruption Perceptions Index rates Niger 132 of 179, with a 2.6 rating, improving since 2004.
* Timidria: Nigerien anti-slavery NGO
* Migrants' African routes: Niger lies on a major route of undocumented migration from Sub-Saharan Africa to Europe.
* Slavery in modern Africa
* Legal regime under French colonial rule: Indigénat

References