ECOWAS: 'Ex-slave' takes Niger to court

[7 April 2008] - A former slave is suing Niger's government, accusing it of failing to implement laws against slavery introduced in 2003.

Hadijatou Mani has brought the case before the Community Court of Justice of Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States.

She says the government continues to legitimise the practice of slavery through customary law.

This is the first such case brought by a former slave in Niger.

Ms Mani says customary law still discriminates against women in direct conflict with the constitution and criminal code.

Ms Mani was sold into slavery for around $500 when she was 12 years old.

She had to carry out domestic and agricultural work but also lived as a sex slave or "Sadaka" to her master who already had four wives and several other "Sadakas".

When she was released and decided to marry a man she had freely chosen, her master insisted she was in fact his wife.

A court later found her guilty of bigamy and sentenced her to six months imprisonment.

Caste system

In 2003, Niger's parliament passed a bill making slavery a criminal offence with a possible sentence of up to 30 years imprisonment.

Local human rights group, Timidria claims there are still up to 43,000 people living as slaves.

However the government says these figures are exaggerated.

It says there is a caste system in Niger and members of lower castes have been mistaken for slaves.

Human rights groups say slave masters take children from their mothers when they are as young as two years old - to break the family bond as soon as the child is weaned.

The organisations believe this perpetuates slavery from one generation to the next.

The BBC's Idy Baraou in the capital, Niamey says many people in Niger hope the trial will open the way for more law suits, bringing this ancient practice to an end.

 

Further information

pdf: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7334138.stm

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