Submitted by Eloise on
This report is part of CRIN's access to justice for children project, looking at the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in national law, the status of children involved in legal proceedings, the legal means to challenge violations of children’s rights and the practical considerations involved in challenging violations.
Niger ratified the CRC on 30 September 1990, as well as two of its optional protocols (the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict in 2012 and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in 2004). Regularly ratified treaties take precedence over domestic law. However, the draft Children’s Code has been delayed for a few years, which prevents children’s rights from being more effectively applied in courts. Children can bring claims in civil, criminal and administrative courts through their representative. In practice however, the patriarchal society in Niger and the significant weight of customary law stop children from exercising and protecting their rights. Civil majority is reached at 21 or at marriage (for which the minimum age is 18 for men and 15 for women). In addition, the judiciary system and in particular the juvenile court judges lack in resources and training and suffer from heavy corruption.
