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On 5 March, the Niger Government is holding a ceremony that will
mark an end to slavery throughout the country.
At the ceremony, hosted by the National Human Rights Commission,
being held near the Mali border in In Atès in Tillaberi,
the chief of In Atès will announce that all of the slaves
in his area will be free. This will free over 7,000 people, equal
to 95 per cent of the area's population who are currently slaves;
5 per cent are masters.
At least 43,000 people are in slavery across Niger. They
are born into an established slave class and are made to do all
labour required by their masters without pay, including herding,
cleaning, moving their master's tent to ensure he and his family
are always in shade. The masters do nothing. Slaves are inherited,
given as gifts and their babies are taken away from their mothers
once weaned. They are denied all rights and choice.
"This is an historic step forward for Niger, but many challenges
remain. The Government needs to ensure not only that the law is
implemented but that there are the means of support available for
former slaves and their children to live their lives in freedom
and independence," Romana Cacchioli of Anti-Slavery International
said.
The ceremony marks a first step in making the nomadic population
-- slaves and masters -- aware of the recent criminalisation of
slavery.
In May 2004 a new law came into effect making practising slavery
punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The Government's move was
in response to the publication of the first national survey of slavery,
which was jointly carried out by Niger's pioneering anti-slavery
organisation Timidria and Anti-Slavery International, the world's
oldest international human rights organisation. The report established
the extent and countrywide existence of slavery, having interviewed
over 11,000 people, most of whom were found to be in slavery.
Participants of the ceremony will include: Niger's President of the
National Commission for Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties Lompo
Garba; Ilguilas Weila President of Timidria; members from each of
the 19 groups led by the chief of In Atès, including slaves
and masters; representatives from government ministries; and international
organisations. |
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- The ceremony will be held Saturday 5 March in In
Atès in the Tillaberi region, near the Mali border.
For details, further information, or to arrange an interview
contact Ilguilas Weila, President of Timidria, on (mobile)
+277 977 424 or (office) +277 724 129
- For details, further information, or to arrange an
interview in the UK contact Anti-Slavery International's
Deputy Director David Ould on +44 (0)20 7501 8926 or email
d.ould@antislavery.org or Africa Programme Officer Romana
Cacchioli on r.cacchioli@antislavery.org or call +44 (0)20
7501 8930; (m) 07989572737
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