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.
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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