NASSIR Posted October 27, 2008 Very shocking story. It seems the illegal, immoral and primordial practice is still rampant in some parts of WEST AFRICA. Niger just abolished slavery 5 years ago, but it appears the banning is never enforced because this woman who is suing the government of Niger has failed to win her freedom on a number of ocassions at a local court hearings. Other West AFrican states where slavery is prevalent are Mali and Mauritania. see the link above: Slavery: Mauritania's best kept secret -------------------------- Landmark slavery case for Niger Monday, Oct 27, 2008 Judges are due to rule on Monday on a case of alleged slavery in the West African state of Niger which will have widespread implications for the region. Hadijatou Mani, who says she was sold at 12 and forced to work for 10 years, has argued in a regional court that the government failed to protect her. The government of Niger says it has done all it can to eradicate slavery. Despite being outlawed, slavery also still exists in other West African states such as Mauritania and Mali. Hadijatou Mani says she was sold to a man called Souleymane Naroua when she was 12 years old. The price was the equivalent of around $500 (£315). She says she was forced to carry out domestic and agricultural work for the next 10 years. Hadijatou Mani says she was also raped aged 13 and forced to bear the man's children. Long battle After failing to win her freedom in a series of local court hearings, she took her case to the Court of Justice of the West African regional body Ecowas earlier this year. There, Hadijatou Mani accused the government of Niger of failing to protect her from slavery, which was criminalised just five years ago. She is also seeking financial compensation. A local organisation fighting to end the practice says there are more than 40,000 slaves in Niger. One of Hadijatou Mani's lawyers, Ibrahima Kane, says should she win the case it would be life-changing for many people being kept in slavery. "It will be the end of the status of 'slave' and I hope for many others who are waiting for this decision it will be also a new day because now they will believe that there is a body - when you go before it, it can change your life." The Ecowas court ruling will be binding on all member states and so would have consequences for people being kept as slaves beyond Niger, BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross reports. For generations the children of a slave have automatically become the property of the slave master. Hadijatou Mani says one of the reasons she has taken this court action is to secure her two children's freedom and ensure they do not have to endure the same fate. Source: BBC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xiinfaniin Posted October 27, 2008 The irony! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacaylbaro Posted October 28, 2008 Heart Breaking ......... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
