[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

'Ex-slave' takes Niger to court

 

Slaves come from the poor communities in the north

A former slave is suing Niger's government, accusing it of failing to implement laws against slavery introduced in 2003.
Hadijatou Mani took the case to the Community Court of Justice of Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States, based in Nigeria.
This is the first such case brought by a former slave in Niger.
The government says it has done all it can to eradicate the practice and says the problem has been exaggerated.
Ms Mani appeared in court with her lawyers, family members and anti-slavery activists.
The government was represented by a high-powered team including the prime minister, justice minister and speaker of parliament.
The case is due to last for five days.
Sold
Ms Mani says the government continues to legitimise the practice of slavery through customary law, which discriminates against women in direct conflict with the constitution and criminal code.
She 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.
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.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

U.S.-NIGERIEN RELATIONS
U.S. relations with Niger have generally been close and friendly since Niger attained independence. Although USAID does not have a Mission in Niger, $30 million in annual official aid is administered through American and local non-governmental organizations with programs addressing food security, health, local governance, youth training, girls' education, corruption control, and improving the business environment. The U.S. Peace Corps program in Niger started in 1962. It currently has about 130 volunteers in country and celebrated its 45th anniversary in Niger in September 2007. Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Bernadette M. Allen
Deputy Chief of Mission--Donald Koran
Defense Attaché--Lieutenant Colonel Marie Kokotajlo
Joint Management Officer--Don D. Curtis
Economic/Commercial/Consular Officer--Richard M. Roberts
Public Affairs Officer--Stephen J. Posivak
Peace Corps Director--Mary Abrams
USAID Country Program Manager--Mark Wentling
The U.S. Embassy in Niger is located on the Avenue des Ambassades. The telephone numbers for the embassy are (227) 20-72-26-61 through 65, and the fax number is (227) 20-73-31-67. The mailing address is B.P. 11201, Niamey.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5474.htm

[Savage Clone]

Thank you.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

The United States of America (USA) [ Country-by-Country Reports ]
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency estimates that 50,000 people are trafficked into or transited through the U.S.A. annually as sex slaves, domestics, garment, and agricultural slaves. [map]
The United States is a source and destination country for thousands of men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. Women and girls, largely from East Asia, Eastern Europe, Mexico and Central America are trafficked to the United States into prostitution. Some men and women, responding to fraudulent offers of employment in the United States, migrate willingly-legally and illegally-but are subsequently subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude at work sites or in the commercial sex trade. An unknown number of American citizens and legal residents are trafficked within the country primarily for sexual servitude and, to a lesser extent, forced labor.
The United States Government (USG) in 2006 continued to advance the goal of eradicating human trafficking in the United States. This coordinated effort includes several federal agencies and approximately $28.5 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 for domestic programs to boost anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, identify and protect victims of trafficking, and raise awareness of trafficking as a means of preventing new incidents. – Adapted from U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2007