Burkina Faso

Summary of Domestic Prohibition

Slavery and slave trade

Provisions related to slavery are found in the Constitution at article 2 which prohibits slavery. Slavery is also recognised as an element of exploitation for the purpose of trafficking in persons under Act No 029-2008/AN On the Fight against Trafficking of Persons and Similar Practices.

Practices similar to slavery

Provisions related to institutions and practices similar to slavery are found in the Constitution at article 2 which prohibits slavery-like practices. Article 23 also declares that marriage is founded on the free consent of both parties, and practices similar to slavery may constitute exploitation for the purpose of trafficking in persons under Act No 029-2008/AN On the Fight against Trafficking of Persons and Similar Practices.

Servitude

There appears to be no legislation in place in Burkina Faso which prohibits servitude, although servitude may constitute exploitation for the purpose of trafficking in persons under Act No 029-2008/AN on the Fight against Trafficking of Persons and Similar Practices.

Forced or compulsory labour

Provisions related to forced labour are found in the Labour Code which prohibits forced labour at article 5 with penalties prescribed by article 422(1). Exploitation of the begging of others is also criminalised in articles 7-9 of Act No 029-2008/AN On the Fight against Trafficking of Persons and Similar Practices.

Human trafficking

Provisions related to trafficking in persons are found in the Penal Code 2018 which criminalises sex trafficking and labour trafficking at Article 511. Act No 029-2008/AN On the Fight against Trafficking of Persons and Similar Practices also criminalises human trafficking.

Forced marriage

Provisions related to forced marriage in Burkina Faso are found in the 2018 Criminal Code, which addresses forcibly abducting a woman or a girl with a view to forcing him into marriage or a union without her consent Art Article 531-2, with a potential penalty of imprisonment of six months to five years and a fine from five hundred thousand (500,000) to one million (1,000,000) CFA francs. Article 531-4 addresses forcing a person into marriage, with a potential penalty of imprisonment from one to three years if the victim is a minor. The maximum penalty is incurred if the victim is under thirteen years of age. The provision also punishes those who contracts or promotes a marriage under such conditions. Provisions related to forced marriage in Burkina Faso are also found in the 1989 Family and Persons Code, which addresses forced marriage, and particularly marriages imposed by families and those resulting from customary rules requiring the surviving spouse to marry one of the deceased’s relatives at Article 234. Article 284 also addresses cases where the spouse is victim of physical or moral violence, or where there has been an error on the person or on the essential qualities of the person.

Consent to marriage

Provisions requiring consent to marriage in Burkina Faso are found in the Family and persons code 1989, section 240 of which states that there is no marriage without the consent of the future spouses expressed at the time of celebration of marriage. Section 234 of Family and persons code and section 513(2) of the Penal Code 2018 further recognises that the consent of a party or prospective party to a marriage is invalidated where the person is subjected to coercion. Section 281 of the Family and persons code 1989, further recognises that the consent of a party or prospective party to a marriage is invalidated where the person has not attained marital capacity.

Servile marriage

Although legislation in Burkina Faso does not prohibit servile matrimonial transactions in all their forms, it does prohibit requiring a surviving spouse to marry one of the deceased’s parents under Article 234 of the 1989 Family and Persons Code.

Marriage trafficking

Provisions related to marriage trafficking in Burkina Faso are found in the ACT NO. 038-2003/AN FOR DEFINITION AND SUPPRESSION OF TRAFFICKING IN CHILD (REN) [LAW NO. 038-2003/AN ON THE DEFINITION AND ELIMINATION OF CHILD TRAFFICKING] 2003, which prohibits trafficking for forced marriage at article 4, with a potential penalty of imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of 300 000 to 1.5 million CFA. Provisions related to marriage trafficking in Burkina Faso are also found in ACT NO. 029-2008/AN ON THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS AND SIMILAR PRACTICES, which prohibits trafficking for practices similar to slavery at Article 1, with a potential penalty of imprisonment from five to ten years. Legislation in Burkina Faso also prohbits abduction for marriage under Penal Code 2018 at Article 513-2, with a potential penalty of imprisonment of six months to five years and a fine from five hundred thousand (500,000) to one million (1,000,000) CFA francs, any author of kidnapping. When the abductor engaged in sexual abuse or rape on the victim, the penalty is imprisonment from five to ten years and a fine from one million (1,000,000) to five million (5,000,000) CFA francs.

Minimum age for marriage

The minimum age for marriage in Burkina Faso is 17 for females and 21 for males, as set out on Article 238 of the 1989 Family and Persons Code. Where marriages are conducted involving a person below the minimum age, the nullity of marriage must be pronounced, as set out on Article 281 the 1989 Family and Persons Code. However, marriages below this age are permitted for serious reasons, as set out on Article 238 of the 1989 Family and Persons Code. Marriage of males is allowed under exceptions as early as 18. Marriage of females is allowed under exceptions as early as 15.

Region

Africa

Regional Court

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Legal System

Civil

International Instruments

1926 Slavery Convention
Not Party
1953 Protocol to the Slavery Convention
Not Party
1956 Supplementary Slavery Convention
Not Party
1966 ICCPR
04 January 1999
1930 Forced Labour Convention
21 November 1960
2014 Protocol to the 1930 Forced Labour Convention
Not Party
1957 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
25 August 1997
1999 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
25 July 2001
2000 Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons
15 May 2002
1998 Rome Statute of the ICC
16 April 2004
1956 Supplementary Slavery Convention
Not Party
1966 ICCPR
04 January 1999
1966 Optional Protocol to the ICCPR
04 January 1999
1966 ICESCR
09 May 1990
2008 Optional Protocol to the ICESCR
Not Party
1962 Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages
08 December 1964
1957 Convention on the Nationality of Married Women
Not Party
1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child
31 August 1990
2000 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
31 March 2006
2011 Optional Protocol to the CRC on a communications procedure
Not Party
1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
14 October 1987
1999 Optional Protocol to CEDAW
10 October 2005
1978 Convention on the Celebration and Recognition of the Validity of Marriages
Not Party
2000 Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons
15 May 2002
1998 Rome Statute of the ICC
16 April 2004
1999 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
25 July 2001

International Obligations

  • Slavery
  • Servitude
  • Forced Labour
  • Human Trafficking
  • Marriage Trafficking

Regional Organisations

  • African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
  • African Union
  • Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
  • ECOWAS

Legislative Provisions

CONSTITUTION OF BURKINA FASO 1991 (REV. 2012)

Article 1

All the Burkinabe are born free and equal in rights.

All have an equal vocation to enjoy all the rights and all the freedoms guaranteed by this Constitution.

Discrimination of all sorts, notably those founded on race, ethnicity, region, color, sex, language, religion, caste, political opinions, wealth and birth, are prohibited.

Article 2

The protection of life, security, and physical integrity are guaranteed.

Slavery, slavery-like practices, inhuman and cruel, degrading and humiliating treatments, physical or moral torture, services and mistreatments inflicted on children and all forms of the degradation of Man, are forbidden and punished by the law.

Article 3

No one may be deprived of his liberty if he is not prosecuted for acts specified and punishable by the law.

No one may only be arrested, detained, deported or exiled by virtue of the law.

Article 19

The right to work is recognized and is equal for all.

It is prohibited to discriminate in matters of employment and of remuneration founded notably on sex, color, social origin, ethnicity or political opinion.

Article 20

The State sees to the constant amelioration of the conditions of work and to the protection of the worker.

Article 23

The family is the basic unit of society. The State has the duty to protect it.

Marriage is founded on the free consent of the man and of the woman. All discrimination based on race, color, religion, ethnicity, caste, social origin, [and] fortune, is forbidden in matters of marriage.

Children are equal in rights and in duties in their familial relations. The parents have the natural right and the duty to raise and to educate their children. These must give them respect and assistance.

Article 24

The State works to promote the rights of the child.

Constitution of Burkina Faso 1991 (PDF)

PENAL CODE ACT NO. 043/96/ADP OF 13 NOVEMBER 1996

Article 314 [crimes against humanity]

Those who deport, enslave or massively and systematically execute summary executions, kidnappings, disappearances, torture or inhuman acts on political, philosophical, racial or religious grounds or others in execution of a concerted plan against a group of civilian population or combatants of the ideological system on whose behalf the said crimes are perpetrated.

Article 315

Those who participate in a formed group or in an agreement established for the preparation, characterized by one or more material facts of one of the offenses defined in the preceding articles, are punished with death.

Article 316

In all cases where the sentence imposed is not death, the prohibition of the exercise of civil and / or family rights, public office or office and the prohibition of For a period not exceeding five years.

Article 317

Public prosecution of the crimes provided for in this chapter, as well as sentences imposed, shall not be prohibited.

Article 376

Shall be punished with imprisonment from six months to two years, anyone who forces another person into marriage. The penalty is imprisonment for one to three years if the victim is a minor.

The maximum penalty is incurred if the victim is a minor girl under the age of thirteen. Anyone who favors a marriage contract or under such conditions is considered an accomplice.

Article 378

Prohibited the payment of a dowry either in cash or in kind or form of service delivery.

Article 379

Shall be punished by imprisonment of three to six months and a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 francs or one of these two penalties any person who requires or agrees to pay or receive a dowry in order to marriage.

Article 396

Shall be punished by imprisonment of one to three years and a fine of 500,000 to 1,500,000 francs, anyone in any profit or advantage to any other causes or encourages the parents or either of them to abandon their children born or unborn, or makes or attempts to bring her through to collect or adopt a child born or unborn.

Section 9 – The corruption of youth and prostitution

Section 424

Pimp is considered and punished by imprisonment of one to three years and a fine of 300,000 to 900,000 francs, knowingly:

-Aids, assists or protects the prostitution of others or soliciting for prostitution;

-Sharing the proceeds of prostitution of others or harvest money from a person who habitually engages in prostitution;

-Cohabiting with a person who habitually engages in prostitution;

-Being a habitual relationship with one or more persons engaging in prostitution, can not justify the resources corresponding to his lifestyle;

-Employment, or maintains, even with her consent, a person for prostitution or engaging in prostitution or debauchery;

Acts as an intermediary in any capacity between persons engaged in prostitution or debauchery and individuals who exploit or remunerate the prostitution or debauchery of others.

Section 427

Shall be punished with imprisonment from two to five years and a fine of 600,000 to 1,500,000 francs, usually whoever receives one or more persons engaged in prostitution within a hotel, hostel, pub , club, dance hall or place of entertainment or their annexes or any place open to published or used by the public and he is the owner, manager or worker.

The same penalties apply to anyone who attends such holders, directors or employees.

In all cases, the sentencing court shall order the withdrawal of the license which the convicted person was a beneficiary. It may also order the temporary or permanent closure of the facility.

PENAL CODE 2018

Article 511-1

For the purpose of this section, trafficking in persons refers to recruitment, transport, accommodation or reception of persons by the use of threat or the use of force or other forms of coercion, by abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of authority or a situation of vulnerability, or by offering or accepting payments or benefits for obtain the consent of one person having authority over another for the purposes operating.

 

Exploitation includes, in particular, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or organ removal.

 

Article 511-2

Constituting the offense of trafficking in persons: recruitment, transport, transfer, accommodation or reception of a minor for the purposes of exploitation, even if none of the means listed in Article 511-1 above is used.

 

Article 511-3

The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons as defined in Article 511-1 above does not remove the offense.

 

Article 511-4

Is guilty of trafficking in persons and punished with imprisonment five years to ten years and a fine of one million (1,000,000) to five million (5,000,000) CFA francs, whoever commits any of the acts provided for in Articles 511-1 and 511-2 above.

 

Article 511-5

The term of imprisonment is from eleven to twenty-one years and the fine of two million (2,000,000) to ten million (10,000,000) CFA francs, when the offense was committed with one of the following aggravating circumstances:

  • if the victim is a minor not more than fifteen years old;
  • if the person is particularly vulnerable because of a disability physical or mental health, or pregnancy, advanced age, or his state of health;
  • if the act was committed by fraud or violence, by use of false quality, false title or falsified or altered documents or false authorization;
  • if the author uses narcotics or any other substance of a nature to alter the will of the victim;
  • if the author is carrying an apparent or hidden weapon;
  • whether the author is an ascendant or a person having authority over the victim;
  • if the victim was sequestered, deprived of food or exposed in a place public or private recruitment;
  • if the victim is exposed to dangerous, arduous or worst work forms of child labor;
  • if the perpetrator has sexually abused the victim.

 

Article 511-6

The penalty is life imprisonment when:

  • the victim died;
  • the victim has suffered permanent mutilation or disability;
  • The goal was organ harvesting

Penal Code 2018 (PDF)

BURKINA FASO ACT NO. 038-2003/AN FOR DEFINITION AND SUPPRESSION OF TRAFFICKING IN CHILD (REN) [LAW NO. 038-2003/AN ON THE DEFINITION AND ELIMINATION OF CHILD TRAFFICKING] ADOPTED MAY 27, 2003

Article 2

Is qualified child trafficker (s) any person who, alone or in association organizes, supports, encourages, facilitates the movement, transit, residence or placement of children in the conditions and goals set forth below.

Section 3

Traffic is deemed to child (ren) any act by which a child is recruited, transported, transferred, harbored or received, inside or outside the territory of Burkina Faso by one or more dealers through threats and intimidation by force or other forms of coercion, embezzlement, fraud or deception, abuse of power or exploitation of the vulnerability of a child or in the case of supply or receipt of remuneration in order to obtain the consent of a person with supervisory power over him for purposes of economic exploitation, sexual, illegal adoption, union early or forced marriage or any other purpose prejudicial to the health, physical development, mental and well-being of the child.

Article 4

Shall be punished by imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of 300 000 to 1.5 million CFA francs or one of these penalties, any person engaged in trafficking of children (s ), whatever the place of commission of the offense. Is same penalties, any person having knowledge of a child trafficking (s) or have discovered a minor under 18 in those conditions, did not notify immediately the administrative or judicial authorities or any person ability to prevent it. If the authors are persons having authority over the victim or who has care they are entrusted with his education, his intellectual and professional, displacement of workers paying the maximum penalty must be pronounced.

Attempted child trafficking (s) is punishable.

Article 5

The punishment is imprisonment for five to ten years anyone convicted of trafficking of children (s) committed under the following circumstances: – If the victim is a child under 15 and under; – If the act was committed by fraud or violence, use of false representation, or false documents as forged or altered or counterfeit permit; – If the author made use of narcotics or any other substance likely to affect the will of the minor victim;

– If the perpetrator was carrying a weapon apparent or hidden; – If the victim was kidnapped, deprived of food or exposed in a public place or private recruitment; – If the victim is exposed to dangerous, arduous or the worst forms of child labor; – If the result of a temporary disability.

Article 6

The penalty is imprisonment for life if: – The victim died; – This resulted in mutilation or permanent disability; – Traffic is to organ removal.

Article 7

In all cases under the above provisions, the court may further order of banishment, the exclusion order and a ban some time to exercise civil rights, civil and family.

LABOUR CODE

Article 5: Forced or compulsory labor is prohibited.

The term “forced” or “compulsory” means any work or service exacted from an individual under the threat of any penalty or sanction and for which the individual has not voluntarily offered himself.

No one may use it in any form, in particular as:

  1. measures of coercion, political education, punishment of persons who have expressed their political opinions;
  2. method of mobilizing and using labor for political purposes;
  3. discipline at work;
  4. measure of social, racial, national or

Religious;

  1. punishment for having participated in strikes.

Article 422

Without prejudice to penal provisions, a fine of from fifty thousand francs to three hundred thousand francs and / or one of these two penalties shall only be imposed for a term of imprisonment of one month to three years. A fine of between three hundred thousand and six hundred thousand francs and imprisonment for two months to five years or one of these two penalties only:

1. the perpetrators of infringements of the provisions of Articles 4, 5, 22, 36, 37, 38, 152, 182, 213, 231 and 232;

Labour Code (PDF)

ACT NO. 029-2008/AN ON THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS AND SIMILAR PRACTICES

Section I: Human Trafficking

Article 1

For purposes of this law, trafficking in persons means the recruitment, transportation, harboring or receipt of persons, by refraining from the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, deception, abuse of authority or of a position of vulnerability or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another exploitation. Exploitation shall include, inter alia, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal Organ.

Section 2

East of the offense of human trafficking: recruitment, recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a minor for purposes of exploitation, even if none of the means listed Article 1 is used.

Article 3

The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons as defined in section 1 above shall be inoperative.

Article 4

A person is guilty of trafficking and sentenced to imprisonment from five to ten years who commits an act stipulated in Articles 1, 2 and 3 of this Act.

Article 5

The imprisonment of ten to twenty years is incurred when the offense was committed in one of the following circumstances:

– If the victim is a minor more than fifteen years;

– If the person is particularly vulnerable due to physical or mental disability due to her pregnancy, her advanced age or state of health;

– If the act was committed by fraud or violence, use of false representation, or false documents as forged or altered or counterfeit permit;

– If the author made use of narcotics or any other substance likely to affect the willingness of the victim;

– If the author is carrying a weapon apparent or hidden;

– If the perpetrator is a relative or a person having authority over the victim;

– If the victim was kidnapped, deprived of food or exposed in a public place or private recruitment;

– If the victim is exposed to dangerous, arduous or the worst forms of child labor;

– If the perpetrator had sexually abused the victim.

Article 6

The penalty is imprisonment for life if: – The victim died;- This resulted in mutilation or permanent disability; – Trafficking was the purpose of organ removal.

Section II: similar practices

Paragraph 1: the exploitation of begging others

Article 7

The exploitation of begging others means a person who organizes and operates the begging of a person, entices or leads away a person to engage in begging, exerts pressure on a person to beg or continues to do so, was accompanied by one or more young children to draw a direct or indirect financial benefit, material or other benefit.

Article 8

A person is guilty of exploitation of begging others and punished by imprisonment of two to five years and a fine of five hundred thousand (500,000) to two million (2,000,000) francs CFA or one of these two penalties any person who commits an act under

Article 7 of this Act.

Article 9

The maximum penalties provided for in

Article 8 above is pronounced when the offense is committed against: – A minor; – A person particularly vulnerable due to mental or physical disability due to her pregnancy, her advanced age or state of health; – A person subject to coercion, violence or deceit for it is engaged in begging.

CONSTITUTION OF BURKINA FASO 1991 (REV. 2012)

Article 23

The family is the basic unit of society. The State has the duty to protect it.

Marriage is founded on the free consent of the man and of the woman. All discrimination based on race, color, religion, ethnicity, caste, social origin, [and] fortune, is forbidden in matters of marriage.

Children are equal in rights and in duties in their familial relations. The parents have the natural right and the duty to raise and to educate their children. These must give them respect and assistance.

 

Constitution of Burkina Faso 1991 (Rev 2012) – Constitute Project – English (PDF)

 

PENAL CODE (AMENDED 2018)

BOOK III: CRIMES AND OFFENSES AGAINST THE PUBLIC THING

TITLE IV: ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, OBSTACLES TO THE EXERCISE OF JUSTICE AND CRIMES RELATING TO THE MAINTENANCE OF CIVIL STATUS

CHAPTER 2: OFFENSES RELATING TO THE KEEPING OF STATE ACTS CIVIL AND ASSOCIATIONS

Article 342-2:

Is punished with imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) to five hundred thousand (500,000) CFA francs, the registrar or the person delegated by him under the provisions legal, which celebrates a marriage in violation of the conditions prescribed by law.

 

CHAPTER 3: VIOLATIONS AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS

Section 1: Abduction, abuse, sexual slavery, violence morals towards women and girls

Article 513-2:

Constitutes an abduction, the act of a person forcibly abducting a woman or a girl with a view to forcing him into marriage or a union without her consent.

Is punished with imprisonment of six months to five years and a fine from five hundred thousand (500,000) to one million (1,000,000) CFA francs, any author of kidnapping.

When the abductor engaged in sexual abuse or rape on the victim, the penalty is imprisonment from five to ten years and a fine from one million (1,000,000) to five million (5,000,000) CFA francs.

 

TITLE III: CRIMES AND OFFENSES AGAINST THE FAMILY AND THE GOODS MORSHIP

CHAPTER 1: CRIMES AND OFFENSES AGAINST THE FAMILY

Section 1: Marriage offenses

Article 531-1:

Within the meaning of this code, marriage is understood to mean any form of union between a man and woman, celebrated by a civil status officer or celebrated according to the customary or religious rules

Article 531-4:

Is punished with imprisonment of six months to two years, whoever forces a person into marriage.

The penalty is imprisonment for one to three years if the victim is a minor.

The maximum penalty is incurred if the victim is under thirteen years of age.

Anyone who contracts or promotes a marriage under such conditions is considered to be an accomplice.

Is punished with imprisonment of six months to two years, whoever forces a person into marriage.

The penalty is imprisonment for one to three years if the victim is a minor.

The maximum penalty is incurred if the victim is under thirteen years of age.

Anyone who contracts or promotes a marriage under such conditions is considered to be an accomplice.

 

Burkina Faso Penal Code 2018 – Acadèmie de Police Burkina Faso – French (PDF)

 

 

 

LAW NO. 038-2003/AN ON THE DEFINITION AND ELIMINATION OF CHILD TRAFFICKING

Section 3

Traffic is deemed to child (ren) any act by which a child is recruited, transported, transferred, harbored or received, inside or outside the territory of Burkina Faso by one or more dealers through threats and intimidation by force or other forms of coercion, embezzlement, fraud or deception, abuse of power or exploitation of the vulnerability of a child or in the case of supply or receipt of remuneration in order to obtain the consent of a person with supervisory power over him for purposes of economic exploitation, sexual, illegal adoption, union early or forced marriage or any other purpose prejudicial to the health, physical development, mental and well-being of the child.

 

Article 4

Shall be punished by imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of 300 000 to 1.5 million CFA francs or one of these penalties, any person engaged in trafficking of children (s ), whatever the place of commission of the offense. Is same penalties, any person having knowledge of a child trafficking (s) or have discovered a minor under 18 in those conditions, did not notify immediately the administrative or judicial authorities or any person ability to prevent it. If the authors are persons having authority over the victim or who has care they are entrusted with his education, his intellectual and professional, displacement of workers paying the maximum penalty must be pronounced.

Attempted child trafficking (s) is punishable.

 

Article 5

The punishment is imprisonment for five to ten years anyone convicted of trafficking of children (s) committed under the following circumstances:

– If the victim is a child under 15 and under;

– If the act was committed by fraud or violence, use of false representation, or false documents as forged or altered or counterfeit permit;

– If the author made use of narcotics or any other substance likely to affect the will of the minor victim;

– If the perpetrator was carrying a weapon apparent or hidden;

– If the victim was kidnapped, deprived of food or exposed in a public place or private recruitment;

– If the victim is exposed to dangerous, arduous or the worst forms of child labor;

– If the result of a temporary disability.

Article 6

The penalty is imprisonment for life if:

– The victim died;

– This resulted in mutilation or permanent disability;

– Traffic is to organ removal.

 

Law No. 038 Defining and Punishing the Trafficking of Children -NATLEX – French (PDF)

FAMILY AND PERSONS CODE 1989

Art. 233. No legal effect is attached to forms of union other than those provided for by the this code, in particular customary marriages and religious marriages.

 

Art. 234. Marriage results from the free and conscious will of man and woman to take for husband.

Consequently, the following are prohibited:

– forced marriages, particularly marriages imposed by families and those resulting from customary rules requiring the surviving spouse to marry one of the deceased’s parents;

– impediments and oppositions to marriage due to race, caste, color or of religion.

 

Art. 235. Marriage is based on the principle of equal rights and duties between spouses

Art. 237. Marriage is the celebration of a union between a man and a woman, governed by the provisions of this code.

It can only be dissolved by the death of one of the spouses or by a legally pronounced divorce.

 

Art. 238. Marriage can only be contracted between a man over twenty years of age and a woman over seventeen, except exemption from age granted for serious reasons by the civil court.

This age exemption cannot be granted under any circumstances for a man under eighteen years old and a woman under the age of fifteen.

Art. 239. The request for exemption from age is addressed by petition to the civil court which rules in the eight days as a last resort.

 

Art. 240. There is no marriage without the consent of the future spouses expressed at the time of

celebration of marriage.

Art. 241. A minor may not contract marriage without the consent of his father and mother or of that of the father or mother exercising parental authority or any person exercising said authority by virtue of a judicial decision or a delegation recorded by minutes of the board of family, or guardian.

This consent is recorded in a writing addressed to the registrar who must celebrate the wedding.

In the event of disagreement between the father and mother, this sharing entails consent.

Art. 242. When the father and mother or the person exercising parental authority refuse their consent to the marriage of the minor, the latter may request that this opposition be lifted by a request addressed to the civil court of the place of his domicile. The court rules within eight days of the request as a last resort.

The court’s decision is addressed to the registrar who must celebrate the marriage.

 

Art. 243. A person of full age under guardianship may not contract marriage without the consent of a council of family specially convened to deliberate for this purpose. However, this consent is not required if the father and mother both give their consent to the marriage.

A person of full age under curatorship cannot contract marriage without the consent of the curator; failing that, the one of the guardianship judge.

 

Art. 264. The following may file an opposition:

1) the father, mother or, failing that, the person whose consent is required in the case of a minor or

of full age under tutorship or curatorship;

2) the public prosecution for reasons of public order.

Art. 265. A brother or sister, uncle or aunt or, failing that, cousins ​​cannot form opposition only in the following two cases:

1) when the consent of the tutor required by article 241 has not been obtained;

2) when the opposition is based on the state of dementia of the future spouse. This opposition will not be never received except at the charge by the opponent of provoking the guardianship of adults

Art. 266. Anyone who becomes aware of a fact likely to prevent marriage is required to notify the registrar who must celebrate the marriage. The latter issues receipt of this declaration.

Art. 269. The future spouses, even minors, can request that the opposition be lifted in court civil who will rule in last resort within eight days of the request.

 

Art. 281. The nullity of the marriage must be pronounced:

1) when the spouses are not of different sex;

2) when one of the spouses was not of the required age in the absence of an exemption;

3) when it was contracted without the consent of one of the spouses;

4) when the woman was in the bonds of a previous undissolved union;

5) when the husband was in the bonds of a previous undissolved union, except in the case of the option of polygamy;

6) when there is a relationship or alliance between the spouses which prohibits marriage.

However, when one of the spouses was not of the required age, the nullity can no longer be invoked after whether he reached that age, or when the woman conceived.

 

Art. 282. The following can be canceled:

– marriages which have not been celebrated publicly or before the competent registrar;

– those for which an essential formality has been fraudulently omitted.

Art. 283. An action for nullity for the causes listed in Articles 281 and 282 may be brought by anyone who has an interest in it and by the public prosecutor.

Art. 284. The spouse who is the victim of physical or moral violence, of an error on the person or on the essential qualities of the person, can ask for the annulment of the marriage.

The request for nullity is not admissible when there has been continuous cohabitation for six months since the physical or moral violence ceased or the husband became aware of the mistake.

Art. 285. Marriage contracted without the consent of the father and mother or of the person whose consent was required can only be attacked by those whose consent was required or by which of the two spouses needed this consent.

Art. 286. An action for nullity can no longer be brought either by the spouses or by the persons whose consent was necessary, whenever they expressly or tacitly approved the wedding.

The same is true when six months have elapsed since the persons whose consent was necessary have had knowledge of the marriage or since the spouses reached the age of majority.

ACT NO. 029-2008 ON THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS AND SIMILAR PRACTICES

Section I: Human Trafficking

Article 1

For purposes of this law, trafficking in persons means the recruitment, transportation, harboring or receipt of persons, by refraining from the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, deception, abuse of authority or of a position of vulnerability or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another exploitation. Exploitation shall include, inter alia, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal Organ.

Section 2

East of the offense of human trafficking: recruitment, recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a minor for purposes of exploitation, even if none of the means listed Article 1 is used.

Article 3

The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons as defined in section 1 above shall be inoperative.

Article 4

A person is guilty of trafficking and sentenced to imprisonment from five to ten years who commits an act stipulated in Articles 1, 2 and 3 of this Act.

Article 5

The imprisonment of ten to twenty years is incurred when the offense was committed in one of the following circumstances:

– If the victim is a minor more than fifteen years;

– If the person is particularly vulnerable due to physical or mental disability due to her pregnancy, her advanced age or state of health;

– If the act was committed by fraud or violence, use of false representation, or false documents as forged or altered or counterfeit permit;

– If the author made use of narcotics or any other substance likely to affect the willingness of the victim;

– If the author is carrying a weapon apparent or hidden;

– If the perpetrator is a relative or a person having authority over the victim;

– If the victim was kidnapped, deprived of food or exposed in a public place or private recruitment;

– If the victim is exposed to dangerous, arduous or the worst forms of child labor;

– If the perpetrator had sexually abused the victim.

Article 6

The penalty is imprisonment for life if: – The victim died;- This resulted in mutilation or permanent disability; – Trafficking was the purpose of organ removal.

 

Act No. 029 relating to the Fight Against Trafficking of Persons and Similar Practices 2008 – SHERLOC – English (PDF)