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Provisions related to slavery are found in the Penal Code at article 293 which criminalises reducing to or keeping in slavery, as well as Article 342-1 which prohibits engaging in the practice of slavery. Law No 2011/024 relating to the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Slavery criminalises engaging in slavery under section 4.
There appears to be no legislation in place in Cameroon which prohibits institutions and practices similar to slavery although article 293 of the Penal Code criminalises giving or receiving a person in pledge, and Law No 2011/024 relating to the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Slavery criminalises debt bondage in section 3.
There appears to be no legislation in place in Cameroon which prohibits servitude.
Provisions related to forced labour are found in article 292 of the Penal Code and section 2 of the Labour Code which prohibit forced labour.
Provisions related to trafficking in persons are found in the Penal Code at Article 342-1, which prohibits engaging in the practice of human trafficking, as well as Law No 2011/024 relating to the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Slavery, with the definition of trafficking in persons limited to promoting or ensuring movement of a person inside or outside Cameroon in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit.
Provisions related to forced marriage in Cameroon are found in the 2016 Criminal Code, which addresses compelling anyone to marry at Article 365, with potential penalties of imprisonment from five to ten years and a fine from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million). However, when the victim is a minor, the potential penalty is of imprisonment of minimum two years. Provisions related to forced marriage in Cameroon are also found in the 2005 Civil Code, which addresses the lack of consent in a marriage due to coercion or mistake on the person, or on the essential capacities of the person, at Article 180.
Provisions requiring consent to marriage in Cameroon are found in the Civil code 2005, article 146 of which states that there is no marriage where there is no consent. Article 180 further recognises that the consent of a party or prospective party to a marriage is invalidated where the person is subjected to coercion.
There appears to be no legislation in Cameroon that prohibits servile matrimonial transactions.
Provisions related to marriage trafficking in Cameroon are found in the LAW NO 2011/024 OF 14 DECEMBER 2011 RELATING TO THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS AND SLAVERY, which prohibits trafficking for practices similar to slavery at Section 2, with a potential penalty of imprisonment of from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from 50 000 (fifty thousand) to 1 000 000 (one million) CFA francs. Provisions related to marriage trafficking in Cameroon are also found in the ALAW NO. 2005 / 015 29 DECEMBER 2005 ON THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN CHILDREN, which prohibits trafficking of children for practices similar to slavery at Section 2, with a potential penalty of imprisonment of from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from 50 000 (fifty thousand) to 1 000 000 (one million) CFA francs.
The minimum age for marriage in Cameroon is 18, without differentiation by gender, as set out on Article 144 of the 2005 Civil Code. Giving in marriage a minor is punished is an offence under Article 365 of the 2016 Criminal Code, with potential penalties of imprisonment from five to ten years and a fine from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million). Where marriages are conducted involving a person below the minimum age, the marriage is annullable, as set out on Article 185 of the 2005 Civil Code. However, marriages below this age are permitted for serious reasons and with the consent of the parents, as set out on Article 145 of the 2005 Civil Code. These exceptions are not differentiated by gender. The solemnisation of a child marriage in absence of the consent of the parents is an offence under Article 156 of the 2005 Civil Code.
Africa
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Mixed
Human rights are solemnly recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, which affirms in Title I “its attachment to the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter”.
Preamble
We, the people of Cameroon,
Declare that the human person, without distinction as to race, religion, sex or belief, possesses inalienable and sacred rights;
Affirm our attachment to the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of United Nations and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and all duly ratified international conventions relating thereto, in particular, to the following principles:
3.freedom and security shall be guaranteed each individual, subject to respect for the rights of others and the higher interests of the State;
7.no person may be compelled to do what the law does not prescribe;
Article 11. International Offences
The criminal law of the Republic shall apply to mercenary, racial discrimination, piracy, trafficking in persons, slave trade, slavery, trafficking in narcotics, trafficking In toxic wastes, money laundering, cyber criminality, corruption and offences of misappropriation of public property committed even outside the territory of the Republic.
Provided that, no foreigner may be tried in the Republic for such an offence committed abroad unless he has been arrested in the Republic and has not been extradited, and except at the instance of the authority controlling prosecution
Article 291. False Arrest
(1) Whoever in any manner deprives another of his liberty shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(2) The punishment shall be imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years in any of the following cases:
a) where the deprivation of liberty lasts for more than a month; or
b) where it is accompanied with physical or mental torture; or
c) where the arrest is effected with the aid of a forged order from a public authority or of a uniform unlawfully worn, or pretending an appointment not held.
Article 292. Forced Labour
Whoever for his personal advantage compels another to do any work or to render any service which he has not offered of his own free will shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years or with fine of from CFFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand), or with both such imprisonment and fine.
Article 293. Slavery
Whoever enslaves any person or keeps him in slavery shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years.
The Court may in addition impose the forfeitures described in Section 30 of this Code.
Article 341. Cloud on Parentage
Any person whose conduct has the result of depriving a child of the evidence of his true parentage shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years
Article 342. Debt Bondage of Persons
(1) Whoever subjects a person to debt bondage shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) The penalties provided in Subsection (1) above shall be doubled where the offender is either an ascendant, a guardian or a person having even customary custody over the victim.
(3) Whoever boards a person in debt bondage shall be punished with imprisonment for 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF 10 000 (ten thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(4) The court may also impose the forfeitures provided for in Section 30 of this Code.
Article 342-1. Trafficking and Slavery of Persons
(1 )Whoever engages even occasionally in the practice of trafficking in persons or slavery shall be punished with imprisonment for from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from CFAF 50 000 (fifty thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(2)Whoever engages in trafficking in persons and slavery shall be punished with imprisonment of from 15 (fifteen) to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from CFAF 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to CFAF 10 000 000 (ten million) where the:
A) offence is committed against a minor of 15 (fifteen) years old;
B) perpetrator is a legitimate, natural or adopted ascendant of the victim;
C) offender has authority over the victim or is expected to participate by virtue of his duties in the fight against slavery or in peace keeping;
D) offence is committed by an organized gang or an association of criminals;
E) offence Is committed with use of a weapon
F) victim suffers injuries as described in Section 277 of the Code or;
G) where the victim dies as a result of acts related to the offence.
(3) The Court may also impose the forfeitures provided for In Section 30 of this Code
Article 343. Immoral Earnings
(1) Whoever, of either sex, who engages habitually for gain, in sexual intercourse with another shall be punished with imprisonment for from 6 (six) months to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 500 000 (five hundred thousand).
(2) Whoever, in view of prostitution of or debauchment, proceeds with public gestures, words and writing or by any other means to the soliciting of persons of either sex shall be punished in like manner.
Article 352. Kidnapping of Child
(1) Whoever without force or fraud takes or entices away any person under 18 (eighteen) years of age, against the will of those to whom custody belongs by law or by custom, or procures him to leave that custody shall be punished with imprisonment for from 1 (one) to 5 (five) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 200 000 (two hundred thousand):
Provided that this Subsection shall not apply to a person misled as to the age of the minor.
(2) The subsequent marriage of the offender to the victim shall have no effect on the prosecution and conviction.
Article 353. Kidnapping by Force or Fraud
Whoever by force or fraud takes or entices away any person under the age of twenty-one years, notwithstanding that he thought him older, and against the will of those to whom custody belongs by law or by custom or procures him to leave that custody shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and with fine of from CFAF 20 000 (twenty thousand) to CFAF 400 000 (four hundred thousand)
Section 2
(1) The right to work shall be recognized as a basic right of each citizen. The State shall therefore make every effort to help citizens to find and secure their employment.
(2) Work shall also be a national duty incumbent on every able-bodied adult citizen.
(3) Forced or compulsory labour shall be forbidden.
(4) “Forced or compulsory labour” shall mean any labour or service demanded of an individual under threat of penalty, being a labour or service which the individual has not freely offered to perform.
(5) However, the expression “forced or compulsory labour” shall not include :
1. any work or service exacted by virtue of compulsory military service laws and regulations for work of a purely military nature;
2. any work or service in the general interest forming part of the civic obligations of citizens as defined by the laws and regulations;
3. any work or service exacted from any person as a consequence of a conviction in a court of law;
4. any work or service exacted in cases of force majeure, that is to say, in the event of war, disaster or threatened disaster, such as fire, flood, severe violent epidemic or epizootic diseases, invasion by animals, insects or plant pests, and in general, any occurrence that would endanger or threaten to endanger the existence of the well-being of all or part of the population.
Section 2:
For the purpose of this law, the following definitions shall apply:
b) Trafficking in Persons: The fact of promoting or ensuring the movement of a person inside or outside Cameroon in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit of whatever nature;
c) Slavery in Persons: Defined as the recruitment, transfer, accommodation or reception of persons for exploitation, through threat, the use of force or other forms of coercion, kidnapping, fraud,deception, abuse of authority or taking advantage of a state of vulnerability or through offer or acceptance of benefits to obtain the consent of a person having authority over the victim;
d) Exploitation of Persons: Shall include, at least, the exploitation or promotion of prostitution of persons, or any other forms of sexual exploitation, exploitation of labour, or forced labour, slavery or practices similar to slavery, serfdom or the removal of organs ;
f) Debt Bondage of Persons: The fact of pledging a person as security before a creditor of a loan or a debt for purposes of exploitation.
Chapter II: Offences and Punishment:
Section 3
1) Whoever subjects a person to debt bondage shall be punished with imprisonment for from 5 (five) to 10 (ten) years and a fine of from 10 000 (ten thousand) to 500 000 (five hundred thousand) CFA francs.
2) The penalties provided for in Section 3 (1) above shall be doubled where the offender is either an ascendant, a guardian or a person having even custody over the victim.
3) Whoever boards a person in debt bondage shall be punished with imprisonment for 10 (ten) years and with fine of from 10 000 (ten thousand) to 1 000 000 (one million) CFA francs.
Section 4
Whoever engages even occasionally in the practice of trafficking in persons or slavery shall be punished with imprisonment of from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from 50 000 (fifty thousand) to 1 000 000 (one million) CFA francs.
Section 5
Whoever engages in trafficking in persons and slavery shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to 10 000 000 (ten million) CFA francs where:
Article 2
For purposes of this Act the following definitions – shall be admitted:
a) child means a person of either sex aged under 18;
b) trafficking in children means the act of promoting or ensuring the removal of a child within or outside Cameroon to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other benefit equipment, regardless of the nature;
c) trafficking of children extends as recruitment, transfer, harboring or receipt of children for exploitation, threat, use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of authority or taking advantage of a position of vulnerability or of giving or receiving benefits to achieve the consent of a person having authority over a child;
d) the exploitation of children include, at minimum, the exploitation of children or procuring or other forms of sexual exploitation, exploitation of child labor or services, slavery or practices similar, servitude or the removal of organs;
e) the consent of the person is flawed: when acts of violence were committed against the victim – or even those who have legal custody or customary;
f) the pledging of children: the act of putting a child as collateral to a creditor as security for a debt or debt for the purpose of exploitation.
Chapter II: Sanctions
Article 3
(1) shall be punished with imprisonment from five to ten years and a fine of 10,000 to 500,000 francs, any person who places a child pledge.
(2) The penalties provided in paragraph (1) shall be doubled if the perpetrator is either a rising or a guardian or a person caring for the child even customary for the victim.
(3) shall be punished by imprisonment of ten (10) years and a fine of 10 000 to 1 000 000 francs a person who receives a child pledge.
Article 4
Is punished with imprisonment from ten to twenty years and a fine of 50,000 to one million francs a person who engages, even occasionally, trafficking or trafficking of children.
Article 5
The trafficking and child trafficking are punishable by imprisonment of fifteen (15) to twenty (20) years and a fine of 100,000 to 10,000,000 francs;
a) When the offense is committed against a minor 15 years;
b) When the perpetrator is a legitimate, natural or adopted child of the victim;
c) When the offender has authority over the child or is required to participate in its functions to the fight against trafficking or peacekeeping;
d) When the offense is committed by an organized group or criminal association;
e) When the offense is committed with a weapon;
f) When the victim was injured as described in section 277 of the Penal Code or when she died as a result of acts related to those facts.
Article 6
The authors, co-authors and accomplices in crimes of pledging, trafficking and child trafficking are also condemned to the penalties provided by section 30 of the Penal Code.
Article 7
Notwithstanding the criminal responsibility of their leaders, corporations can be held criminally liable and sentenced to fines envisaged above where the offenses were committed by such officers, acting in the exercise of their functions.
Cameroon Fight Against Trafficking in Children Legislation (PDF)
CHAPTER Ill OFFENCES COMMITTED BY PUBLIC SERVANTS
SECTION 149: Neglect of Preliminaries to Marriage
(1) Any registrar of births, marriages and deaths who registers a marriage celebrated by himself:
a) without checking that all consents required for its validity have been given; or
b) before the expiry of such time as may be prescribed in case the wife has already been married,
shall be punished with imprisonment for from 3 (three) months to 1 (one) year and with fine of from CFAF 5 000 (five thousand) to CFAF 70 000 (seventy thousand).
(2) The consequences of the irregularity in civil law shall be immaterial to the applicability of this Section.
CHAPTER IV CHILDREN AND THE FAMILY
SECTION 356: Forced Marriage
(1) Whoever compels anyone to marry shall be punished with imprisonment for from five to 10 (ten) years, and with fine of from CFAF 25 000 (twenty-five thousand) to CFAF 1 000 000 (one million).
(2) Where the victim is under the age of 18 (eighteen), the punishment may not be less than 2 (two) years imprisonment, whatever the mitigating circumstances.
(3) Whoever gives in marriage a boy or a girl under 18 (eighteen) shall be punished as under the two last foregoing Subsections.
(4) Upon conviction, the Court may deprive the offender of parental power and disqualify him from being the guardian or curator of any person for the time prescribed by Section 31 (4) of this Code.
Section 2:
For the purpose of this law, the following definitions shall apply:
b) Trafficking in Persons: The fact of promoting or ensuring the movement of a person inside or outside Cameroon in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit of whatever nature;
c) Slavery in Persons: Defined as the recruitment, transfer, accommodation or reception of persons for exploitation, through threat, the use of force or other forms of coercion, kidnapping, fraud, deception, abuse of authority or taking advantage of a state of vulnerability or through offer or acceptance of benefits to obtain the consent of a person having authority over the victim;
d) Exploitation of Persons: Shall include, at least, the exploitation or promotion of prostitution of persons, or any other forms of sexual exploitation, exploitation of labour, or forced labour, slavery or practices similar to slavery, serfdom or the removal of organs ;
Chapter II: Offences and Punishment:
Section 4
Whoever engages even occasionally in the practice of trafficking in persons or slavery shall be punished with imprisonment of from 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from 50 000 (fifty thousand) to 1 000 000 (one million) CFA francs.
Section 5
Whoever engages in trafficking in persons and slavery shall be punished with imprisonment for from 15 (fifteen) to 20 (twenty) years and with fine of from 100 000 (one hundred thousand) to 10 000 000 (ten million) CFA francs where:
Law no. 2011-024 relating to the trafficking in persons and slavery -NATLEX – French (PDF)
Article 2
For purposes of this Act the following definitions – shall be admitted:
a) child means a person of either sex aged under 18;
b) trafficking in children means the act of promoting or ensuring the removal of a child within or outside Cameroon to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other benefit equipment, regardless of the nature;
c) trafficking of children extends as recruitment, transfer, harboring or receipt of children for exploitation, threat, use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of authority or taking advantage of a position of vulnerability or of giving or receiving benefits to achieve the consent of a person having authority over a child;
d) the exploitation of children include, at minimum, the exploitation of children or procuring or other forms of sexual exploitation, exploitation of child labor or services, slavery or practices similar, servitude or the removal of organs;
e) the consent of the person is flawed: when acts of violence were committed against the victim – or even those who have legal custody or customary;
f) the pledging of children: the act of putting a child as collateral to a creditor as security for a debt or debt for the purpose of exploitation.
Chapter II: Sanctions
Article 4
Is punished with imprisonment from ten to twenty years and a fine of 50,000 to one million francs a person who engages, even occasionally, trafficking or trafficking of children.
Article 5
The trafficking and child trafficking are punishable by imprisonment of fifteen (15) to twenty (20) years and a fine of 100,000 to 10,000,000 francs;
a) When the offense is committed against a minor 15 years;
b) When the perpetrator is a legitimate, natural or adopted child of the victim;
c) When the offender has authority over the child or is required to participate in its functions to the fight against trafficking or peacekeeping;
d) When the offense is committed by an organized group or criminal association;
e) When the offense is committed with a weapon;
f) When the victim was injured as described in section 277 of the Penal Code or when she died as a result of acts related to those facts.
Article 6
The authors, co-authors and accomplices in crimes of pledging, trafficking and child trafficking are also condemned to the penalties provided by section 30 of the Penal Code.
Art. 144
A male and a female may not contract marriage before they have completed their eighteenth year.
Art. 145
Nevertheless, the Government procurator of the place where a marriage is to be celebrated may grant dispensations as to age for serious reasons.
Art. 146
There is no marriage where there is no consent.
Art. 148
Minors may not contract marriage without the consent of their father and mother; in case of disagreement between the father and mother, that division implies consent.
Art. 149
Where one of the two is dead or is unable to express his or her intention, the consent of the other suffices.
It is not necessary to produce the records of death of the father or mother of one of the future spouses where the spouse or the father and mother of the deceased certify the death under oath.
Where the present residence of the father or mother is unknown, and where he or she has not been heard from for one year, the marriage may be celebrated if the child and the parent who consents make declaration of this under oath.
All of which shall be mentioned on the record of marriage.
A false oath taken in the cases specified in this Article and the following Articles of this Chapter shall be punished by the penalties enacted by Article 363 [ Article 434-13] of the Penal Code.
Art. 150
Where the father and mother are dead or are unable to express their intention, the grandfathers and grandmothers take their place; where there is disagreement between a grandfather and a grandmother in the same lineage, or where there is disagreement between the two lineages, that division implies consent.
(Act of 7 Feb. 1924) Where the present residence of the father and mother is unknown and where they have not been heard from for one year, the marriage may be celebrated if the grandfathers and grandmothers, together with the child himself, make declaration of this under oath. It shall be likewise where, if one or several grandfathers or grandmothers give their consent to the marriage, the present residence of the other grandfathers or grandmothers is unknown and they have not been heard from for one year.
Art. 154
The disagreement between the father and mother, between the grandfather and grandmother of the same lineage, or between ancestors of the two lineages may be established by a notaire, requested by the future spouse and acting without the intervention of a second notaire or of witnesses, who will give notice of the planned union to the one or those of the father, mother or ancestors whose consent has not yet been gained.
The instrument containing the notice shall state the first names, names, occupations, domiciles and residences of the future spouses, of their fathers and mothers or, where appropriate, of their grandparents, as well as the place where the marriage is to be celebrated.
It shall also state a declaration that this notice is given for purpose of gaining the consent not yet granted and that, failing which, the celebration of the marriage shall be proceeded with.
Art. 155
The disagreement of the ascendants may also be established, either by a letter bearing an authenticated signature and addressed to the officer of civil status who is to celebrate the marriage, or by an instrument drawn up in the form provided for by Article 73, paragraph 2.
The instruments listed in this Article and the preceding Article shall be stamped and registered gratis.
Art. 156
An officer of civil status who celebrates marriages contracted by sons or daughters who have not reached the full age of eighteen years, without the consent of the fathers and mothers, that of the grandfathers or grandmothers and that of the family council, when it is required, being mentioned in the record of marriage, shall be sentenced to the fine specified in Article 192 of the Civil Code, at the suit of the parties concerned or of the Government procurator of the tribunal de grande instance of the arrondissement where the marriage was celebrated.
Art. 157
An officer of civil status who has not required proof of the notice prescribed by Article 154 shall be sentenced to the fine provided for in the preceding Article.
Art. 160
Where the present residence of those of the ascendants of a minor under eighteen of whom the death is not established is unknown and where the ascendants have not been heard from for one year, the minor shall make a declaration of it under oath before the judge of guardianships of his residence, with the assistance of his clerk, in his chambers, and the judge of guardianships shall place it on record.
The judge of guardianships shall give notice of that oath to the family council which shall rule on the application for authorization to marry. However, the minor may give the oath directly in the presence of the members of the family council.
Art. 172
The right to interpose an objection to the celebration of a marriage belongs to the person united by marriage with one of the two contracting parties.
Art. 173
The father, the mother and, in the absence of the father and the mother, the grandfathers and grandmothers may interpose an objection to the marriage of their children and descendants, even of full age.
After a judicial withdrawal of an objection to a marriage interposed by an ascendant, no new objection interposed by an ascendant is admissible and may delay the celebration.
Art. 174
In the absence of any ascendant, the brother or sister, the uncle or aunt, a cousin-german, of full age, may interpose an objection only in the following two instances :
1° (Act of 2 Feb. 1933) Where the consent of the family council, required by Article 159, was not gained;
2° Where the objection is based upon the state of insanity of the future spouse; that objection, the withdrawal of which may be unconditionally decided by the court, may be accepted only on condition for the objecting party to induce a guardianship of adults and gain a decision thereupon within the period fixed by judgment.
Art. 175
In the two cases provided for by the preceding Article, the guardian or curator may not, during the continuance of the guardianship or curatorship, interpose an objection, unless he is so authorized by the family council, which he may convene.
Art. 175-1
The Government procurator may interpose an objection in the cases in which he might apply for annulment of a marriage
Art. 180
(Act no 2006-399 of 4 April 2006) A marriage contracted without the free consent of the two spouses, or of one of them, may be attacked only by the spouses, or by the one whose consent was not free, or by the Government procurator*. The use of coercion on the spouses or one of them, even resulting from reverential fear towards an ascendant, constitutes a case of annulment of the marriage.
(Act no 75-617 of 11 July 1975) Where there was a mistake as to the person, or as to essential capacities of the person, the other spouse may apply for annulment of the marriage.
Art. 181
In the case of the preceding Article, the application for annulment may no longer be admissible after a period of five years as from the marriage or since the spouse acquired his or her full freedom or the mistake was discovered by him or her.
Art. 182
A marriage contracted without the consent of the father and mother, of the ascendants or of the family council, where this consent was necessary, may be attacked only by those whose consent was required, or by the one of the spouses who needed that consent.
Art. 183
An application for annulment may no longer be instituted by the spouses or the parents whose consent was required, whenever the marriage was expressly or tacitly approved by those whose consent was necessary, or where five years has elapsed without claim on their part since they have had knowledge of the marriage. Nor may it be instituted by the spouse where five years has elapsed without claim on his or her part, since he or she has reached the competent age to consent to the marriage by himself or herself.
Art. 184
A marriage contracted in violation of the provisions contained in Articles 144, 146,”146-1,” (Act no 93-1027 of 24 Aug. 1993) 147, 161, 162 and 163 may be attacked either by the spouses themselves, or by all those who have an interest therein, or by the Government procurator.
Art. 185
However, a marriage contracted by spouses who did not yet have the required age, or of whom one of the two had not reached that age, may no longer be attacked :
1° where six months have elapsed since that spouse or the spouses have reached the competent age;
2° where the wife, who did not have that age, has conceived before six months elapsed.
Art. 186
The father, the mother, the ascendants and the family when they have consented to the marriage contracted in the circumstances referred to in the preceding Article, may not be admitted to apply for its annulment.
Art. 187
In all cases in which an application for annulment may be instituted, in accordance with Article 184, by all those who have an interest therein, it may not be instituted by collateral relatives, or by the children born of another marriage, in the lifetime of the spouses, unless they have a vested and present interest.
Art. 191
A marriage which was not publicly contracted and which was not celebrated before the competent public officer, may be attacked by the spouses themselves, by the father and mother, by the ascendants and by all those having a vested and present interest, as well as by the Government procurator.
Art. 192
Where a marriage was not preceded by the public notice required or where the dispensations allowed by law were not gained, or where the intervals prescribed between the public notice and the celebration were not observed, the Government procurator shall have the public officer fined an amount not exceeding”30 francs” (4,5 € ) of 7 Oct. 1946) and shall have the contracting parties, or those under whose authority they acted, fined in proportion to their wealth.