NIAMEY, June 5 (Reuters) - Niger's parliament has voted down Africa's Maputo
Protocol on women's rights in a setback for the accord aiming to guarantee women
equality in all spheres of life and end the practice of female
circumcision.
The protocol, adopted by African heads of state in 2003 at
a summit in Mozambique, came into force last November after being ratified by
the threshold 15 nations.
The government of Niger, one of the world's
poorest nations, approved the protocol back in January, but lawmakers voted
against it at the weekend by 42 votes to 31, with four abstentions, official
media said on Monday.
"The rejection of the motion is a serious setback
for Niger, but this is a proper application of democratic principles,"
government spokesman Mohamed Ben Omar told state daily newspaper The
Sahel.
Niger, 95 percent Muslim, is one of the most conservative
societies in Africa.
Female circumcision -- often referred to as female
genital mutilation -- is common, as are polygamy, child marriage and other
customs discouraged or banned by the Maputo Protocol.
The protocol aims
to guarantee women rights in marriage, politics, education, employment and a
host of other areas, and requires countries which ratify it to respect those
rights in their own domestic laws.
Although welcomed by campaigners for
human and women's rights across Africa and beyond, the Maputo Protocol has met
opposition from some quarters.
Catholic bishops in Uganda objected to its
commitment to allow abortions for victims of rape and incest or where pregnancy
would endanger the mental and physical health of the mother or the life of the
mother or foetus.
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