UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 23) Senegal has introduced harsher penalties for all forms of violence against women, particularly female genital mutilation (Act No. 1999-05 of 29 January 1999). Awareness- raising campaigns on the consequences of excision have been run in the media and others have targeted religious and social leaders. Trends show a marked decrease in this practice with thousands of communities having publicly renounced it. Between 2009 and 2011, 4,452 out of 5,000 communities surveyed had abandoned excision as a result of the Community Capacity-building Programme.

Para 24) In 2010, the Government commissioned a study to evaluate the implementation status of the Act of 1999 prohibiting excision. It highlighted the need for a new plan to hasten the end of female genital mutilation and generate awareness among the communities still practising it, with a view to totally eradicating it by 2015. Significant results have been achieved. Data from the Demographic and Health Survey and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey for 2010-2011 revealed a 25.7 per cent reduction in the national female genital mutilation prevalence rate. In 2012, a joint programme to combat gender-based violence and promote human rights was adopted.

Para 25) The second national action plan to eliminate excision (2012-2015) provided for the establishment of a national council, chaired by the Prime Minister, and a steering committee. Eleven regional committees, chaired by regional governors, were set up in the 12 affected regions. A human rights capacity-strengthening programme was designed to help them improve the effectiveness of their interventions. Similarly, women who perform excisions have been encouraged to retrain in other lines of business.

Para 26) The Government also encourages citizens to report cases of genital mutilation of girls. Article 32 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that officials must inform the judicial authority if, during the performance of their duties, they become aware of criminal acts. Citizens and groups of individuals have the right to avail themselves of legal remedies to protect their rights and freedoms. In such cases, the courts rigorously apply the laws designed to eliminate all forms of violence against women.

Para 27) Legal advice centres use television programmes to inform the most vulnerable populations of their rights, while non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and women's associations use law shops to guide and assist women victims of violence with administrative, judicial, psychological, and social and health formalities, using various mechanisms and strategies.

Para 55) In 2011 and 2012, awareness-raising forums and training sessions on gender parity, violence against women and early marriage were held in the 14 administrative regions of Senegal.

Para 56) ... Senegal is focusing its efforts on communication with opinion leaders with a view to changing attitudes. The campaign has been successful. Professional excisers have been invited to turn to alternative income-generating activities in order to encourage them to abandon excision altogether. Moreover, 12 monitoring committees were set up in 2011 in areas of high prevalence and an empowerment programme for former excisers has been established.

Para 94) Senegal has drafted a new plan to eliminate excision 2012-2015 which must, by 2015, lead to its total elimination. Data from the Demographic and Health Survey and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2010-2011 has revealed that the national prevalence of the practice has declined to 25.7 per cent.

National Report:
Para 52) Within the framework of the Priority Solidarity Fund, the Government has launched a project in support of the campaign against gender-based violence in schools, aimed at achieving a multisectoral, interministerial and multilevel approach, both at schools and outside them. The project is aimed at improving girls’ access to schools and their retention by the following measures: • Creating safe learning environments which are gender-sensitive and conducive to reducing gender inequalities in access to and retention in school, in particular for girls; • Heightening the awareness of ministry officials, teaching staff and communities, including both women and men, of the impact of gender-based violence on school enrolment and the quality of education.
Para 53) The suppression of gender-based violence is also one of the priorities of the Programme for the Improvement of Quality, Equity and Transparency in Education and Training (PAQUET), for the promotion of girls’ education.
Para 54) In addition to the departmental child protection committees, stakeholders have at their disposal the school medical inspectorates, gender offices, lower secondary school inspectors (school administration option), awareness-raising and training tools, and a booklet on gender and human rights, currently being finalized.
Para 55) In 2015, stakeholders were familiarized with the standard operating procedures and regional action plans developed in all 14 regions to ensure a concerted response to genderbased violence at the community level.
Para 56) Act No. 99-05 of 29 January 1999 on female genital mutilation has been translated into the country’s national languages and widely disseminated.
Para 57) Senegal has launched its first national action plan for the eradication of genderbased violence and the promotion of human rights. Following its implementation, this multisectoral document (covering the period 2017–2021) has led, among its initial results, to the formulation of regional action plans. The action plan covers all aspects of the campaign against violations of women’s rights and domestic violence. Legal assistance for victims of rape is guaranteed and psychological and social assistance is provided free of charge for children who have been raped.
Para 144) Efforts to give effect to women’s rights have focused on women’s health and empowerment, the school enrolment of girls and the combating of gender-based violence.
Para 145) The issue of gender-based violence is addressed by the booklet on gender and human rights, which also covers the school environment, and by the presence in schools of gender offices responsible for combating such violence. Standard operating procedures have been disseminated in 14 regions to individuals and entities engaged in combating gender-based violence and regional action plans carried out to provide special care for victims at the community level. An action plan for the period 2017–2021 for the eradication of gender-based violence and the promotion of human rights guarantees the right to free legal assistance for rape victims and psychological and social assistance for underage victims.

UN Compilation:
Para 66) CEDAW remained concerned about the persistence of domestic violence …
Para 69) The country team noted the national action plan to eliminate gender-based violence and promote human rights, adopted in 2017, which gave form to the vision of theme 3, on governance, peace and security, of the Emerging Senegal Plan.

National Report:
Para 74) The law does not prohibit the freedom of sexual orientation but rather lewd or unnatural acts that are tantamount to indecent behaviour.

National Report:
Para 61) Maternal mortality decreased between 2005 and 2011 (401 to 392 deaths per 100,000 live births) as a result of an increase in the number of deliveries attended by qualified personnel (52 per cent in 2005 and 65.1 per cent in 2011) and antenatal consultations (87 per cent in 2005 and 93.3 per cent in 2011).

Para 62) In rural areas, 90 per cent of women have antenatal consultations, against 99 per cent of women in urban areas. Furthermore, an increasing number of women sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets (14 per cent in rural areas and 51.6 per cent in urban areas) and receive intermittent preventive treatment (21.4 per cent in rural areas and 40 per cent in urban areas).

Para 63) These achievements are a result of the increased availability of quality health services, the referral system and advanced strategies. With a view to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, further support is required for high-quality emergency obstetric and neonatal care, of which coverage increased threefold between 2004 and 2009 (69.8 per cent).

Para 68) ... With regard to AIDS, 0.7 per cent of Senegalese aged 15-49 are HIV-positive.

Para 70) The maternal mortality rate was 392 per 100,000 live births in 2010-2011, representing a 2 per cent decrease in six years. This rate of decrease is too slow to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of 127 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2015. However, maternal health has considerably improved, with a 16 per cent increase in the rate of deliveries attended by qualified personnel between 1999 and 2011.

Para 125) The Millennium Development Goals relating to access to maternal and child health services ... have not been achieved.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 47) Despite the promises made by the State, women continue to die in childbirth and there is a lack of precision in the use of certain general terms. The real challenge with respect to Act No. 006/PR/2002 on the promotion of reproductive health is the lack of an implementing decree, given that the Act states that the procedure and monitoring of the legal conditions for therapeutic abortion are to be set out in a decree.

National Report:
Para 8) Since 2009, several legislative and regulatory measures have been taken in this regard, including:
- Decree No. 2011-309 of 7 March 2011 on the establishment, organization and functioning of the National Observatory on Gender Parity.
- Act No. 03-2013 of 28 June 2013 amending Act No. 61-10 of 7 March 1961 on the Nationality Code, and enabling women to pass on their Senegalese nationality to their children and facilitating their partner's access to Senegalese nationality.

Para 16) By passing the Act of 28 May 2010 on absolute parity between women and men, Senegal acquired a law which is unique in the history of gender equality. In order to give effect to this Act, the Government established by decree the National Observatory on Gender Parity to monitor and evaluate parity between men and women and formulate proposals to promote parity in public policy. It may receive and consider any report of a violation of the statutory provisions on gender parity and on equal access by women and women's organizations to social, economic and political bodies, or any other matter falling under its jurisdiction.

Para 17) With an advisory council and a Director appointed by decree for a five-year term renewable once, the National Observatory on Gender Parity, which started work in 2011, is an independent administrative authority with appropriate material, financial and human resources and operational autonomy.

Para 20) Pursuant to the Act on gender parity, the parliamentary elections of 2012 offered Senegal the chance to strengthen the advancement of women in elected and partially elected public bodies. As a result, the new National Assembly contains 65 women representatives out of 150 members.

Para 21) It should be noted that Act No. 2008-01 of 8 January 2008 recognizes the fiscal autonomy of married women. By removing joint taxation, two decrees passed in 2006 allow women employees in the public or private sector to provide for the costs of medical treatment for their husband and children.

Para 22) In practice, the customs authorities and the Armed Forces first recruited women in 2004 and 2008 respectively. The national Gendarmerie has also brought women into its ranks. As for the national police force, it is something of a pioneer, having promoted women to its highest ranks.

Para 37) The amendment made to the Nationality Act by Act No. 03-2013 of 27 June 2013 is revolutionary. It puts an end to the inconsistency between the Constitution and the international undertakings ratified by Senegal, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and to a form of gender-based discrimination whereby women could not pass on their nationality to children born if they were married to a foreign national, or facilitate a foreign husband's access to Senegalese nationality.

Para 54) By adopting Act No. 2010-11 of 28 May 2010 and its implementing Decree No. 2011-819 of 16 June 2011, Senegal opted for absolute gender equality in elected and partially elected decision-making bodies. Furthermore, the National Observatory on Gender Parity was established in 2011 to promote gender equality in public policy. In the longer term, efforts should be made to extend gender equality legislation to public appointments also.

Para 55) In 2011 and 2012, awareness-raising forums and training sessions on gender parity, violence against women and early marriage were held in the 14 administrative regions of Senegal.

Para 81) Various programmes have been developed to retain girls in school. Regional initial and in-service teacher training centres have been established. Daaras have been modernized. The Special Rapporteur on the right to education visited Senegal from 8 to 14 January 2010 in order to assess progress in the implementation of the right to education. In his final report, adopted by the Human Rights Council in 2011, he made eight recommendations to promote and implement the right to education for all in Senegal, which the country has set out to consider and implement.