The Republic of Djibouti The Overall Context Djibouti is democratic republic. The executive, legislative, and judicial powers are in the hands of the constitutional institutions of the state. The president enjoys the executive powers of the state. Local governments are administratively and financially independent. The economy of Djibouti relies on the services provided by the state’s vital seaport. Djibouti is a free trade zone in the Horn of Africa. The state produces fruit and vegetables, cattle, dairy products, construction material, and salt. Djibouti also produces tanning products. Djibouti lacks natural resources. The most important economic development indicators include: GDP(1) at 1.589 billion USD, GNI (PPP) per capita at 4.722%(2), and inflation at 2.6%(2). Gender indicators 1. Latest available data, 2014: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/ Indicator Females Males Ranking djibout, 2015 2. Idem 2013 Gender gap indicator(4): 0,308 168/188 3. http://fr.tradingeconomics.com/ Mars 2015 4. Djibouti is not ranked for the gender equality index and this above figure represents Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index Education (%) (HDI/IHDI) and the ranking is related to the HDI (0470), «Work for (5) Human Development» : Human Development Report 2015, http:// Literacy (%) 82,2 70 --- hdr.undp.org/en/content/table-4-gender-inequality-index (6) 5. Survey EDAM3 (2012) for the 12-24 age group, Beijing + 20 national School enrollment (%) report, 6. Latest available data, 2014: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/ Elementary school 55 66 --- djibout, 2015 7. Idem, 2013 Secondary school 61 99 --- 8. Idem, 2015 9. Idem, 2014 Higher education --- --- --- 10. i.e. 12.7% according to http://www.ipu.org/pdf/publications/ wmnmap14_fr.pdf, 2014. Among 7 women, 1 is member of the Health Bureau as a Quaestor, 1 in charge of the budget management , (7) administrative and financial organization of the Parliament, 1 chair Life expectancy at birth (number of years) 63 60.1 --- and 1 vice-chair of a commission and 1 is the General Rapporteur: Beijing +20 report, 2014. (8) Maternal mortality(per 100.000 live births) 229 --- --- 11. According to the data of 2015, http://www.ipu.org/pdf/publications/ wmnmap14_fr.pdf. 3 women, 1 Minister and 2 secretaries of state Women’s participation in public life (%) against 20 men, including 17 ministers, two deputy ministers and (9) one secretary of state: report Beijing + 20, 2014. Participation in labor force 36.5 68 --- 12. The Presidency of the Supreme Court, the highest court, is assured (10) by a woman since 1998. Of the five (5) directorates of the Ministry of Women MPs (%) 7 48 105/190 Justice two (2) are headed by women. It is the same for the Court of (11) First Instance and the Court of Appeal. At the Constitutional Council Women at ministerial positions (number) 1 18 --- two (2) of the seven (7) members are women while they are four (4) to ten (10) members of the Higher Judicial Council. National Report (12) Women in the judiciary (%) 11 --- --- Beijing +20: Gender Equality Achievements The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights are part and parcel of the constitution of Djibouti. The state protects civic rights and participation and legitimate interests of the people at home and abroad. The state guarantees equality before the law (no discrimination on the basis of language, ethnic origin, sex, or religion). Beliefs and respect and protection of people as well as respect for people’s rights to life, liberty, security, and personal safety are ensured by the state. Rights including freedom of belief, religion, worship, opinion, movement, and residence are guaranteed by the constitution and the law. They also guarantee the right to create associations, unions, and the right to strike. The law defines the right to ownership and inheritance, sanctity of residence, confidentiality of correspondence and other means of communication. Such confidentiality can only be violated when An employer must take all necessary measures to ensure that the there is collective threat or to save lives. life and health of the employees are safeguarded. In the right to work, the employees’ bylaws and labor law forbid discrimination People have the right to express their opinions but must respect on the basis of sex, age, ethnic origin, color, disability, union regulations and other people’s privacy. The penal code criminalizes membership, social origin, union activity, and political and religious all types of discrimination. The law also criminalizes violation of views of the employee. This applies to employment, attitude, work privacy and trespassing. The age of consent, according to the distribution, promotion, and wages. Equal pay for equal work. law, is 18. This is the age when people enjoy civil right. The law Forceful and coercive work is forbidden. guarantees HIV positive people to enjoy all rights and liberties. The law also protects non-Djiboutian people who live in Djibouti and Coverage of work related social rights is based on people’s their property. support and contribution. Employees are entitled to medical care and coverage of the costs of treatment of chronic diseases and The constitution guarantees equally the right to education to occupational diseases and work accidents. Employees, laborers, all Djiboutian citizens as well as non-Djiboutian people living widows and divorced women are entitled to benefits given to in Djibouti. The state guarantees compulsory and free public families with six or more children. The benefits start at birth up to education to people aged 6 to 16. The education system also 15 years of age. The minimal benefits are defined by education or includes vocational education to train people to become training of children. Pregnancy shall not be ground for dismissal professionals and technicians. The educational system of Djibouti from the job. Working mothers are entitled to prenatal healthcare. fights illiteracy especially among women. The labor law prohibits They are entitled to 14-week maternity leave. Working mothers employers from discrimination on the basis of sex upon selection receive break to breastfeed their infants. A 55-year old employee of employees. Training can be included as a provision of work receives pension providing that he/she contribute to social security contract. Interims enjoy the same job rights like employees, fund for a number of years. An employee may request early according to work procedures, throughout the training period. retirement at the age of fifty. A spouse may receive the pension They shall remain loyal to the business and employer they serve in of his/her deceased spouse; however, specific conditions apply. return for the training. Pensioners and their families receive free medical care providing that they contribute 6.2% of the pension. The health policy law of Djibouti follows the rules of the World Health Organization. The national health policy is based on equality, In political and participation rights, the constitution considers solidarity, and the respect of the people and the civic society to legitimacy at grassroots level as source of authority. Individuals Djibouti’s international obligations. Hence, the state ensures the equally share authority regardless of their ethnicity, sex, or religion, right to health for all by providing good quality and accessible health via secret balloting. Voting age in Djibouti is 18 for those who enjoy services. The state ensures no discrimination in the provision of full civil and political rights. It is prohibited to form political parties health services on social or geographic grounds. Maternal and child on the basis of ethnicity, sex, religion, doctrine, language, or region. health policy aims to ensure the right to reproductive health, family The quota system is interim arrangement; it stands at 10%. Political planning, combat sexually transmitted diseases, prevention of early parties must submit lists of candidates with 10% quota. The council age pregnancy, reveal abortions conducted secretively, monitor of ministers ensures such quota at senior state positions. life-threatening pregnancies, and provide monitored childbirth under qualified eyes. Ending pregnancy for medical reasons is not The law defines legal status and rights within the family including an abortion, according to the law. Sick and handicapped people parents’ responsibilities to children, protection of children’s and those who are HIV positive, have AIDS, and vulnerable people economic, social, and cultural rights. Marriage age is 18. Marriage are entitled to benefits to ensure decent living. There shall be no contract is conducted by Shari’a officer; two witnesses are required discrimination in the provision of services, care, and protection to to witness the marriage. Marriage requires mutual consent. The such people. The law punishes discrimination, stigmatization, and marriage contract may include conditions introduced by couples on violation of the rights of disabled, sick, and vulnerable people. It is person and property. The objective of marriage is mutual respect, a medical priority in Djibouti to occupational medicine to protect loyalty, and cooperation. Married couples shall carry out duties as people from occupational diseases and accidents at the workplace. expected by customs and traditions. The man pays for marriage costs and supports the family. A woman may voluntarily contribute to marriage costs. A spouse’s complaint that is not supported by evidence prompts judge’s investigation. Reconciliation is proposed by arbitrators and divorce takes place by judge’s order if reconciliation fails. Divorce can be appealed against. Divorce with mutual consent takes place before Shari’a officer who documents it. Husband’s absence and disregard of the wife and lack of support are grounds for divorce. Custody is for parents during marriage and the judge decides to whom custody goes in divorce taking into consideration children’s wellbeing. The law ensures that children stay in touch with the parents when separated.