Gabon
UN urges Gabon to prohibit polygamy

afrol.com, 30 October - The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Friday assessed the human rights situation in Gabon, under special consideration of women's rights. Gabon was urged to prohibit the traditional practice of polygamy, as this plays significantly in favour of men. 

- Polygamy was incompatible with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Gabon should prohibit it, Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga said. The Gabonese delegation had said that polygamy was concluded on mutual consent, but social and economic factors could play in favour of the man. Ms. Quiroga also expressed concern at the situation of divorce which did not favour women. 

Gabonese law provides that couples must stipulate at the time of marriage whether they intend to adhere to a monogamous or a polygamous relationship. For monogynous married couples, a common property law provides for the equal distribution of assets after divorce. Wives who leave polygynous husbands suffer severe reductions in their property rights, a US agency reports.

- With regard to polygamy, the Government had attempted to limit the number of wives a man could have, the Gabonese delegation defended itself. "In the past, a man could have up to 30 wives," the delegation said. "At present, the number is limited to four." The situation was still persisting in the name of tradition. Concerning the issue of the man being the head of the family, there was a debate because of the role of women in bringing up the children, the Gaboneses told the Committee. 

Gabon was not insensitive to the issue of women, the delegation said. Women were not without personal values in Gabon; the Constitution recognized the equality of women and men, but there were areas where further improvement was needed. In all spheres, the prime concern was to identify every aspect with the right of women. Major sectors where women dominated were health and education. In schools, there was no discrimination, girls excelled over boys in many cases. In universities, women played a leading role in advanced studies. At the workplace, women and men received equal pay for equal work done. 

Further, women held highly responsible jobs in the public and private sectors, the delegation said. The president of the constitutional court was a woman; and the most important jobs in the public services and the military were held by females. Women generals in the army commanded men. In addition, a number of social establishments were run by women. 

- No doubt that women were active in Gabon, but what the Committee was looking for here was what was done by the State to protect the rights of women, Ms. Quiroga replied the Gabonese, irritated over the delegation's explaining away of the situation. Ms. Quiroga also noted that she was "disappointed" that the report by Gabon "was slim and lacked facts and adequate information" and that many questions did not get "proper replies from the delegation".

Gabonese law provides for women's equal rights to access in education, business, and investment. Women own businesses and property, participate in politics, and work throughout the Government and the private sector. Women nevertheless continue to face considerable societal and legal discrimination, especially in rural areas. According to a UN agency, only 52 percent of women were literate in 1994, compared with 74 percent of men. 

Sources: Based on UNHCHR and US Government

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