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Claiming Human Rights - in Djibouti

The Republic of Djibouti is a member of the United Nations and the African Union. It has ratified many UN Human Rights Conventions (compare list on the right) and thus has made binding international commitments to adhere to the standards laid down in these universal human rights documents.

Djibouti is a French- and Arabic-speaking country in the Horn of Africa. The rather small country with an area of 23,200 square km has a coastline to the Red Sea. On a global scale, its population density is low. The capital of the country, which became independent on 27 June 1977 from France, is Djibouti-City. Djibouti is a member of the regional economic communities IGAD, CEN-SAD and COMESA.

With a Human Development Index of 0.52 Djibouti ranks 155th of 182 countries ranked in the UNDP Human Development Report of 2009. Life expectancy of the 800,000 inhabitants at birth is 55 years, population growth is 1.8 percent per year. GNI is 1,130 US-$ per capita. External debt is 51.8 percent of gross national income. Primary school enrolment is 45.3 percent.

In as far as Djibouti has ratified the Optional Protocols for UN Human Rights Conventions or has accepted the Competence of the corresponding UN Treaty Bodies (compare list on the right), the inhabitants of Djibouti and their representatives are able to invoke their human rights through these bodies.

All inhabitants of Djibouti may turn to the UN Human Rights Committee through procedure 1503, to the Special Rapporteurs for violations of specific human rights or to ECOSOC for women's rights violations.

Since Djibouti is a member state of UNESCO, its citizens may use the UNESCO procedure for human rights violations in UNESCO's fields of mandate.

Employers' or workers' and certain other organizations (not individuals) of Djibouti may file complaints through the ILO procedure in the cases of those conventions which Djibouti has ratified.

Since Djibouti is an AU member, its citizens and NGOs may file complaints to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

They may also file complaints according to the EU guidelines (on Human Rights Defenders, Death Penalty and Torture) to Embassies of EU Member States and the Delegations of the European Commission.

In cases of human rights violations by multinational enterprises, they may also invoke the National Contact Point in an OECD member state.

Djibouti has joined the International Criminal Court, it may thus be called upon in case of severe crimes.

Signature:   Ratification: 2002 (accession) Reservations: no/non Signature optional protocol:   Ratification optional protocol: 2002 (accession) Reservations: no/non Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature:   Ratification: 2002 (accession) Reservations: no/non Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature: 2006 Ratification: 2011 Reservations:   Competence CERD acknowledged:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature:   Ratification: 1998 (accession) Reservations: no/non Signature optional protocol:   Ratification optional protocol:   Reservations:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature:   Ratification: 2002 (accession) Reservations: no/non Article 22 competence acknowledged: no/non Last State report: 2011 Last concluding observations: 2011  
Signature: 1990 Ratification: 1990 Reservations: yes /oui Last State report: 2007 Last concluding observations: 2008  
Signature:   Ratification:   Reservations:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature:   Ratification:   Reservations:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature:   Ratification:   Reservations:   Signature optional protocol:   Ratification optional protocol:   Reservations:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Ratification Banjul Charter: 1991 Ratification Protocol African Court:   Ratification Children's Charter:   Ratification Maputo Protocol: 2005 Last State report:    
International Criminal Court joined: yes/oui 
Country Rapporteur: no/non  
National Human Rights Institute: no/non  

Last change: 28.01.10 - 11:57