Niger is a multi-party republic. Elections in 2004 on the basis of universal suffrage resulted in the re-election of the incumbent President to a second 5-year term; the elections were deemed free and fair despite some flaws. The ruling coalition won 88 of 113 seats in the National Assembly. The opposition Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism won the other 25 seats. The Prime Minister is nominated by the President.

The practice of a husband casting a proxy vote for his wife disenfranchises many women, but female voter participation is increasing. 14 women serve in the National Assembly, and 6 are Cabinet ministers. By law, women are appointed to 25% of senior government positions and to 10% of elected seats. All major ethnic groups are represented in government. 8 seats are allocated to representatives of ethnic minorities and nomadic populations. Political parties based on ethnicity, religion or region are not permitted.

Discrimination on the basis of sex, social origin, race, ethnicity or religion is prohibited, but instances of discrimination occur.
The judiciary is independent in law, but the executive branch is accused of interference, while family and business ties are reported to have undue influence. Divorce or inheritance cases are dealt with under customary law by chiefs. The police are accused of being ineffective, and resources and training are insufficient.

Journalists and demonstrators were arrested during large demonstrations over a sales tax increase. The police response was said to be disproportionately violent.

Corruption is acknowledged, and government officials are being prosecuted. Civil servants have been sentenced for accepting bribes in exchange for answers while administering standardised junior high school tests. The National Commission on Corruption will investigate justice, health care, education and transportation ministries for corruption to the extent an inadequate budget will allow.

Access to government information is not provided in law; some ministries provide information as requested. Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed in law, though restrictions apply in practice. Journalists report being intimidated into self-censorship. With literacy rates very low, radio is the mass medium of communication. Internet access is not restricted, but cost puts it out of the reach of the majority.

Trafficking in persons is not proscribed. The country is a source, transit route and destination for victims of trafficking. A National Commission to combat trafficking exists but has no budget. A multilateral agreement to combat child trafficking has been signed by countries in the region. Networks of traffickers victimise young girls who work as domestic servants, and underage girls are trafficked for prostitution.

Social discrimination continues against persons who are HIV/AIDS-positive.
Education International, in cooperation with the education union of Niger, SNEN, provides training for teachers on the prevention of HIV/AIDS. Materials on HIV prevention are distributed for use in schools.

Funds for education are very limited. As a central plank of its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper in 2001, the government announced a 10-year strategy for the development of basic education, but donors failed to provide the funds needed for implementation. Books, desks and benches are in short supply, as are other materials.

In an attempt to recruit teachers, a contractual system has been adopted that pays new teachers even less than regular teachers. They also have few benefits. Local NGOs fear the low level of pay will not attract quality candidates. Recruiting teachers for rural schools is very difficult.

Most state schools still follow the formal French curriculum, which has little relevance to local communities. Young girls are kept at home to work, and early marriage is common. The literacy rate for women is about 10% compared with 30% for men. Literacy rates in rural areas are very low. Many children beg on the streets of the cities. Boys from rural areas are indentured to Koranic schools by their parents, and they have to beg to provide money for their madrassa.

A 3-year programme begins at age 4. At this level 33% of education is private. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 1%. Of the 753 teachers working at this level, 99% are women. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 24 : 1.

Education is compulsory for ages 7 to 12. Primary school begins at age 7 and continues for 6 years. At this level 4% of education is private. The NER is 39% (40% female). Of students enrolled in Grade 1, 69% continue to the last grade of primary school. 5% of students repeat grades. 22,427 teachers (36% female) work at this level, and 76% of teachers are trained. The PTR is 44 : 1.

Secondary education begins at age 13 and is completed in 7 years. At this level 12% of education is private. 14% of students in upper secondary education study in technical vocational programmes. The NER is 7%. 7% of students repeat grades. There are 5,131 secondary teachers, 3,085 (21% female) in lower secondary and 2,046 (14% female) in upper secondary, and all are trained. The PTR is 44 : 1 in lower and 11 : 1 in upper secondary school.

8,774 students (27% female) study in tertiary institutions, for a Gross Enrolment Rate of 1%. At this level 25% of education is private. 1,105 students study abroad, mainly in France (478), Morocco (218), U.S.A. (169), Belgium (59) and Canada (45).

Discrimination is prohibited against persons with disabilities in education or in the provision of other state services, but the legislation is not enforced. No regulations mandate accessibility to education for those with special needs. Social discrimination against persons with disabilities is very strong, particularly against mental disabilities and leprosy. As part of the strategic plan for education, specific interventions are to be targeted at education for disabled children, but they have not materialised. The lot of disabled children in Niger is very difficult.

The law does not provide for granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 protocol. The country is a signatory to the convention, but no system is in place to provide protection to refugees. Asylum is provided to several thousand persons from Mali and Chad. In addition, urban refugees and asylum-seekers from more than 15 countries live in the capital, Niamey.

The UNHCR provides assistance to the neediest individuals. A limited programme gives some access to health clinics and has provided some education grants. About 3,000 citizens of Niger, mostly nomads, returned home following the peace accord. They received limited reintegration assistance from UNHCR to settle in 15 sites, but this assistance is being phased out.

The Hausa (56%) and Djerma (22%) are the largest ethnic groups in the country and dominate government and business. Nepotism exists along ethnic lines. Both Hausa and Djerma, along with the Gourmantche, are sedentary farmers. The remainder of Nigeriens, Fulani, Tuareg, Kanuri, Arabs, and Toubou, are nomadic peoples who raise livestock. Rapidly growing populations and the competition for meagre natural resources have led to conflicts. Save the Children reports that Niger has the world's highest infant mortality rate and highest fertility rate. Nearly half (49%) of the population is under age 15. Education in rural areas is very limited and is even more difficult for nomadic peoples.

Reports do not cite restriction or violation of academic freedom, but legislation that restricts freedom of speech for journalists applies to any criticism of government policies. Students have been beaten and arrested for protests against government policies.

Traditional and religious beliefs result in discrimination in education, employment and property rights for women, despite their having equality in law. Discrimination is worse in rural areas where women work in subsistence farming. Women account for 47% of the formal sector work force, 26% of civil service workers and 22% of professionals. Only a man can be head of a household, a designation that brings some benefits for the family. Divorced or widowed women with children are not eligible to be so designated.

National service is mandatory for men and women who complete university or professional training. Women have an option of military service or can work as teachers, health service workers or technical specialists.

Domestic violence is widespread and is not illegal. Traditional dispute settlement mechanisms are used to settle domestic violence, and they offer women few options. In some parts of the country women are cloistered and can only leave their homes after dark escorted by a male relative. Infanticide is common. Female genital mutilation is performed on young girls in certain ethnic groups Underage marriage occurs in traditional communities: a girl married at age 10 or 12 is sent to join the family of her husband, where she will live under the tutelage of her mother-in-law.

Life is hardship for the vast majority of children in Niger. Children under age 14 must have special permission to work; those ages 14 to 18 can work 4 hours a day combined with some schooling. Children under 12 are prohibited from any work, but rural children work in the fields with their families from a very early age. Agriculture, commerce and the artisan sectors are unregulated, making enforcement of child labour legislation difficult.

Many girls work as domestics for very low pay. Forced or compulsory labour by children is not illegal. Hazardous child labour is reported in the gold mines.

There is evidence of trafficking in children, child prostitution, forced child labour and involvement of children in a traditional form of caste-based servitude. An ILO and UNICEF study revealed that 61% of children aged 5 to 9 and 83% of those aged 10 to 14 are working, but 40% are not paid at all. Attempts to remove children from exploitative work situations and to return them to school are being made. The Ministry of Basic Education conducts training sessions to help educators meet the special needs of child labourers.

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions. Some 85% of the workforce is employed in subsistence agriculture and informal trade, and these areas are unorganised. Collective bargaining for wages and working conditions takes place, including in the public sector. The right to strike is permitted, except for security forces and police. Forced or compulsory labour adult labour is prohibited except for prisoners, but such practices are reported to occur.

A form of caste servitude is practised by the Tare, Derma, and Arab ethnic minorities: subordinate castes are expected to work without pay for castes that are higher in the traditional social structure. A study of persons in servitude showed that 80% married the person chosen for them by their master, who also determines if their children attend school.

A minimum wage for each category of salaried worker is established, but none provides a decent standard of living for a worker and family. The lowest minimum wage is US$40 (20,000 CFA francs) per month. A benefit of US$2 (1,000 CFA francs) per month per child is added. The legal work week was 40 hours