Migration Jurisprudence from the South › Niger

Hadijatou Mani Koraou v. Niger

ECOWAS Community Court of Justice · Niger · 2008-10-27 · Regional court or body

Citation: ECW/CCJ/JUD/06/08
Type of case: Constitutional and human rights
Outcome: Decided for the migrant side

Question

Is the state responsible when its courts fail to protect a woman held in slavery?

What the court decided

Yes. Niger’s authorities tolerated her enslavement and failed to protect her, and the state had to pay compensation.

In plain language

A girl was sold at 12 and made to do domestic and farm work as a so-called “fifth wife”. The ECOWAS court said Niger failed to protect her and ordered compensation.

Dalam bahasa sederhana

Seorang anak perempuan dijual pada usia 12 tahun dan dipaksa melakukan kerja rumah tangga dan pertanian sebagai yang disebut “istri kelima”. Pengadilan ECOWAS menyatakan Niger gagal melindunginya dan memerintahkan ganti rugi.

Pertanyaan: Apakah negara bertanggung jawab ketika pengadilannya gagal melindungi perempuan yang diperbudak?

What happened afterwards

2008-10-27: Judgment; compensation of 10 million CFA francs.
2009: Compensation paid. [Check.]

Sources

ECOWAS Court

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Cite as: Institute for Migrant Rights (2026), Migration Jurisprudence from the South, version 0.1, https://theimr.org/court-decisions/d/ecowas-koraou-2008/. This page summarizes a court decision for research and advocacy; it is not legal advice.

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