nationality codes that the terms of treaties on nationality to which the State is a party apply even if
they are contradicted by national law.27
A number of other countries in West Africa have adopted new children’s laws in recent years that
specifically provide for the right to a nationality — in line with their obligations under the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child:
Gambia’s Children’s Act states that every child has a right to acquire a nationality.28
Guinea’s Code de l’enfant provides for every child to have the right to a nationality.29
Mali Code de protection de l’enfant provides that every child has the right to an identity, which
includes the right to a nationality.30
Togo’s Code de l’enfant includes a number of provisions on nationality, including that a child
has the right to the nationality of either parent, in line with the country’s constitution (though
these provisions are not reflected in the (older) nationality code).31
Ghana’s Children’s Act and Sierra Leone’s Child Rights Act both provide, rather ambiguously,
that “No person shall deprive a child of the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a
nationality or the right as far as possible to know his natural parents and extended family.”32
The Liberian Children’s Law adopted in 2011, however, does not contain specific guarantees on the
right to a nationality, though other provisions are relevant; similarly the Nigerian Child Rights Act 2003
provides only for the right to a name, and not a nationality.33 A draft children’s code for Niger
prepared in 2005 by the Ministère de la Promotion de la Femme et de la Protection de l'Enfant in
collaboration with children’s rights organisations has not yet been adopted; Burkina Faso and Cape
Verde also have similar texts under discussion.34
In the civil law countries, including those that do not have comprehensive legislation on child rights
such as Benin and Senegal, the family codes contain many important provisions relating to the status
of children that are important for nationality (such as rules on the establishment of descent, the
procedures for adoption etc); though not all contain specific provisions on the right to a nationality.35
27
Benin Code de la nationalité, Art 2 ; Burkina Faso Code des personnes et de la famille 1989, art 135; Cote
d’Ivoire Code de la nationalité Art 3 ; Mali Code des personnes et de la famille, 2011, Art.219 ; Niger Code de la
nationalité 1984, Art 3.
28
Gambia Children’s Act No.5 of 2005, section 8.
29
Guinea Loi L/2008/011/AN du 19 aout 2008 portant Code de l’enfant Guinéen, art.1.
30
Mali Ordonnance N°02-062/P-RM du 5 juin 2002 portant code de protection de l'enfant, art 4.
31
Togo Loi no.2007-017 du 6 juillet 2007 portant code de l’enfant, arts.17-24
32
Sierra Leone Child Rights Act (No.7 of 2007), section 24. Ghana Children’s Act 1998 (no.560), section 4. The
obligations placed on the state by this section are not very clear, and appear not to include granting nationality
to stateless children.
33
Liberia Children’s Act 2011, section 4(2) ; Nigeria Child Rights Act 2003, section 5.
34
« Le comité des droits de l'enfant examine le rapport du Niger », UN Committee on the Rights of the Child,
4 Jun 2009 ; “Le Comité des droits de l'enfant examine les rapports du Burkina Faso sur l'application des deux
Protocoles à la Convention », UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 21 January 2013; « Projecto da Proposta
de Lei do Estatuto da Criança e Adolescente é conhecido hoje », Cape Verde Ministry of Justice, 7 August 2012.
35
Benin Loi N° 2002 – 07 portant Code des personnes et de la famille; Senegal Loi n°72-61 du 12 juin 1972
portant code de la famille modifiée par les lois no.74-37 du 18 juillet 1974 et 89-01 du 17 janvier 1989.
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