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Senegal

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Senegal

1. International Family Mediation

Family mediation in Senegal is legally recognised, commonly implemented and encouraged by the State. According to the Senegal’s Civil Procedure Code (1964), there is a possibility of conciliation (mediation) procedure before a District Court in divorce matters. Village chiefs and neighbourhood councils can also provide conciliation regarding family and marriage matters. While the ‘Kadhi’ settles family disputes for Muslims, his decision can only be validated and thus enforced after a district court judge’s approval.

Recently, a Decree relating to mediation and conciliation (2014) which has been adopted to promote mediation and conciliation in civil matters established the National Mediation and Conciliation Committee. To access the list of mediators provided by the Committee, please contact the Ministry of Justice directly here (website in French).

To our knowledge, there is no specialised structure for international family mediation in Senegal.

1) Senegal is not a Party to the 1980 Hague Convention.

The 1980 Hague Convention: a multilateral treaty which provides procedural guidelines on the return of children and their protection in cases of international parental child abduction.

2) Senegal is not a Party to the 1996 Hague Convention.

The 1996 Hague Convention: a multilateral treaty which determines jurisdiction, applicable law, co-operation in respect of parental responsibility and access rights, as well as civil and public measures for the protection or care of children. 

3) Senegal is a Party to Bilateral Conventions with France.

The list of bilateral conventions concerning parental responsibilities involves treaties signed between Senegal and France (website in French). 

You can determine whether countries relevant to your case are Parties, or not, to the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction and/or the 1996 Hague Convention on Child Protection in order to locate the appropriate central authority. As for the 1980 Hague Convention, you can check whether the Convention is in force between two specific States in the Spreadsheet showing acceptances of accessions to the Child Abduction Convention.

The Ministry of Justice has initiated a vast neighbourhood justice program, all services provided to users are completely free. The House of Justice incorporates the traditional principles and methods of regulation of family disputes and private litigation. You can contact the corresponding Justice House in Dakar, Ziguinchor, Mbour, Tivaouane, Mbacké, Kaolack, Koungheul, Tambacounda, Richard Toll and Kedougou directly through courts of the first instance here (website in French).

The Mediator of the Republic's mission is to appease the social climate and to promote human rights. The Mediator of the Republic can be contacted as a protector of human rights. You can contact the Mediator directly here (website in French).

4. Child Welfare Services

The Child Protection Support Unit (CAPE) of the Ministry of Good Governance and Child Protection facilitates and coordinates complementarity and synergy of interventions in the field of child protection. It proposes detailed information on the protection of the childhood in Senegal. You can contact them directly here:
Sicap Complex, Point E, Building D, 1st floor
Rond Point Ucad
Dakar, Senegal
Telephone: (+221) 33 859 09 89
Fax: (+221) 33 824 30 36
Email: infos(at)cape.gouv.sn

The Directorate for the Promotion of the Rights of Childhood of the Ministry of Good Governance and Child Protection implements actions to provide a decent living environment for these children and is responsible for the delivery of several services and operational programs (website in French). Reception, information and guidance centres for children in difficult circumstances, as well as vigilance and alert committees on violence, are spread over the territory. For more information you can contact the Directorate for the Promotion of the Rights of Childhood:
Administrative Building, 6th floor
BP: 4050
10224 Dakar, Senegal
Telephone: (+221) 33 849 70 61 or (+221) 33 849 70 63
Fax: (+221) 33 822 94 90

The Center for Reception, Information and Guidance for Children in Difficult Situation (Ginddi Center) is an administrative service of a social nature that offers help and assistance to children in difficult circumstances, including a family and social mediation service. You can visit their Facebook page or contact directly here:
Earth Front ex-Zakat House
Dakar, Senegal
Telephone: (+221) 33 827 89 80
Email: centreginddi(at)hotmail.fr

The West Africa Network for the Protection of Children is a mechanism for the protection and transnational care of children. Its mission is to protect and reintegrate socially and professionally children who are in vulnerable situations, mobile in West Africa and between countries.

The National Coalition of Associations and NGOs for Children (CONAFE) has the mission to defend, protect and promote the rights of the Child in Senegal through advocacy, capacity building, child participation, situational reporting children's rights as well as networking. For more information, you can visit the coalition's blog here (website in French) or contact them directly here:
Sicap, rue 10 x rue Ben, n°2, appt 1
Dakar, Senegal
Telephone: (+221) 33 553 57 80 or (+221) 33 574 39 21
Email: conafesenegal(at)yahoo.fr

Plan International in Senegal helps children to access their rights to education, health, protection, and economic empowerment, even in times of emergency, adversity, and uncertainty.

Save the Children in Senegal provides a programme of Protection from Gender-Based Violence that builds the capacity of community service providers to respond adequately to incidents of sexual abuse and female genital mutilation through psychosocial support training, legal and medical assistance. You can contact them directly here (website in French).

5. Support to Bi-National Couples, Cross-Cultural and Migrant Families

The Point d’Accueil pour Réfugiés et Migrants (PARI) is a branch of Caritas Senegal which supports migrants and refugees (website in French). Their support encompasses listening, orientation and basic elementary aid. You can visit their Facebook page or contact them directly here:
Km 2, Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop
B.P. 5915
Dakar, Senegal
Telephone: (+221) 33 822 01 53
Fax: (+221) 33 822 61 87
Email: caritaspari(at)arc.sn

Rencontre Africaine Pour la Defense des Droits de l’Homme (RADDHO) provides counselling and legal services for refugees and internally displaced persons. It also provides orientation for asylum seekers upon their arrival to Senegal and legal guidance throughout the asylum seeking process. You can contact them directly here (website in French).

West African Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Network (WARIPNET) is a coalition of non-governmental organisations in West Africa who have come together to advocate for the rights of refugees in the region. It provides legal information and legal aid relating to the acquisition, loss and deprivation of nationality, acquisition of documentation proving nationality and civil registration, including birth registration. You can contact them directly here (WARIPNET is hosted by RADDHO):
Amitie 2, No. 4024, Allees Seydou N. Tall
BP 15246
Dakar, Senegal
Telephone: (+221) 338785450 or (+221) 776338713
Fax: (+221) 82 460 52
Email: waripnet(at)sentoo.sn or sniass(at)yahoo.fr

The African Office for Development and Cooperation (OFADEC) supports refugees camp management, health and education, micro-projects for women, agricultural projects and repatriation (website in French). OFADEC works with refugees from Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau as well as urban refugees in Senegal. For more information, you can visit their Facebook page.

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