451 to 457 of the Criminal Code). Criminal law also aims to protect the morality of adolescents by
punishing activities leading to their corruption (articles 458 to 462), or involvement in sexual acts
(articles 463 to 466) and procuring (article 396).
63. It also ensures that the physical integrity of children is protected by prohibiting violence, abuse and
murder (articles 325, 326, 330 and 332). The fight against female genital mutilation was strengthened
with the amendment in 2009 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code to allow associations working in this
area to be able to file civil suits. Advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns undertaken over the past
years within the context of the strategy on eliminating female genital mutilation have led to a
considerable decline in FGMs in young girls and a gradual decline in the most severe forms of
infibulation (from 98% to 73%).
64. With the adoption of the Family Code, the legal arsenal for child protection has been strengthened and
given new impetus through implementation of measures to make the family setting healthier and
preserve the child’s socio-economic rights in case of family break-up. In addition to the many public
awareness-raising sessions on the Convention and the various national reports, the State seeks to further
ensure the protection of children by facilitating the realization of rights essential for the development of
the child (right to food, right to water, right to a decent standard of living…), by providing women with
small credits, by distributing food to disadvantaged families, and by increasing the number of boreholes
and reservoirs to boost household resources.
65. Protection of older persons is ensured, in accordance with national tradition, by the children or
descendants within the family. It is therefore their responsibility to provide for the elderly in compliance
with the provisions of the Family Code.
66. Since 1996, amendments to domestic legislation to adapt to realities at home and international human
rights commitments have expedited the death penalty abolition process. The new criminal legislation
adopted represents a major breakthrough for the prohibition of the death penalty as the ultimate
punishment for the most serious crimes is now life imprisonment. The Government has amended the
third paragraph of Article 10 of the Constitution (2010) to prohibit capital punishment in order to
reaffirm the de facto abolition of the death penalty and remove any inconsistency with the letter and the
spirit of the Charter.
67. In view of the fact that it is located in a region of instability that is wracked by wars, Djibouti made a
commitment as soon as it gained independence to undertake peace-building initiatives, a vital condition
for its development and a basis for its relations with other countries in the region with a view to
preventing arbitrary deprivation of life. As expressed in the country’s national motto “Unity, Equality,
Peace”, Djibouti is convinced that the right to life can only be guaranteed in this framework.
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