208. The Family Code has also shifted the approach to polygamy. Article 22 introduces the right for a wife
to refer the matter to the courts for a judge to assess the prejudice caused by a new marriage. The judge
will issue a marriage certificate only after an assessment is made of the man’s socioeconomic situation
and the wife’s views have been recorded. The law hence gives women a role that is more dynamic than
previously and allows her to positively influence the matrimonial home.
209. The 2002 Act focuses firmly on enhanced support to and successful reintegration of children into
society, promoting children’s rights when couples separate by making a priority of resolving the issues
of custody, maintenance and the preservation of family ties. In this regard, the legislator has
strengthened the legal mechanism to guarantee the economic and social rights of the child.
210. In an effort to protect the family and promote its rights, the position of Deputy Minister in charge of
Women’s Empowerment, Family Welfare and Social Affairs was created in 1999, attached to the Office
of the Prime Minister. This department became a full-fledged Ministry in 2008.
211. The Ministry in charge of Women’s Empowerment, in collaboration with the United Nations
Population fund (UNFPA), organized in November 2012 a widespread communication campaign on
family planning to heighten awareness of populations on the benefits of birth control. The purpose was
to enhance development of the family unit, particularly women, the linchpins of the family, whose
weakening could have a significant impact on the basic unit of society. Along the same lines as the
existing partnership between these two institutions regarding the fight against female genital mutilation
(FGM), these actions are the starting point of a long-term family planning strategy to adapt population
growth to national development.
212. Furthermore, an increasing number of family-oriented mechanisms and specific measures have been
developed over the past ten years to reduce social inequalities. These initiatives have prompted great
progress in various areas such as health, education, vocational training, social housing, rural and local
development and decentralization. The Government has conducted several other family-oriented
actions in the form of assistance programmes to vulnerable groups and victims of natural disasters
under the umbrella of the Social Development Agency of Djibouti (ADDS) established in 2007 to
implement the National Social Development Initiative (INDS).
213. The main mission of ADDS is to fight poverty, contribute to alleviating inequalities and eliminating
social exclusion of vulnerable persons. It focuses on sensitive zones in rural areas and peri-urban areas
by boosting the income and improving the living conditions of inhabitants.
214. The food and energy crisis of 2008 greatly affected a large section of Djibouti’s population and public
authorities adopted immediate measures such as food distribution (in schools and workplaces),
elimination of taxes on basic food products and setting limits on benefit margins of wholesale
importers.
215. For greater food security, the State developed a national strategy to implement immediate impact
actions such as:
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Acquisition of vast expanses of agricultural lands in Sudan, Ethiopia and Malawi;
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