About Niger

official name: Republic of Niger
capital: Niamey
head of state: President Mamadou Tandja
state: multi party
population: 12,525,094 (July 2006 est.)
independence: from France in 1958
languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
religion: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)

Legal wise

status of homosexuality: legal
age of consent: 21
laws covering homosexual activity: The relevant Articles of the Niger penal code translated, are:

Penal Code of Niger 1993

Public Indecency
Article 275: Public indecency is any material act that affronts public decency committed under conditions that a third party likely to be offended by it has witnessed or may have witnessed.

Article 276: Any person who commits public indecency will be punished by three months to three years of prison and a fine between 10 000 and 100 000 francs.

Indecent Assault
Article 277: Any indecent act committed with impunity directly on a person of one or the other sex constitutes indecent assault.

Lewd Act on Minor of the Same Sex
Article 282: Whoever has committed a lewd act or an act against nature on a minor of the same sex under twenty-one years of age will be punished by imprisonment of Three months to three years and a fine of 10 000 to 100 000 francs.

(Source: - Bernard Scholl - 14 June 1999) ILGA

Communication

main lines in use: 24,000 (2005)
cellular telephones: 299,900 (2005)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001).
Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002).
Televisions: 125,000 (1997).
Internet hosts: 189 (2006)
Internet users: 24,000 (2005)

niger mps reject protocol on women's rights