Senegal



Full text of the Constitution: Constitution Senegal - FR.pdf

See in particular: Art. 7 (inviolabilité de la personne); Art. 9 (Atteinte aux libertés); Art. 45 (Responsabilité de la Défense nationale); Art. 47 (Droit de faire grâce); Art. 52 (Pouvoirs exceptionnels); Art. 61 (Immunité des députés); Art. 67 (Pouvoir législatif); Art. 69 (État de siège et état d'urgence); Art. 70 (Déclaration de guerre); Art. 71 (Transmission de la loi au Président de la République); Art. 72 (Promulgation de la loi); Art. (Recours au Conseil constitutionnel); Art. 92 (Constitutionnalité des lois et engagements internationaux); Art. 95 (Négociation, ratifiaction et approbation des engagements internationaux); Art. 96 (Traités de paix); Art. 97 (Clause d'un traité contraire à la Constitution); Art. 98 (Autorité supérieure à la loi); Art. 108 (Entrée en vigueur)

1. Constitutional structure and position of IHL in domestic law

Senegal is a republic under multiparty democratic rule. The Constitution of the Republic of Senegal Database 'IHL - National Implementation', View 'Maintenance\0a. ALL by Site', Document 'Constitution of the Republic of Senegal, 2001 (extracts)' was adopted by referendum on 7 January 2001. It guarantees rights and freedoms of the individual, and defines the powers and organization of the various institutions of the Republic. The President of the Republic is the Head of State and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and the Prime Minister heads the government. The parliament consists of a unicameral National Assembly.

Under Article 88 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic negotiates treaties and ratifies them, in some cases subject to the authorization of the National Assembly. Certain types of treaty, such as those relating to international organizations, have to be ratified by law to come into effect (Article 89 Database 'IHL - National Implementation', View 'Maintenance\0a. ALL by Site', Document 'Constitution of the Republic of Senegal, 2001 (extracts)'). The competence of the National Assembly includes the fundamental rights of citizens and the determination of crimes and penalties, criminal procedure and amnesty (Article 67 Database 'IHL - National Implementation', View 'Maintenance\0a. ALL by Site', Document 'Constitution of the Republic of Senegal, 2001 (extracts)'). Once published, a regularly approved or ratified treaty has authority superior to national laws, under the condition of reciprocity (Article 91 Database 'IHL - National Implementation', View 'Maintenance\0a. ALL by Site', Document 'Constitution of the Republic of Senegal, 2001 (extracts)' ).

Senegal's legal system is based on French civil law. Legislative acts and international commitments are subject to judicial review by the Constitutional Court (Article 96 Database 'IHL - National Implementation', View 'Maintenance\0a. ALL by Site', Document 'Constitution of the Republic of Senegal, 2001 (extracts)').

In a note dated 23 April 1963 and received by the Swiss Federal Council on 18 May 1963, the Senegalese government declared Senegal to be party to the Geneva Conventions by virtue of instruments of ratification deposited by France on 28 June 1951. The Conventions came into force for Senegal retroactively on 20 June 1960, the date on which the country became independent. Senegal became a party to the 1977 Additional Protocols, which were approved by Law No. 85-20 of 25 February 1985, on 7 May 1985.

2. Implementing institutions

Decree N° 2004-657 relating to the Creation, the Organisation and the Functions of the High Commission for Human Rights and the Promotion of Peace was adopted on 2 June 2004.
The Commission has competence in relation to human rights and international humanitarian law. It is attached to the Presidency of the Republic and its main responsibilities are to receive and conduct investigations into complaints made by corporate bodies, persons and organisations working in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law;
to promote the reception, integration and implementation into domestic law of international treaties relating to human rights law or international humanitarian law and to contribute to the dissemination of these bodies of law.
In order to fulfil its tasks, the Commission is composed of a human rights office, a unit for the follow-up of international law, and a unit for the documentation and promotion of human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The Commission has its own budget and is headed by a high commissioner enjoying the rank of minister.