Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Gabon (Ratification: 1961)

Article 1(a) of the Convention. Imposition of a sentence of imprisonment involving compulsory labour as punishment for expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. Since the adoption of the Act No. 22/84 of 29 December 1984 establishing the rules on prison labour, the Committee has been drawing the Government’s attention to its section 2(2) according to which political prisoners convicted at the same time for related offences under ordinary law are treated as ordinary prisoners and, by virtue of section 3 of the Act, are required to work.

The Committee notes once again the Government’s indication that there have been no political prisoners in Gabon since 1990, that the text amending Act No. 22/84 is still in the process of being adopted and that it will be forwarded once it has been promulgated. The Committee takes note of Order No. 0018/MJGS/CAB of 15 July 2014 issuing internal regulations for prisons, which maintains the system of compulsory labour for ordinary prisoners, in accordance with the terms of Act No. 22/84. The Committee hopes that the Government will make the necessary amendments to Act No. 22/84 of 29 December 1984 establishing the rules on prison labour, so that prisoners expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system cannot be sentenced to imprisonment entailing the obligation to work.