The law of the country does not provide for levirate.

The Code also outlawed levirate, provided for the sharing of domestic chores between spouses and stipulated that women and girls could inherit property.

With the help of the international community Gabon was trying to root out such aspects of its culture and customs like the levirate and sororate, but customs died hard.

It is stated that women are more at risk of HIV AIDS owing to certain sociocultural and socio economic factors, in particular levirate marriage, illiteracy and extreme poverty (p. 45).

The report gave good information on the reform of the family law, but a comparative assessment of the de facto situation would also be welcome, with regard to enduring patriarchal values such as polygamy, levirate and early marriage.

The most important recent measure concerned the adoption of the Code on Persons and the Family which outlawed the levirate, set the legal age for marriage for boys and girls at 18, and established monogamous marriage, parental authority and equal inheritance rights for children, regardless of gender.

While welcoming the adoption of the Personal and Family Code in 2004, aimed at eliminating discrimination against women and abolishing many discriminatory provisions of the customary law of Dahomey, including polygamy, levirate marriage and discrimination in inheritance rights and the age of marriage, the Committee remains concerned about the application of customary practices and the consequences thereof.