Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Seventy-fourth session

25 September–13 October 2023

Consideration of reports: reports submitted by State parties in accordance with articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant

Replies of Chad to the list of issues in relation to its fourth periodic report *

[Date received: 12 July 2023]

I.General information

1.The Government of Chad devotes particular attention to civil society organizations and human rights defenders in its policy on protecting and promoting human rights. In order to comply with its international commitments and implement the recommendations arising from the examination of its various reports by the treaty bodies, the Government has drawn up a bill on the protection of human rights. This bill defines the rights and duties of human rights defenders as well as the obligations of the State and the mechanisms for fulfilling these obligations. Protection is afforded to all those who, in one way or another, participate in the promotion, protection and defence of the human rights and fundamental freedoms established in the Constitution.

2.The National Human Rights Commission is an independent administrative authority. It has legal personality and enjoys financial autonomy in accordance with article 171 of the Constitution of 4 May 2018 and the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). It has 11 members, including 5 women (45.45 per cent of the membership), from different walks of life (independent individuals and representatives of media outlets, the judiciary, associations for the defence of human rights, teaching staff of the law faculties of public universities, trade unions, the Bar, women’s associations and associations of persons with disabilities), who are elected for a four-year term, renewable once. In accordance with articles 4–7 of Act No. 028/PR/2018 of 22 November 2018, its mission includes:

Helping to promote and protect human rights by advising the Government on human rights issues

Assisting the Government in its work with national and international institutions on all human rights issues in Chad

Participating in the revision of existing laws and the development of new human rights standards

Conducting surveys and producing studies and publications on human rights

Investigating, on its own initiative, cases of human rights violations

Advising the Government on the ratification of international legal instruments in the field of human rights

3.The Government is taking steps to address climate change. In that connection, it has adopted a national strategy on combating climate change. This involves the establishment of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, whose mission is to encourage tree planting throughout the country.

II.Issues relating to the general provisions of the Covenant (arts. 1–5)

4.The notion of business and human rights, however recent it may seem, is essential in the fight to protect human rights in this area. After the adoption of the Mining Code in 2018, several laws and measures have been developed in this area. These include:

Decree No. 0765/PR/MMDICPSP/2019 of 16/05/2019, establishing an agency for marketing gold and precious metals

Decree No. 2087/PR/MPME/2019 of 30/12/2019, implementing the Mining Code

Decree No. 2085/PR/MPME/2019 of 30/12/2019, adopting a policy on mining activities in Chad

Decree No. 2086/PR/MPME/2019 of 30/12/2019, adopting the Programme to Support the Development of the Mining Sector in Chad 2020–2023

5.With a view to implementing the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Government of Chad, in close collaboration with civil society organizations and employers, has drawn up an action plan covering the following activities:

Developing a national human rights policy

Identifying stakeholders as part of a sector-based and inclusive approach

Organizing forums on the subject around the country

Mobilizing material, financial and human resources

Validating the plan from a technical and political perspective

Strengthening the capacities of the stakeholders identified

Following up on the process

Implementing the recommendations arising from the inclusive and sovereign national dialogue on business and human rights

Completing the process within 12 months

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 10 of the list of issues ( E/C.12/TCD/Q/4 )

6.In Chad, there is no discrimination in employment, either in the public or the private sector.

7.With regard to the private sector, Act No. 038 establishing the Labour Code and the General Collective Agreement of 12 December 2002 prohibit all forms of gender-based discrimination in the areas of recruitment and social security.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 11 of the list of issues

8.The 2018 Constitution prohibits discriminatory practices throughout the country (Transitional Constitutional Charter, art. 14 and arts. 10 and 13).

9.With regard to women’s participation in political life, Act No. 045/PR/2019 of 31 December 2019 establishing the Electoral Code recognizes the right of every Chadian citizen to vote or stand for election, irrespective of his or her sex.

10.Where civil law is concerned, Chad has identified discriminatory provisions and, as part of the process of drafting the Persons and Family Code, is working on harmonizing them to bring them into line with international commitments.

11.The Government, with the support of its partners, has taken the following measures to promote the empowerment of women:

A total of 1,119 girls and women have been given technical training in agriculture, livestock breeding and arboriculture to enable them to carry out farming activities in Lac, Kanem, Salamat and Hadjer Lamis provinces.

A total of 825 people engaged in income-generating activities, all women, have undergone training in processing, preserving and selling produce in Lac, Kanem, and Hadjer Lamis provinces.

Recipients of agricultural equipment, including 112 women, have been trained to drive, operate and maintain tractors, power tillers and other equipment made available to them in the Lac, Kanem and Hadjer Lamis regions.

A total of 57 teenage girls from Salamat have been trained to install satellite dishes, solar panels and electrical wiring. Today, these young people are able to install and repair solar panels and electrical wiring, disproving the popular belief that these trades are the sole preserve of men.

Four awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns have been organized for traditional authorities and communities in order to highlight the importance of empowering women and to advocate for greater access to land for women belonging to groups that have proven their effectiveness, thereby enabling them to carry out their activities.

Eight awareness-raising campaigns on the importance of empowering women have been organized by non-governmental organization (NGO) implementing partners in the provinces of Hadjer Lamis, Kanem and Salamat.

A total of 181 enterprising women’s groups with 4,050 members have been given modern agricultural equipment to enable them to improve their production capacity. The equipment in question is composed of tractors (8), power-driven pumps (16), two-wheeled carts (12), husking tools (10), 18-disc ploughs (8), power tillers (8) and combine harvesters (3).

A total of 750 women are engaged in income-generating activities across the area covered by the project.

12.The Ministry of Gender and National Solidarity has set up a national programme to promote women’s economic and social empowerment. The Government is injecting 2 billion CFA francs (CFAF) per year into the programme.

13.The Zuhur Al Mara (Women’s Talent) project, which was launched on 14 October 2022 and is organized by the Ministry of Gender and National Solidarity, rewards innovative projects by girls and women, including those with disabilities, every year.

14.A number of women’s organizations in 21 of the country’s 23 provinces have received material and financial support. They include, for example:

A cooperative of women’s organizations established to process local produce in Lac province

A network of women’s organizations established to develop Mandoul province

A network of women’s organizations established to develop Kanem province

III.Issues relating to specific provisions of the Covenant(arts. 6–15)

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 12 of the list of issues

15.In order to reduce the unemployment rate, particularly among young people and persons with disabilities, the Government developed and launched a project called the “50,000 decent jobs initiative” on 24 June 2022. This project is a specific measure taken by the Government to address the problem of employment and young people’s access to the labour market. It mainly focuses on:

Promoting entrepreneurship among young people

Supporting young people’s initiatives and projects

Providing the tools and resources needed for self-employment

16.Some time ago, the Ministry of Education and the Promotion of Civic Values and the Ministry of Higher Education and Vocational Training readapted programmes with a view to promoting access to employment.

17.The Ministry of Vocational Training, Jobs and Microfinance was established as a government department to fulfil the same purpose.

Right to social security

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 17 of the list of issues

18.In order to ensure access to social security, insurance and pensions for men and women workers, the Government has undertaken a number of reforms of the institutional frameworks of the National Social Security Fund and the National Pension Fund with a view to improving service quality in line with current requirements.

19.The Government has adopted Act No. 035/PR/2019 of 5 August 2019, establishing universal health coverage in Chad. This Act is based on the principles of national solidarity, equity, risk pooling, efficiency and non-discrimination. It provides for the following three schemes:

A contributory scheme known as Employees’ Health Insurance, which covers salaried workers in the public, semi-public and private sectors

A contributory scheme known as Self-Employed Workers’ Health Insurance, which covers all self-employed workers engaged in commerce, the liberal professions, craft and agriculture

A scheme known as Medical Assistance, which is aimed at persons on low incomes

20.Furthermore, 42 per cent of the total cost of implementing the National Development Plan for 2017–2021, i.e. CFAF 2,327,400,000, is being allocated to the fourth area of the Plan, which concerns social welfare or social security policy. This shows the importance that the Government attaches to improving people’s living conditions.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 18 of the list of issues

21.The question of revising the Civil Code and the Persons and Family Code was discussed during the inclusive and sovereign national dialogue held between 20 August and 8 October 2022. Recommendations to this effect have been formulated with a view to their being adopted. Even more promisingly, a committee charged with reviewing the draft Persons and Family Code has been set up by the Ministry of Gender and National Solidarity.

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 19 of the list of issues

22.Articles 335 and 336 of the Criminal Code prohibit the exploitation of children through prostitution and provide for penalties. Decree No. 55/PR-MTJS-DTMOPS of 8 February 1969 on child labour also prohibits the exploitation of children.

23.The Government has drafted a child protection code. The issue of child protection was raised and discussed during the inclusive and sovereign national dialogue held from 20 August to 8 October 2022 in N’Djamena. One of the main recommendations made was that the draft code should be adopted. To this end, under the aegis of the Ministry of Gender and National Solidarity, the draft was reviewed and technically validated at a workshop held on 14 and 15 June 2023 in Bakara, in Chari-Baguirmi province.

24.The exploitation of children is punishable under Act No. 012/PR/2018 of 20 June 2018, ratifying Ordinance No. 006/PR/2018 of 30 March 2018 on combating human trafficking in Chad. Trafficking in persons is established as an offence under national law. Article 7 of the aforementioned ordinance prescribes a sentence of between 4 and 30 years’ imprisonment and a fine of between CFAF 250,000 and CFAF 5 million for anyone who commits the offence of trafficking in persons.

25.In practical terms, in 2018, Chad sent three labour inspectors to spend 45 days at the African Regional Labour Administration Centre of the International Labour Organization.

Right to an adequate standard of living

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 23 of the list of issues

26.It is currently estimated that 78 per cent of the urban population and 32 per cent of the rural population have access to drinking water. As for sanitation services, the 2017 report of the African Development Bank gives an overall access rate of 30 per cent.

27.Continuing its efforts to improve access to drinking water for all, the Government commissioned the construction of 15,987 hand-operated pumps and 703 drinking water supply systems in 2019, increasing the rate of access to drinking water from 65 per cent of the population in 2018 to 66.5 per cent in 2019. The Government has received additional funding in the amount of CFAF 5 billion (over €7.6 million) to implement the Project for the Provision of Drinking Water and Sanitation Services in Semi-Urban and Rural Environments. The funding is provided by the Global Environment Facility through its implementing agency, the African Development Bank. The funding agreement was signed on 20 January 2023 by the representative of the African Development Bank in Chad and the Minister of Economic Planning and International Partnerships. The funds allocated by the Global Environment Facility will make it possible to continue the construction of several drinking water and sanitation facilities in Chad. These include 48 small-scale drinking water supply systems, partially powered by solar energy in semi-urban centres and large grouped villages. The African Development Bank estimates that the Project will eventually benefit over 2 million people, 54 per cent of whom will be women. In 2021, barely 53 per cent of the country’s population had access to drinking water. The Government is continuing its efforts to achieve universal and equitable access to drinking water and hygiene and sanitation services by 2030.

Right to physical and mental health

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 25 of the list of issues

28.The Government of Chad attaches the utmost importance to the health sector, which it considers to be a priority. Health-care facilities, with support from the Global Fund, offer free treatment to people affected by poliomyelitis, malaria, tuberculosis, Guinea worm, cholera, HIV/AIDS, meningitis and yellow fever.

29.On 11 April 2023, Chad launched a number of measures to deal with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C. The aim of these measures is to implement a national policy on combating HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted infections through the health sector. The national HIV prevalence rate fell from 3.3 per cent to 1.1 per cent in 2021. The measures being taken include the provision of 49 GeneXpert machines to promote the use of viral load indicators through appropriate mass strategies that have already been proposed, in addition to the usual strategy.

30.In common with other African countries, Chad has very few mental health specialists. However, a new psychiatric and alcoholism treatment unit has been opened at the Notre Dame des Apôtres de Maïngara hospital in Sarh, in Moyen Chari province in southern Chad.

Right to education

Reply to the questions raised in paragraph 27 of the list of issues

31.By order No. 0621 of 19 October 2021, the Directorate for the Advancement of Girls’ Education became the Directorate for Girls’ Education and the Promotion of Gender. Its purpose is to improve school access and retention rates for girls and to promote gender parity and equity.

32.At the national level, the number of primary school pupils increased by 4.2 per cent between 2021 and 2022, rising from 2,719,364 to 2,832,890.

33.Girls account for 44.6 per cent of the total number of pupils. This proportion is almost identical to the previous year’s figure of 44.3 per cent.

34.At the secondary level, key indicators show that the gross intake rate is 18.9 per cent, compared with 18.3 per cent in 2021. The rate for girls is 13 per cent. The gross enrolment rate is 22.5 per cent, compared with 21.3 per cent the previous year. The rate for girls is 14.7 per cent.

35.The parity index was 0.5, compared with 0.4 the previous year. This index reflects girls’ low attendance rates. The secondary school completion rate is 21.1 per cent overall and 12.7 per cent for girls.

36.During the lockdown imposed after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID‑19) pandemic, the Government designed a special programme that is broadcast on national radio and television channels in French and Arabic.

Number of pupils in primary school broken down by grade, sex and province

Province	CP1	CP2	CE1	CE2	CM1	CM2	Overall
Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	T otal
Barh El Gazal	4 669	4 100	3 479	2 889	2 201	1 807	1 502	1 232	948	746	654	535	13 453	11 309	24 762
Batha	13 942	11 490	9 204	7 199	4 519	3 728	3 096	2 410	1 733	1 611	1 294	1 172	33 788	27 610	61 398
Borkou	1 154	751	755	438	564	330	365	289	297	212	218	145	3 353	2 165	5 518
Chari Baguirmi	16 574	13 302	10 466	8 075	8 091	5 846	5 929	4 466	4 433	3 104	3 465	2 150	48 958	36 943	85 901
Ennedi est	1 042	907	933	802	652	572	520	510	520	550	412	481	4 079	3 822	7 901
Ennedi ouest	838	500	521	363	479	334	313	186	234	176	152	116	2 537	1 675	4 212
Guera	25 297	20 958	16 026	12 769	11 195	8 924	7 519	5 863	5 067	4 082	3 747	2 910	68 851	55 506	124 357
Hadjer Lamis	12 714	9 504	8 653	6 062	6 065	4 080	4 127	2 812	2 817	1 896	2 030	1 297	36 406	25 651	62 057
Kanem	11 012	9 823	7 584	6 660	4 678	3 922	3 034	2 552	1 757	1 477	1 177	1 029	29 242	25 463	54 705
Lac	23 577	20 823	15 696	13 462	10 722	8 892	7 711	6 193	4 844	3 779	3 419	2 517	65 969	55 666	121 635
Logone occidental	38 245	35 218	29 590	25 978	24 158	20 050	19 290	15 803	15 102	11 722	12 307	8 760	138 692	117 531	256 223
Logone oriental	48 030	40 233	35 366	27 462	28 821	21 363	23 492	16 458	17 738	11 680	14 009	8 739	167 456	125 935	293 391
Mandoul	37 373	32 206	29 261	23 738	23 445	18 551	18 591	14 153	13 254	9 708	9 940	6 749	131 864	105 105	236 969
Mayo Kebbi est	34 884	27 553	27 311	21 306	22 903	16 869	19 277	13 463	15 665	10 674	13 504	8 619	133 544	98 484	232 028
Mayo Kebbi ouest	24 509	22 876	20 403	18 950	18 314	16 514	15 554	13 845	13 571	11 823	11 835	10 194	104 186	94 202	198 388
Moyen Chari	28 303	24 965	21 049	17 852	17 614	15 190	13 967	12 086	10 574	8 861	7 943	6 530	99 450	85 484	184 934
Ouaddaï	24 829	17 570	18 651	13 125	14 157	10 515	11 106	8 608	8 470	7 236	6 756	5 950	83 969	63 004	146 973
Salamat	8 434	5 074	4 843	2 982	3 692	2 181	2 662	1 613	1 864	1 164	1 405	987	22 900	14 001	36 901
Sila	10 568	6 120	6 228	3 736	3 992	2 504	2 576	1 741	1 810	1 408	1 297	1 060	26 471	16 569	43 040
Tandjile	35 436	29 727	27 613	22 046	22 061	16 668	17 303	12 131	13 211	8 958	10 537	6 828	126 161	96 358	222 519
Tibesti	500	494	449	434	427	411	332	310	214	236	165	183	2 087	2 068	4 155
N ’ Djamena city	41 858	37 588	35 902	33 221	32 939	31 388	28 647	27 632	24 510	23 723	19 795	19 347	183 651	172 899	356 550
Wadi Fira	14 004	8 757	9 288	5 697	6 957	4 351	4 885	3 282	3 829	2 646	2 748	1 929	41 711	26 662	68 373
Overall total	457 792	380 539	339 271	275 246	268 646	214 990	211 798	167 638	162 462	127 472	128 809	98 227	1 568 778	1 264 112	2 832 890

Number of pupils in middle school, broken down by grade, sex and province

Province	6th grade	5th grade	4th grade	3rd grade	Overall
Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total
Barh El Gazal	333	259	592	195	150	345	177	131	308	189	118	307	894	658	1 552
Batha	740	486	1 226	491	376	867	357	298	655	402	279	681	1 990	1 439	3 429
Borkou	189	107	296	134	98	232	124	77	201	127	90	217	574	372	946
Chari Baguirmi	2 652	1 458	4 110	1 829	1 044	2 873	1 528	862	2 390	1 608	722	2 330	7 617	4 086	11 703
Ennedi est	263	252	515	158	197	355	135	238	373	173	147	320	729	834	1 563
Ennedi ouest	99	100	199	42	69	111	35	52	87	29	44	73	205	265	470
Guera	2 545	1 595	4 140	1 598	1 029	2 627	1 400	843	2 243	1 300	707	2 007	6 843	4 174	11 017
Hadjer Lamis	1 882	1 086	2 968	1 426	874	2 300	1 191	674	1 865	1 230	653	1 883	5 729	3 287	9 016
Kanem	509	414	923	386	235	621	252	149	401	225	127	352	1 372	925	2 297
Lac	1 496	991	2 487	963	497	1 460	752	346	1 098	658	305	963	3 869	2 139	6 008
Logone occidental	8 891	5 478	14 369	6 475	3 596	10 071	5 507	2 895	8 402	4 999	2 452	7 451	25 872	14 421	40 293
Logone oriental	7 883	4 228	12 111	5 711	2 792	8 503	4 667	2 211	6 878	4 317	1 874	6 191	22 578	11 105	33 683
Mandoul	6 006	3 784	9 790	4 327	2 398	6 725	3 463	1 966	5 429	3 196	1 592	4 788	16 992	9 740	26 732
Mayo Kebbi est	10 628	6 191	16 819	8 220	4 085	12 305	6 990	2 904	9 894	6 991	2 500	9 491	32 829	15 680	48 509
Mayo Kebbi ouest	12 096	9 144	21 240	9 134	6 603	15 737	7 957	5 146	13 103	7 998	4 556	12 554	37 185	25 449	62 634
Moyen chari	6 307	4 841	11 148	4 433	3 072	7 505	3 709	2 452	6 161	3 335	2 143	5 478	17 784	12 508	30 292
Ouaddaï	5 269	4 891	10 160	3 299	3 360	6 659	2 929	2 960	5 889	2 438	2 680	5 118	13 935	13 891	27 826
Salamat	1 001	631	1 632	743	433	1 176	584	389	973	464	266	730	2 792	1 719	4 511
Sila	915	871	1 786	644	688	1 332	486	545	1 031	300	270	570	2 345	2 374	4 719
Tandjile	7 805	4 393	12 198	5 556	2 963	8 519	4 912	2 114	7 026	4 635	1 778	6 413	22 908	11 248	34 156
Tibesti	115	127	242	104	130	234	71	85	156	92	114	206	382	456	838
N ’ Djamena city	20 046	16 706	36 752	16 371	13 597	29 968	15 688	12 579	28 267	14 828	12 167	26 995	66 933	55 049	121 982
Wadi Fira	1 472	1 441	2 913	996	1 032	2 028	830	914	1 744	666	804	1 470	3 964	4 191	8 155
Total	99 142	69 474	168 616	73 235	49 318	122 553	63 744	40 830	104 574	60 200	36 388	96 588	296 321	196 010	492 331