Source: Compilation of data from annual workplans.

Provide training on gender equality to men and women working in the Ministry of Gender and National Solidarity (including provincial representatives)

42.The Government of Chad has conducted several training activities for those working in the field of gender. During the period 2011–2019, training on gender-sensitive budgeting was provided to trainers of government employees (30 people received this training).

43.In 2013, staff of the Ministry of Gender and National Solidarity were also provided with training on the following topics:

•The gender perspective

•Women’s right to inheritance and land ownership

44.Directorate staff also took part in regional and international training courses and seminars, including the following:

•Regional workshop on strengthening political commitment to the demographic dividend and behavioural change: third component of the Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend initiative, held in Nouakchott, Mauritania

•Validation of the gender action plan of the Economic Community of Central African States, conducted in Douala, Cameroon

•Seminar on capacity-building for women in French-speaking African countries, held in Fuzhou, China

•Regional training session on gender, held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Give priority attention to women’s rights in the development of the national gender policy

45.During the period 2011–2015, Chad validated its five-year plan of priorities for Chadian women (2012–2016), the overall objective of which was to promote equality between men and women, access to reproductive health services and access to and control of resources for sustainable development. The document testifies to the Government’s determination to prioritize the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

46.Priority is indeed given to women’s rights in the national gender policy and in the national strategy to combat gender-based violence, both of which emphasize the elimination of all forms of violence against women, non-discrimination and equal access to opportunities, resources and decision-making power, from the family to public and private institutions.

Incorporate a results-oriented approach, including specific indicators and targets, in the national gender policy

47.The results of the situational analysis on gender in Chad led to the development of a national gender policy centred on the following six interdependent strategic areas:

•Systematic integration of the gender dimension into systems for the planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development strategies, policies and programmes at all levels

•Development of a communications strategy to shift attitudes and behaviours towards equality between men and women in all areas of public and private life

•Equal access for men and women to basic social services, resources (including land) and profits

•Equal and equitable access for men and women to decision-making arenas

•Promotion of human rights by combating gender-based violence, with particular emphasis placed on empowering women

•Development of an active partnership on gender issues in Chad

48.The national gender policy has an accompanying action plan with well-defined indicators and targets.

National human rights institutions

Take measures to empower the National Human Rights Commission and work with it to enhance women’s awareness of their rights and their ability to claim those rights

49.The National Human Rights Commission is an institution whose remit includes raising awareness of human rights among the general public, the Government and civil society by providing information through the media, offering teaching and training in human rights concepts, organizing conferences and utilizing any other appropriate means. In this way, the Commission, in compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), will help to enhance women’s awareness of their rights and their ability to claim those rights.

Stereotypes and harmful practices

Put in place a comprehensive strategy to modify or eliminate harmful practices and stereotypes that discriminate against women

50.Like other African countries, Chad is a highly traditional society. It is predominantly patriarchal, assigning different roles to girls and boys from an early age. One of the consequences of these sociocultural practices is unequal access to knowledge and economic and political opportunities, to the detriment of girls.

51.To correct those inequalities, the Government has committed to combating such practices through both legislative and administrative measures.

52.In terms of legislative measures, article 3 of Act No. 006/PR/2002 of 15 April 2002 on the promotion of reproductive health provides that all individuals have equal rights and dignity with regard to reproductive health, without discrimination based on gender in particular. Failure to comply with that provision is punishable by a prison sentence of five months to five years or a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 CFA francs, or both.

53.It has been argued that that punishment is inappropriate; the Government has provided for harsher penalties in the draft child protection code that are likely to dissuade potential offenders.

54.To implement the provisions of the various conventions ratified by Chad, notably the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Head of State issued an ordinance on 14 March 2015 to prohibit child marriage, which was ratified by the National Assembly through the adoption of Act No. 29/PR/2015 of 21 July 2015.

55.At the administrative level, several documents have been adopted and are being implemented. These include:

•The action plan to combat female genital mutilation, adopted in 2012

•The national strategy to combat gender-based violence

•The road map banning child marriage and female genital mutilation, adopted in 2016

•The five-year plan (2012–2016) to promote equality and equity between men and women

•The national gender policy of 2017, aimed at promoting equality between men and women

56.The launch of the national campaign to prevent and combat gender-based violence should also be noted. Initiated in 2009 under the patronage of the former First Lady, the campaign ended in 2015.

57.In addition, with the support of its national partners (human rights associations and women’s organizations) and international partners, the Government continues to make considerable efforts to help to change mentalities and alter the roles traditionally assigned to men and women and the stereotypes that contribute to the persistence of discriminatory traditional practices.

Use innovative and effective measures targeting young people and adults to strengthen understanding of equality between women and men

58.To bring about a real change in the behaviour of all people, the Government of the Republic of Chad involves the media, journalists, community-based communicators and artists in the promotion of gender issues. Traditional and religious leaders are also involved in the process.

59.To that end, a number of approaches are used: meetings with groups, symposiums, film screenings with commentary, theatrical productions, mock trials and telephone messaging.

60.The Government thereby aims to reach a large part of the population, in particular young people and adults. Such efforts are doubtless contributing to a change in mentality and behaviour.

61.In addition, the commemoration of certain events provides an opportunity to raise awareness among a much wider public. Such events include:

•International Women’s Day

•National Women’s Week

•16 Days of Activism

•Pan-African Women’s Day

•International Day of Rural Women

•World Population Day

•National Human Rights Day

62.The revision of curricula, the holding of training workshops and the organization of festivals and forums on gender issues and gender-based violence also provide an opportunity to broaden the scope of awareness-raising and reach people from diverse backgrounds.

63.Notwithstanding those measures, discriminatory practices persist in most provinces.

64.Even if the change in behaviour is not immediately perceptible, the approach adopted by the Government of Chad is having a positive impact, with a decrease in the number of victims of female genital mutilation in recent years.

Monitor and review the measures taken in order to assess their impact and to take appropriate action

65.As the Chadian legal framework promotes equality between men and women, there is a mechanism to support the implementation of the adopted strategy. It comprises:

•A framework for action, chaired by the ministry in charge of women’s affairs, which meets twice a year and includes high-level stakeholders

•A technical monitoring framework, bringing together all stakeholders and chaired by the Directorate General for Women and Gender Equity, which meets every three months to coordinate the work of other institutions and ministries

•A monthly meeting for the various national and provincial coordinating bodies

66.Alongside those coordination structures, there are other mechanisms for promoting women’s rights that monitor measures taken in that area. They are:

•The Observatory for the Promotion of Gender Equality and Equity in Chad

•The multisectoral committee made up of representatives (focal points) from various ministries, civil society and development partners

•The thematic group on gender and human rights, with the United Nations system

•The national coordinating body for combating gender-based violence

•Regional coordinating bodies for combating gender-based violence in the 23 provinces of Chad

•The subcluster for combating gender-based violence in emergency situations

67.All the structures work closely with the Interministerial Technical Committee for Monitoring International Human Rights Instruments, established by Order No. 4954/PCM/PMT/MJCDH/2022 of the Prime Minister of 3 June 2022.

68.Unfortunately, the bodies all lack the technical and financial resources to fulfil their mandates.

Female genital mutilation and violence against women

Amend relevant legislation or adopt a framework law on violence against women

Legislative measures

69.In Chad, there is no framework law on violence against women. However, violence against women, in particular female genital mutilation, early marriage, spousal violence and sexual violence, is punishable under articles 341 and 443 of the Criminal Code.

70.Act No. 006/PR/2002 of 15 April 2002 on the promotion of reproductive health contains certain provisions under which female genital mutilation is punished.

71.In addition, the Criminal Code criminalizes rape, sexual harassment, paedophilia, soliciting, the prostitution of minors and early or forced marriage, incest, and female genital mutilation.

72.Moreover, it provides for “imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 francs for anyone who harms a female person’s genital organs by:

(a)Total or partial excision of the clitoris or labia minora;

(b)Total removal of the labia majora and minora followed by total or partial suturing or total or partial narrowing of the vaginal orifice;

(c)Perforation, incision or stretching of the clitoris and/or labia, cauterization, introduction of corrosive substances or plants into the vagina to cause narrowing or bleeding;

(d)Any procedure.”

73.“The sentence is imprisonment of 5 to 10 years and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 francs:

(a)If it results in the death of the victim;

(b)If the perpetrator habitually engages in this practice.”

74.Act No. 29/PR/2015 of 21 July 2015 prohibits early marriage and female genital mutilation in Chad.

75.Under article 292 of the Criminal Code of Chad, sexual violence is defined as a crime against humanity when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against any population. It is considered a war crime if committed during an armed conflict not of an international character.

Administrative and judicial measures

76.To combat these practices, the Government has devised a national gender policy, the vision for which is that “by 2030, Chad will be a country free of all forms of gender-related inequality and inequity and of all forms of violence, in which men and boys, and women and girls, have the same opportunities to access and control resources and participate equitably in decision-making forums with a view to sustainable development”.

Limits and challenges encountered

77.Notwithstanding the measures taken in response to the practices, difficulties persist, in particular sociocultural barriers, the fact that female genital mutilation is a lucrative business for practitioners, ignorance of the dangers of female genital mutilation among some parents and practitioners, and fear of social marginalization.

78.However, the statistics indicate a slight improvement, as the demographic and health multiple-indicator cluster survey conducted in 2019 indicated that the rate of female genital mutilation in Chad was 34.1 per cent, compared with 44 per cent in the multiple-indicator cluster survey of 2010, a result that is a testament to the work of the Government and its partners.

79.Even though cultural taboos and victims’ fear of being stigmatized by the community persist, there was a slight decline in the incidence of spousal sexual violence, from 12 per cent in 2010 to 11.6 per cent in the demographic and health multiple-indicator cluster survey of 2014–2015.

80.Committees to combat child abuse have been set up in the various regions of the country, in particular in the areas most affected. Through their vigilance and action, the committees uncover and report all forms of child abuse. In Moyen-Chari, for example, monitoring observatories have been set up in 13 cantons, chaired by either canton chiefs or brigade chiefs. The existence of these committees helps to prevent child abuse.

81.Counselling centres established by the Association des femmes juristes du Tchad, the Public Interest Law Center, and legal clinics provided by the Association pour la promotion des libertés fondamentales au Tchad provide guidance, advice and assistance to victims of gender-based violence.

82.However, as a result of lack of awareness or understanding, people do not always use such centres to assert their rights. The Government and its partners therefore conduct awareness-raising campaigns against female genital mutilation. Regular campaigns are directed at administrative, security, traditional and religious authorities, but the majority of those who still approve of female genital mutilation are women with no formal education. Consequently, it appears that illiteracy is one of the difficulties preventing some people from understanding the validity of the various measures taken by the Government and its partners to combat the harmful traditional practice.

83.For reproductive health, the decree implementing Act No. 006/PR/2002 of 15 April 2002 on the promotion of reproductive health was issued in 2021. A number of materials have been produced to publicize it and raise awareness among the general public.

Ensure adequate budgetary allocations to provide victims with support services

84.There is no special government fund to help victims of female genital mutilation. The Government works with civil society organizations to offer victims and their families protection, relief, and social support services.

Strengthen cooperation with relevant international organizations, in particular the United Nations Population Fund, in order to finalize and implement the national strategy for the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence

85.As part of our cooperation with the United Nations system, we have set up a thematic group on gender and human rights, which facilitated the development and adoption of the road map against child marriage and female genital mutilation. UNFPA and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are supporting the Government in effectively implementing the road map.

86.The thematic group also contributed to the drafting of the national strategy to combat gender-based violence and the national social protection strategy, both of which are pending adoption.

Raise awareness through the media and education programmes about all forms of violence against women

87.The Government consistently uses the media as a tool to combat all forms of violence against women. Activities to prevent or combat violence against women are covered by the media. Field reports are continually organized to enhance public awareness. Organizations working to combat violence against women are also given airtime periodically to raise broad public awareness.

88.There are many examples of this, including:

•Satellite branches of public and private media outlets, in particular the National Audiovisual Media Office and certain community radio stations, for combating forms of violence against women

•The launch of the national campaign to prevent and combat gender-based violence (2009 to 2015), under the patronage of the First Lady

•16 Days of Activism: more than 50 traditional leaders pledged to practise initiation without female genital mutilation

89.For educational programmes, the Directorate General for Women and Gender Equity of the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood Protection and National Solidarity frequently organizes educational talks/community dialogues with pupils, teachers, young people and parents on various themes relating to women’s rights. Provincial workshops and social mobilization meetings with decentralized local authorities in provinces significantly affected by the issue are organized on a regular basis.

90.To ensure that the mobilization, information and awareness-raising sessions yield results, members of the association of customary and traditional leaders of Chad and religious leaders are involved. State and private media, such as community radio stations (for example, Lotiko de Sarh, Tob de Koumra and La voix du paysan de Doba), the Réseau des journalistes pour la population et le développement and the Campagne pour l’accélération de la réduction de la mortalité maternelle en Afrique all contribute.

91.The efforts of the Government, with the support of its partners, are yielding results in the form of a reduction in the number of people still practising female genital mutilation.

92.The national coordinating body for the prevention of, protection against and response to gender-based violence, whose role is to oversee the implementation and evaluation of the national strategy to combat gender-based violence, has sought to capitalize on the efforts of all stakeholders in response to the various commitments made, in particular in relation to this issue. Unfortunately, its work is limited by a lack of financial resources.

93.Strategic component VI of the national strategy to combat gender-based violence provides for “advocacy for behavioural change”. The component is aimed at developing an integrated communication plan, including communication media and tools for combating gender-based violence in Chad.

94.To reach the general public, the Ministry of Women proposes to:

•Produce information, education and communication materials on behavioural change relating to gender-based violence for young people, women and men

•Align the messaging and awareness-raising tools used by stakeholders in the field

•Raise awareness among young people and men so that they see violence as a crime against society and a violation of human rights

•Organize information and advocacy sessions for decision-makers on gender equality and combating sexual violence

•Conduct mass mobilization campaigns so that victims can report the perpetrators of these crimes

•Involve the network of men committed to combating gender-based violence

Trafficking and exploitation of prostitution

Amend the Criminal Code to include trafficking as an offence

95.In response to the Committee’s recommendations, the Criminal Code now includes punishments for “trafficking in women and children”. It provides for the protection of children (including girls) against all forms of economic exploitation and against attacks on their dignity, person, family unity, life and physical and mental health. It also provides women and girls with a legal environment in which all forms of violence against them are prohibited (art. 336).

Effectively implement the national action plan against trafficking in persons and consider the establishment of a national mechanism to coordinate efforts towards preventing and combating trafficking in persons

96.A national action plan against trafficking in women and children was drawn up and implemented in the period 2008–2010. It has not been renewed since then. However, there is an ordinance, No. 006/PR/2018 of 30 March 2018, on combating human trafficking.

97.The Head of State has issued Decree No. 0151/PR/MJCDH/2021 of 8 February 2021, on the composition, organization and operation of the National Commission to Combat Trafficking in Persons in the Republic of Chad.

98.In addition to that mechanism, Order No. 3912/PM/MDHLF/11 of 12 December 2011, signed by the Prime Minister and repealed by Order No. 4954/PCMT/PMT/MJCDH/2022 of 3 June 2022, established an interministerial committee to monitor international human rights instruments and to draft reports to the treaty bodies.

Provide the judiciary, law enforcement officials and border guards with information and training on how to identify and assist victims of trafficking

99.In 2020, the Government, with the support of the Embassy of the United States of America, organized training sessions for judges and other stakeholders in the criminal justice system on how to identify victims of trafficking.

Collect and analyse data on the trafficking and exploitation of women in prostitution and include such data in the present report

Selected data on cases of trafficking in persons heard by N’Djamena Regional Court

No.	Digest No.	Crime	Jurisdiction
1	064/2022	Trafficking in persons	N’Djamena
2	073/2022	Trafficking in persons	N’Djamena
3	103/2022	Trafficking in persons	N’Djamena
4	122/2022	Trafficking in persons and aiding and abetting	N’Djamena
5	141/2022	Trafficking in persons	N’Djamena
6	Remanded in custody, digest No. 036 dated 27 March 2023	Trafficking in persons and aiding and abetting	Mao
7	046/2020 of 22/08/2020	Trafficking in persons	Sarh
8	007/23 of 5 April 2023	Trafficking in persons	Sarh

According to a study commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund on gender-based violence in Chad, published in 2010, the main cause of prostitution in Chad is poverty.

Conduct comparative studies on trafficking and prostitution and address their root causes (in particular poverty)

100.No comparative study of trafficking and prostitution has yet been conducted on a national scale. In the past, prostitution in Chad was carried out very discreetly but it is now noticeable throughout the country.

101.To tackle the causes of these issues, the regional delegations of the Social Action initiative in the regions most affected are increasing the number of awareness-raising sessions aimed at both traditional leaders and the women concerned themselves.

102.At the same time, non-governmental organizations such as World Vision (in Mandoul and Logone Occidental Provinces) are training young girls in the provinces in income-generating activities and granting them microloans with a view to empowering them.

Increase efforts towards international, regional and bilateral cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination to prevent trafficking

103.The Government took part in a subregional meeting from 11 to 13 January 2012, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to collaborate on activities under the multilateral subregional cooperation agreement to combat trafficking in persons, in particular women and children.

104.Moreover, Chad signed the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime on 15 November 2000 and ratified it on 18 August 2009. On 10 August 2010, it also ratified the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the Convention.

Participation in political and public life

Adopt the law on quotas for women, and work to promote the full and equal participation of women in decision-making

105.To compensate for the shortfall in the number of women, the Government instituted a quota of 30 per cent women among elected and appointed officials through Act No. 22 of 2018.

106.Considerable progress has therefore been made in women’s participation in decision-making.

107.Under the Electoral Code published pursuant to Act No. 33 of 22 July 2019, parties or groupings of political parties are required to observe, “to the extent possible, parity between men and women in candidate lists for legislative and local elections”.

108.Civil society organizations have been active in this area also. They include the Cellule de liaison et d’information des associations féminines, which implemented a project on the theme “civic education for the participation of women and young people” between 2010 and 2012. As part of the project, women were trained in political leadership, and a number of awareness-raising campaigns were conducted.

109.As at 14 October 2022, the Government includes 13 women among its 44 members, or 29.54 per cent.

110.The National Assembly had 28 women among its 188 members, or 15 per cent. In the 2002–2011 legislature, 11 out of 155 parliamentarians were women, or 6 per cent. The progress is clear.

111.Under the current political transition, 53 National Transitional Councillors out of 198 are women, or 26.76 per cent.

112.The 2011 elections resulted in the appointment of 130 women councillors in 39 municipalities across the country, or 13.3 per cent. The following conservative provinces serve as examples:

•In Sarh, Moyen-Chari, there are 9 women councillors out of a total of 29, or 31 per cent

•In Koumra, Mandoul, there are 2 women councillors out of a total of 17, or 11.76 per cent

113.Social and cultural prejudices against women are still present. However, the Government is taking significant steps, as demonstrated by the appointment of a woman as canton chief in Koualé in the Béré Sub-prefecture, Tandjilé Centre Department.

114.The number of women among diplomats and in the main institutions of the Republic include:

•Three women ambassadors out of 22, in 2014

•Three women members of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council out of 30

•Four female departmental General Secretaries out of 56

•Two women provincial governors out of 23, in 2023

•Twelve women on the Supreme Court out of 46, in 2023

•Five women in the National Human Rights Commission out of 11

115.In the technical and professional fields, there are:

•In the Air Force, 17 women commissioned officers, including 1 woman general, out of 900 personnel

•In civil aviation, 1 young woman in her thirties, a mainline pilot

•In the National Police, 1 woman Comptroller General and about 20 women officers, including 7 colonels and several non-commissioned officers and commissioners

•In the National Gendarmerie, 2 colonels and many non-commissioned officers

116.With regard to national and international non-governmental organizations operating legally in Chad, the 2015 report of the Directorate of Coordination and Monitoring of Humanitarian Affairs shows that, of a total of 143 managers, there are 21 women, or 14.68 per cent.

117.Because of sociocultural constraints linked to the traditional status of women in society (the education of girls is limited to their role as future wives and mothers) and to religious considerations (in Islam, women are considered socially and legally inferior to men and are even considered incapable of doing anything, while the Christian religion requires women to obey men), not only are women reluctant to take part in public debates but there is social resistance to their involvement in politics.

118.Democracy creates an environment conducive to women’s participation. The proliferation of political parties and the high proportion of women voters (52 per cent) contribute to their effective participation.

119.The same applies to prosperity and socioeconomic changes: access to credit and the proliferation of women’s tontine groups and religious associations contribute to women’s empowerment. Through them, women work towards their own social integration, financial autonomy and self-advancement.

Implement awareness-raising activities on the importance of women’s participation in decision-making

120.Civil society organizations such as the Association des femmes juristes du Tchad, the Association pour la promotion des libertés fondamentales au Tchad and the Cellule de liaison et d’information des associations féminines have organized training sessions for women to raise awareness of the importance of their participation in decision-making. The civic education project carried out by the Cellule de liaison from 2010 to 2012 is noteworthy. A large-scale campaign to raise awareness of women’s participation in decision-making was organized, contributing to an increase in the number of female candidates in the various elections that have been held.

121.There are minimal numbers of women in decision-making bodies, even though there is officially no discrimination. This is because the number of women in the technical and academic fields is low. Moreover, owing to persistent prejudices, the numbers vary depending on whether the positions in question are administrative appointments or elective posts.

Monitor the effectiveness of measures taken and results achieved in order to report thereon in the present report

122.The Government notes that Order No. 4954/PCMT/PMT/2022 of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, of 3 June 2022 established the Interministerial Technical Committee for Monitoring International Human Rights Instruments to monitor the implementation of international agreements ratified by Chad and produce a report on their implementation.

Participation of women in the peace process

Adopt a plan of action to implement Security Council resolution 1325 (2000)

Inclusion of women in the peace process

123.The Government, in collaboration with civil society partners (the Comité de suivi à l’appel à la paix et la réconciliation and the Organisation des acteurs non étatiques du Tchad), takes part in conflict resolution and the promotion of peace. Particular emphasis is placed on the participation of women’s organizations (the Union des femmes pour la paix, AFUP, the Union des associations des femmes arabophones au Tchad, the Association des femmes pour le développement et la culture de la paix au Tchad and the Réseau des femmes ministres et parlementaires) and religious denominations in conflict resolution.

124.Civil society organizations are also working towards that end. The Cellule de liaison et d’information des associations féminines in particular has carried out a number of important activities as part of its programmes to promote women’s participation in the peace and security process in Central Africa, including:

•Organizing several awareness-raising campaigns on the eight themes of the communication plan, including peace and security in particular, during the period from May 2011 to September 2014

•Holding monthly panel discussions on the role of women in working for and building peace in Chad from January 2013 to September 2014

•Conducting a study to capitalize on experiences of women’s participation in peacekeeping and peacebuilding mechanisms, including a database of women leaders, the report on which was validated in September 2014

•Organizing, in N’Djamena in September 2014, a regional brainstorming conference on the establishment of a Central African regional coalition to advocate women’s participation in conflict management and peacebuilding mechanisms, on the theme “Women and peace and security in Central Africa”, which brought together 150 participants representing networks of women’s organizations from 12 African countries

•Establishing a national coalition of women mediators consisting of 13 platforms of women’s organizations, in March 2021

Education

Take steps to ensure de facto equal access for girls and young women to all levels of education

125.With regard to legislative measures, since the adoption of Act No. 16/PR/2006 of 13 March 2006 on education policy in Chad, no other laws have been adopted.

126.At the administrative level, to ensure equal access for girls and young women to all levels of education, the Government has taken important regulatory measures, namely the adoption of decrees, orders, circular notes and decisions relating to the application of various decrees implementing the above-mentioned Act No. 16. In particular, these texts concern the issuing of three report cards during the school year instead of two previously, and rigorous inspections to ensure that appropriate teaching is being provided.

127.Several plans, programmes and strategies have been adopted and implemented. As part of the national development plan for 2017–2021, for example, the Government worked on expanding access to basic education. The following programmes are currently being implemented:

•Basic education programme

•Project to revitalize basic education in Chad

•Project to support bilingual teaching (ongoing)

•Project to develop bilingual primary teaching (ongoing)

•Project to support the education sector

•Project to train community teachers

•Three-year plan for 2022–2024

•Project to improve the quality of education in Chad

•Project to provide education to nomadic children

128.The absence of school fees, as decided by Chad, enables parents to enrol large numbers of girls and young women at all levels of education, unlike in the past when boys were prioritized. The table below shows changes in gross enrolment ratios for girls and boys from 2010 to 2014 and in parity indexes by education level during the same period.

Table showing gross enrolment ratios for girls and changes in the parity index

		2010		2011		2012		2013		2014
Level	Sex	Gross enrolment ratio	Parity index	Gross enrolment ratio	Parity index	Gross enrolment ratio	Parity index	Gross enrolment ratio	Parity index	Gross enrolment ratio	Parity index
Pre-primary	Boys			2.6		2.15		1.28		1.31
	Girls		–	2.4	0.93	2.09	0.98	1.12	0.94	1.25	0.96
Primary	Boys	115.6		107		111.6		119.2		121.7
	Girls	84.3	0.73	80	0.75	84.5	0.76	90.0	0.76	92.1	0.76
Middle	Boys	44.8		40.91		39.7		39.8		41.20
	Girls	20.00	0.4	18.15	0.45	18.4	0.47	18.30	0.46	19.10	0.46
General secondary	Boys	30.00		30.09		26.95		28.3		29.0
Girls	9.8	0.30	9.11	0.31	8.54	0.32	8.8	0.31	8.7	0.30

Source: data collected by the Ministry of Education.

129.In comparison with the table above, the Education Statistics Yearbook for 2021‍–‍2022 shows that in the 2021/22 academic year a total of 31,446 pupils attended school, 14,900 of whom were girls, compared with 20,980 in the previous year, an increase of 49.9 per cent. An analysis of the number of pupils shows that preschool education is primarily private, with public schooling at 12.4 per cent, community schooling at 16.6 per cent and private schooling at 71 per cent.

130.A breakdown of the number of pupils shows that most are in urban areas (87.6 per cent).

131.The number of primary school pupils nationally increased by 4.2 per cent from 2021 to 2022, i.e. from 2,719,364 to 2,832,890.

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

133.The number of school pupils decreases as the level of education increases, with the percentage falling from 29.6 per cent in the first year (CP1) to 8.0 per cent in the sixth year (CM2). The number of pupils in the first year (CP1) is 838,331, 84.7 per cent being newly enrolled, of whom only 2.5 per cent have attended preschool. There are 559,994 pupils without birth certificates, i.e. 19.8 per cent.

134.There are 1,555,787 pupils in public schools (54.9 per cent), followed by 750,239 in community schools (26.5 per cent) and 526,864 in private schools (18.6 per cent).

135.The gross enrolment ratio for general secondary education is 22.5 per cent, compared with 21.3 per cent in the previous year. The ratio for girls is 14.7 per cent.

136.The parity index is 0.5, compared with 0.4 in 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.

137.Enrolment of girls in general and girls who are mothers in particular has always been a priority in education. The Government’s efforts in terms of girls’ enrolment form part of the national action plan to achieve education for all by 2015, adopted by Chad in 2002.

138.In 2007, the Directorate for the Advancement of Girls’ Education was established within the Ministry of Education. Its activities are fully funded by the Government and its partners: the World Bank (as part of the Chad Education Sector Reform Project) and UNICEF (as part of its cooperation programme). The International Organization of la Francophonie also contributes by supporting training on gender issues for education personnel.

139.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 access to school and retention rates for girls and to promote gender parity and equity.

140.In addition to the action taken, the Government considered it important to criminalize the acts of those in charge of teaching establishments or training schools who refuse to enrol a schoolgirl on account of a pregnancy or to reintegrate her. Such acts are criminalized under article 369 of the Criminal Code and are punishable with a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 francs. Repeat offences are punishable by imprisonment for a term of one to two years.

141.In order to ensure that girls who are mothers continue their education, article 369 (b) of the Criminal Code provides that “the head of a teaching establishment or school who perpetrates psychological violence against a pregnant schoolgirl or the pupil responsible for the pregnancy, excludes them from the establishment on account of the pregnancy or forces them to repeat classes for this reason alone” shall be subject to the same penalty as mentioned above.

Identify measures to reduce and prevent school dropout among girls

142.According to article 38 of the Constitution of 2018, “basic education is obligatory”. This means until 16 years old.

Promotion, repetition and dropout rates by level of study and sex (percentage)

Rate	Sex	First year (CP1)	Second year (CP2)	Third year (CE1)	Fourth year (CE2)	Fifth year (CM1)	Sixth year (CM2)	Total
Promotion	Boys	68.1	70.6	71.1	69.3	73.9	62.8	69.5
	Girls	66.7	70.1	70.6	69.4	73.1	58.2	68.4
	Total	67.5	70.4	70.9	69.3	73.5	60.8	69.0
Repetition	Boys	16.3	13.9	13.8	13.2	11.9	10.0	13.9
	Girls	16.0	14.4	14.1	14.1	12.9	10.6	14.4
	Total	16.2	14.1	13.9	13.6	12.4	10.3	14.1
Dropout	Boys	15.6	15.5	15.2	17.6	14.2	27.2	16.6
	Girls	17.3	15.5	15.2	16.5	14.0	31.2	17.2
	Total	16.4	15.5	15.2	17.1	14.1	28.9	16.9

Source: Education Statistics Yearbook 2021–2022.

143.Despite the action taken, several factors in fact discourage pupils and cause early dropout. These include:

•Overcrowding in small classes (more than 100 pupils in urban areas), one of the causes of repetition and early dropout

•Schools that are not open for a full academic year (48 per cent), owing to insufficient buildings or even insufficient teachers in terms of number and quality

•Early marriage

•Distance from home to school

144.For these reasons, the first part of the strategy to achieve universal completion of school is a classroom-building programme, at a rate of 1,500 per year for three years, with 3,700 built by 2020. Priority will be given to the construction of rooms in unfinished schools with large numbers of pupils and in finished schools that are overcrowded.

145.In Chad, the number of teachers in charge of classes in public and community primary schools during the 2010/11 academic year was 26,888, of whom 74 per cent were community teachers supported by communities. The initial experiment was implemented by the Government to ease the burden on communities. It involved adopting a policy of establishing contracts between community teachers and parent-teacher associations, with the Agency for the Promotion of Community Initiatives in Education responsible for subsidizing the associations in order to finance the contracts. In the 2021/22 academic year, there were 49,875 primary school teachers, 20.1 per cent of whom were women, an increase of 3.1 per cent compared with the previous year.

146.The second part of the strategy for primary school completion will be to make enough teachers with the necessary qualifications available to schools. The strategy to be developed by the Government involves the following:

•Stabilization of the number of State-employed teachers at 2012 levels

•Recruitment to State employment as a career prospect for graduates of national teacher training schools and level 2 community teachers

•Establishment of contracts for community teachers with decent legal, financial and social conditions

147.The third part of the strategy for primary school completion is to improve learning times for pupils. This involves:

•Timely assignment of teachers in schools

•Preventing and punishing unjustified teacher absences

•Taking administrative measures to adapt the school calendar to the situation (early or late start, or a longer weekly schedule and shorter school year)

148.The fourth part of the strategy for universal completion of school involves a dramatic reduction in repetition rates (currently 21 per cent on average). This policy of combating repetition is aimed at achieving an acceptable level of repetitions (no more than 10 per cent in 2020).

149.A final aspect of this policy concerns the education of children in special situations (nomads, children living in remote communities, children with specific needs). During the implementation of the interim strategy for education and literacy, the Government plans to conduct a full analysis in order to identify relevant strategies that will be implemented as part of the 10-year plan for the development of the education and literacy sector.

150.With regard to certified programmes of extracurricular teaching for girls who drop out of school, the Government states that within the Directorate for Girls’ Education there is a tutorial and support programme for the parents of girls aimed at easing domestic tasks.

Improve the literacy rate of women

151.The literacy programme has two courses: a basic literacy course and a post-literacy course (optional course, with customized training).

152.The basic literacy course is divided into two levels of training: (i) the initial literacy level; and (ii) the basic supplementary training level.

153.The initial literacy level covers instruction and training in core disciplines (reading, writing and numeracy), while basic supplementary training expands on this basic knowledge, focusing mostly on psychosocial and vocational skills.

154.Training is given in national languages, with a transition into the official languages.

155.At the time of the 2021–2022 literacy campaign, there were 2,756 centres, compared with 2,461 in 2020–2021, an increase of 12.0 per cent.

156.Regarding the type of centre, most (75.0 per cent) are community centres and 25.0 per cent are private centres, compared with 81.0 per cent and 19.0 per cent, respectively, last year.

157.Of the centres, 52.7 per cent of centres are mixed, 37.4 per cent are for women and 9.9 per cent are for men.

158.With regard to location, 56.3 per cent of centres are in rural areas and 43.7 per cent in urban areas.

159.There is considerable variation in the number of centres located in each province: Ouaddaï has the most (521), followed by Guera (286) and Logone Occidental (269). The provinces with the lowest numbers of centres are Batha (12), Bahr el-Gazel (8) and Ennedi-Ouest (2).

160.There are 143,032 students, of whom 98,640, or 68.9 per cent, are women, compared with 110,772 in the previous year, an increase of 29.1 per cent.

161.Ouaddaï Province has the most students (37,849), followed by the city of N’Djamena (16,080) and Logone Oriental (15,206), while the provinces of Chari-Baguirmi (550), Bahr el-Gazel (246) and Ennedi-Ouest (140) have the fewest.

162.There are 100,973 students (70.5 per cent) in community literacy centres and 42,059 (29.0 per cent) in private centres.

163.In terms of location, 82,552 students are in urban areas and 80,480 in rural areas.

164.The breakdown of students by age group is as follows: 15–24 years, 32.4 per cent; 25–34 years, 36.9 per cent; 35–49 years, 22.0 per cent; 50–64 years, 6.9 per cent; and 65 years and above, 1.6 per cent.

165.As to socioprofessional categories, farmers (growers/planters) represent the largest proportion of students (33.8 per cent), followed by housewives (32.7 per cent) and traders (15.9 per cent).

166.With regard to languages, students who learn in their national languages represent […]

167.There are a total of 4,367 facilitators providing educational support to students, of whom 1,563, or 35.8 per cent, are women. In terms of qualifications, 64.4 per cent of facilitators have received training compared with 56.9 per cent in the previous year.

168.The literacy subsector has no property of its own. All centres operate in rented premises.

169.The number of booklets available in the centres is 32,260, of which 53.4 per cent are reading/writing booklets, 27.6 per cent are mathematics and management booklets, 8.9 per cent are general knowledge handbooks and the rest are other types of materials.

170.An important aim of the interim strategy for education and literacy was to devise a 10-year plan for the development of the education and literacy sector. To prepare for the implementation of the 10-year plan, several activities are under way, including:

•Testing of literacy programmes and the strategy for expansion

•Testing of programmes and the approach for non-formal basic education

•Testing of community project management and preparation for its expansion

171.Thanks to the Government’s efforts, there were 2,675 literacy centres in Chad during the 2013–2014 literacy campaign, of which 883 were public centres, 1,273 were community centres and 519 were private centres. Of the centres, 67.77 per cent were mixed, 23.88 per cent were for women and 8.33 per cent were for men. The number of literacy centres during the 2013–2014 campaign was 269 lower than in the previous year, a drop of 9.13 per cent.

172.At the time of the 2021–2022 literacy campaign, there were 2,756 centres, compared with 2,461 in 2020–2021, an increase of 12.0 per cent. Regarding the type of centre, 75.0 per cent were community centres and 25.0 per cent were private centres, compared with 81.0 per cent and 19.0 per cent, respectively, in the previous year.

173.Of the centres, 52.7 per cent were mixed, 37.4 per cent were for women and 9.9 per cent were for men.

174.There were 143,032 students, of whom 98,640 (68.9 per cent) were women, compared with 11,772 in the previous year, an increase of 29.1 per cent.

175.In terms of location, 64.18 per cent of literacy centres were in rural areas and 35.81 per cent were in urban areas.

176.At the time of the 2013–2014 campaign, there were 112,856 students in the different socioprofessional categories of the various regional delegations of the national education system for professional training, of whom 82,382 (67.5 per cent) were women. The number varied depending on the province.

177.With regard to location, 56.3 per cent of centres were in rural areas and 43.7 per cent in urban areas (2021–2022).

178.In terms of non-formal basic education, during the 2012–2013 academic year, Chad had 57 non-formal basic education centres in 11 of the country’s 23 provinces. The centres served 2,973 students aged 9 to 18 years, 1,428 of whom were girls (48 per cent).

179.In 2021–2022, there were 290 non-formal basic education centres, compared with 224 in the previous year, an increase of 29.5 per cent. These centres are spread across 14 provinces.

180.In terms of the type of centre, 50.7 per cent of the non-formal basic education centres were community centres, 14.1 per cent were public centres and 35.2 per cent were private centres. There was an increase in the number of community centres and a decrease in the number of public and private centres compared with the previous year.

181.Regarding location, 160 centres are in rural areas and 130 in urban areas.

182.Students at non-formal basic education centres are overseen by a teaching team made up of 39 facilitators, 20 for theory classes and 19 for practical classes.

183.In terms of infrastructure, there were 24 permanent classrooms, 110 bench tables, 10 blackboards and 27 sewing machines.

Employment

Adopt effective measures in the formal labour market to eliminate both horizontal and vertical occupational segregation

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

185.With regard to the private sector, gender-based discrimination in the areas of recruitment and social security is prohibited under Act No. 038 on the Labour Code and under the General Collective Agreement.

186.The table below shows the means used to look for work:

Means used to look for work

	Personal relationship	Direct contact with employer	Classified advertisements	National Office for the Promotion of Employment	Private employment agency	Other	Total
Residential setting
Urban	70.1	11.6	14.0	3.3	0.4	0.5	100.0
Rural	93.5	3.1	1.6	0.0	0.5	1.3	100.0
Sex
Male	86.5	5.0	5.2	1.0	0.7	1.5	100.0
Female	93.4	4.6	1.8	0.0	0.0	0.1	100.0
Total	88.6	4.9	4.2	0.7	0.5	1.1	100.0

Source: National Institute for Statistics and for Economic and Demographic Studies, third survey on consumption and the informal sector in Chad, 2011, p. 39.

187.As shown in the table, unemployed persons mostly prefer to use personal relationships to find work (88.6 per cent). Approximately 5 per cent look for work through direct contact with employers, and 4.2 per cent use classified advertisements.

188.In the public sector, neither Act No. 017/PR/2001 of 31 December 2001 on the general civil service regulations nor Act No. 038/PR/96 of 11 December 2001 on the Labour Code provides for any distinction between men and women in terms of the way that they are integrated and recruited or the way that their careers and retirement are managed.

189.On reducing and closing the pay gap between men and women, no law in Chad provides for a wage gap based on gender: equal pay must be awarded for equal work.

Review the relevant labour-related legislation with a view to repealing all forms of discrimination against women, in particular Ordinance No. 006/PR/84

190.Under Ordinance No. 006/PR/84 on the status of traders, married women were discriminated against in that they were required to seek their husband’s opinion before undertaking any commercial activity. However, the Ordinance was repealed following the adoption of the Uniform Act relating to general commercial law of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa. Article 7, paragraph 2, of the Act now provides that: “The spouse of a trader shall not have the status of trader unless he or she carries out the transactions referred to in articles 3 and 4 above as a regular occupation and separately from his or her spouse.”

Enact specific legislation prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace

191.At present, no specific draft law prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace is currently being enacted. However, sexual harassment is an offence punishable under the Criminal. Article 341 of the Code provides: “the offence of sexual harassment shall be punishable by imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 francs for anyone who subjects a person, repeatedly, to comments or behaviour that have a sexual connotation and that either insult that person’s dignity owing to their degrading or humiliating nature or create an intimidating, hostile or offensive situation for that person.”

192.“The act, even if not repeated, of exerting any form of serious pressure with the actual or apparent aim of obtaining an act of a sexual nature, whether for the perpetrator’s own benefit or for the benefit of a third party, is considered to be sexual harassment.”

193.“The penalties shall be imprisonment of one to three years or a fine of 200,000 to 2,000,000 francs or both, if the acts are committed:

(a) By a person who abuses the authority deriving from his or her position

(b) Against a person who is particularly vulnerable owing to his or her age, illness, disability, physical impairment or pregnancy, when such economic or social situation is known to the perpetrator of the act or is apparent;

(c) Against a person who is particularly vulnerable or dependent because he or she is in a precarious economic or social situation that is known to the perpetrator of the act or is apparent;

(d) By several persons acting together or when one is the perpetrator and the other an accomplice.”

Prepare a plan of action for the protection of women working in the informal sector, including women’s access to social security and other benefits

194.In Chad, there is still no action plan for social security for women working in the informal sector. However, several strategies have been adopted, the implementation of which contributes to the empowerment of women in the informal sector. These include:

•The national microfinance strategy, through which credit has been extended to women in the informal sector

•The national social security strategy, through subsidies have been provided for income-generating activities

195.Mutual insurance companies and/or microfinance establishments have been established, and their services enable women in the informal sector to better organize themselves, undertake income-generating activities and better defend their own interests.

Include in the next periodic report legislative and other measures taken to protect women from harassment in the workplace

196.At present, no legislative measures have been taken to protect women against harassment in the workplace. However, article 341 of the Criminal Code addresses this concern of the Committee.

Health

Ensure the implementation of the national health-care policy (2007–2012)

197.The Government has adopted and implemented the national health development plans for 2009–2012 and 2013–2015. The aim is to ensure quality health services for the entire population, in particular vulnerable communities.

Address the obstacles to women’s access to health care

198.In Chad, sociocultural factors, illiteracy and poverty, not to mention geographical constraints, are the main obstacles to women’s access to health services, in particular in rural areas. The Government is aware of the situation and works relentlessly to counter these factors. There are no measures that prevent women’s access to health care.

199.In terms of the fight against discriminatory sociocultural norms, the Government, with the support of its technical and financial partners (UNFPA, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), regularly organizes seminars, awareness-raising campaigns and advocacy aimed at opinion leaders on harmful traditional practices in the area of health.

200.With regard to health infrastructure coverage, at the time of the second national health development plan, for 2013–2015, Chad had a total of 86 district hospitals, of which 63 were functional and 23 non-functional, and 1,275 health centres, of which 1,028 were said to be functional and 247 non-functional.

201.These statistics have noticeably changed under the national health-care policy for 2016–2030, as there are currently 128 district hospitals, of which 100 are functional and 28 non-functional, and 1,588 health centres, of which 1,266 are functional and 322 non-functional.

202.In the capital, the National General Reference Hospital has been modernized with the establishment of a dialysis unit and scanning room. The Mother and Child Hospital established under Act No. 031/PR/2010 of 27 December 2010 has been functional since the beginning of 2011. With capacity for 295 beds, 8 ambulances and 638 personnel and managers, of whom 387 are women and 251 are men, it can ease the burden on the National General Reference Hospital in terms of mother and child care. In addition, the Renaissance Hospital has been fitted with the latest equipment.

203.Similarly, the National Fistula Treatment Centre has been established and treats thousands of patients. In 2015, 249 women had various operations at the Centre; 36.31 per cent underwent fistula repair, with a recovery rate of 85 per cent, and 16.55 per cent underwent operations for various complications of caesarean sections.

204.To improve the geographical accessibility of health-care facilities, a district hospital is planned for each district. Currently, a hospital in the tenth district (Goz Ator) is operational, and four contracts have been approved for facilities in Farcha in the first district (regional-level hospital), as well as in the seventh, eighth and ninth districts (district hospitals).

205.At the intermediate level, the country has 15 regional hospitals, which have most of the necessary infrastructure, heavy equipment and resources (human, material and financial). These are the hospitals in Moundou, Sarh, Bongor, Abéché, Pala, Mongo, Biltine, Ati, Kourma, Am-Timan, Bol, Doba, Amdjarass, Mao and Fadadont, where the district hospital has become a regional hospital.

206.At the local level, between 2007 and 2016 the country had 128 district hospitals, 100 of which were equipped and functional.

207.Approximately one quarter of districts have health centres more than 50 km from a hospital. According to data from the Directorate of Planning, 1,266 of the 1,588 health centres are functional.

208.With regard to the deployment of human resources, it is noted that:

•In 2012, the health sector had 7,534 health personnel in all categories, of whom 5,276 were men (70.63 per cent) and 2,213 were women (29.37 per cent).

•In 2013, the number of health-care personnel in all categories was estimated at 8,176, including those working at religious and military establishments, facilities run by non-governmental organizations, and other institutions not directly overseen by the Ministry of Health. These included 573 doctors, 3,606 nurses, 451 midwives, 24 gynaecology technicians, 109 sanitation technicians, 72 pharmacists, 182 pharmacy technicians and 488 administrative staff and managers.

•In 2015, there were 9,260 personnel of all categories working in the health sector, including 760 doctors, 1,334 State-certified nurses, 2,332 health technicians, 671 laboratory technicians, 7 block technicians, 380 State-certified midwives, 73 pharmacists, 122 sanitation technicians, 56 nutrition personnel and 196 pharmacy technicians.

209.Today, Chad has a ratio of 1 doctor per 10,000 population and 1 midwife per 4,575 women of child-bearing age. The midwife ratio in Chad is higher than the WHO standard of 1 midwife per 5,000 women of childbearing age.

210.From 2012 to 2015, there was an increase in the number of health personnel recruited. This increase should substantially address the need for health personnel. Despite the efforts of the Government and its partners to train and recruit staff, in practice there are not only insufficient numbers but they are also distributed unequally throughout the country, with a high concentration of qualified personnel in urban areas. There are regions with insufficient numbers of qualified personnel and others with more than they need.

211.To address the lack of human resources, workforce management needs to be streamlined. Public and private schools that train advanced technicians and doctors ensure the availability of paramedical staff in Chad. However, there is a gap between needs and the training capacity of these schools.

212.With regard to illiteracy and poverty, the Government has put in place several programmes to improve women’s literacy rates. It has also sought to promote the economic development of women by extending credit to women’s groups or microcredit to women who do not have access to normal bank credit facilities. This substantial contribution to the economic empowerment of women will give them the means to pay for care when the need arises.

213.The various measures taken by the Government have made it possible to improve the maternal mortality rate, which was 1,099 per 100,000 live births in 2004 and 1,200 per 100,000 live births in 2008. Today there are 860 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Involve men in the use of contraceptives, with a view to fostering responsible parenthood

214.With regard to responsible parenthood, it is clear that Chadians have a pro‑natalist attitude, linked to the prestige and satisfaction that comes with having a large number of children. Nevertheless, the Government notes that the fertility rate has declined over the past decade. According to a World Bank study, the fertility rate in Chad in 2012 averaged 6.4 children per woman, compared with 6.6 children per woman previously. According to the same study, the fertility rate has also fallen since 2008: 152 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49.

215.At present, 6 per cent of women in unions use some form of contraception, 5 per cent of them use a modern method of contraception and only 2 per cent use injectables.

216.Although the rate remains among the highest in the world, the situation is clearly improving, which can be attributed to the methods employed by the Government and its partners to encourage couples to use contraceptives.

217.With regard to reproductive health more specifically, in addition to the national health-care policy and the national reproductive health policy of 2008, the strategy to secure the supply of contraceptives for the period 2010–2015 has been developed and approved.

218.At the same time, general awareness-raising, through information, education and communication for behavioural change, has been carried out with a focus on priority vulnerable groups, such as young people, women, mobile populations, prison populations, truck drivers, military personnel, refugees, sex workers and health workers. These populations are made aware of the harmful effects of pregnancy at too young or too old an age, too many pregnancies and pregnancies that are too closely spaced.

219.The Association pour le marketing social au Tchad promotes condoms via social media by providing information and communication aimed at fostering behavioural change.

220.The Association tchadienne pour le bien-être familial has seven clinics for adults, in N’Djamena, Moundou, Sarh, Faya, Doba, Goré and Abéché, and four information and guidance centres for young people in N’Djamena, Doba, Moundou and Sarh.

221.Care International has a training centre located in the Mother and Child Hospital in N’Djamena and provides technical, material and financial support to 20 health centres in Logone Oriental, 12 health centres in Wadi Fira and 3 centres for activities related to family planning, post-abortion care, and information, education and communication for behavioural change, involving 20 committees of religious leaders.

222.With regard to international cooperation, UNFPA provides contraceptives and other medical and technical equipment and materials. The Fund also provides support for the following:

•The Department of Health, Reproduction and Vaccination

•The Association tchadienne pour le bien-être familial to promote reproductive health among young adults and adolescents

•The project on information, education and communication relating to adolescent reproductive health and HIV/AIDS

•The Education for Family Life and Population Matters project

•The Fistula project

223.Despite efforts made through information, education and communication campaigns, constraints persist, notably with regard to the perception of women as a means of carrying on the family line. This has a strong influence on the use of modern contraceptives in situations in which the man’s permission has not been obtained.

224.Factors such as lack of knowledge, illiteracy and the country’s broad ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity also hinder the development and dissemination of messaging.

225.Despite the persistence of these factors, the Government, in collaboration with its partners, intends to:

•Strengthen and expand youth-friendly mechanisms and centres for the provision of information, guidance and services

•Improve health coverage by operationalizing the district hospitals and health centres provided for in the health map

•Establish a mechanism for consultation/coordination between the various actors involved in reproductive health

226.With regard to providing funds to make health centres more accessible to women in rural areas, the Government allocates an annual budget to the health sector, as shown in the table below. The proportion of the general State budget, excluding debt and external financing, comprised by the health sector budget rose from 5.65 per cent in 2012 to 9.8 per cent in 2013, a significant increase compared with prior years, during which it had averaged around 5 per cent.

Share of the general State budget comprised by the health sector budget

(Billions of CFA francs)

Year	General State budget (1)	General State budget, excluding debt and external financing (2)	Ministry of Health budget, excluding external financing (3)	Health sector budget as percentage of general State budget (3/2)
2008	1 017.338	774.28	36.201	4.68
2009	945.614	782.914	40.382	5.16
2010	1 203.265	1 029.577	52.875	5.14
2011	1 572.482	1 308.977	83.747	6.40
2012	1 755.892	1 287.351	72.782	5.65
2013	1 724.53	1 326.059	130.00	9.80

Source: Ministry of Finance and Budget/Directorate General of Budget.

Note: Figures for 2013 are from the initial budget; figures for other years are from the revised budget, which includes transfers, advances and other items.

227.The health sector receives a share of the oil revenues earmarked for priority sectors, in the form of investments and transfers/grants, as shown in the table below. The amounts allocated to health care have increased significantly in the last two years shown (2012 and 2013).

Allocation of oil revenue to the health budget

(Billions of CFA francs)

Oil revenue allocated to priority sectors	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
In the general State budget	151.6	55.6	108.2	109.7	225.2	260
In the Ministry of Health budget	8	3	11.2	9	28.8	27

Source: Ministry of Finance and Budget/Directorate General of Budget.

228.The health sector also receives other State subsidies, notably as part of presidential (construction) projects. These appropriations are included in the common expenses of the general State budget.

229.Under the 2013 Budget Act, the average increase in projected allocations is around 70 per cent, with rates ranging from 60 per cent to more than 90 per cent depending on the expenditure item:

•The largest category, in both amount and relative value, is transfers/grants, which increased from 20,692 billion CFA francs to 39,450 billion CFA francs between 2012 and 2013.

•Investments grew by almost 65 per cent. If considering only investment from internal resources, the increase is close to 75 per cent.

230.There has been an improvement in indicators related to maternal health care. According to the demographic and health survey for 1996–1997, 32 per cent of women received prenatal care from a trained health-care provider, a number that has since risen to 64 per cent.

231.While in the past only 11 per cent of women gave birth in a health-care facility, that figure has since increased to 22 per cent. Increased awareness in that regard was reflected in the increase in the percentage of births attended by a trained health-care provider, from 24 per cent to 34 per cent.

Expand access to antiretroviral treatment and increase the number of facilities for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission

232.To improve access to antiretroviral treatment, the Government has transitioned from subsidizing such treatment to making it available free of charge, and is decentralizing care and providing training to prescribers. In addition, free HIV/AIDS care has allowed many Chadians to receive treatment for opportunistic infections and gain access to antiretrovirals. The State provides 1 billion CFA francs per year for antiretroviral treatments, the second-highest rate in Africa.

233.Similarly, early diagnosis among newborns has been launched. In 2010, 529 health workers were trained in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and 13,364 pregnant women were screened during 32,977 prenatal consultations. In addition, a care guide on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission has been reviewed and edited, and plans for integrating and scaling up services have been drawn up.

234.In 2011, the entity coordinating the prevention of mother-to-child transmission opened 11 new sites. Some 48,265 pregnant women were tested for HIV during 104,274 prenatal consultations. A total of 1,516 pregnant women tested HIV-positive, 1,081 of whom were put on antiretroviral treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Out of 973 children born to HIV-positive mothers, 139 tested positive. Some 319 HIV-positive children were on antiretrovirals as at the end of 2011.

235.Some 28,129 of 65,714 pregnant women were tested for HIV in the first half of 2012, 663 of whom tested positive. Out of 492 children born to HIV-positive mothers, 186 tested positive; 168 of them were put on antiretroviral treatment.

236.The Government is also committed to increasing the number of facilities for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. As part of its efforts, the number of such facilities has risen from 1 in 2005 to 120 across the country, with a geographical coverage of 13 per cent.

237.The contribution of the French Muskoka Fund to increasing the number of facilities for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV should be noted. Partly thanks to the Fund, national coverage rose from 33 per cent in 2012 to 75 per cent in 2013. The Fund also made it possible to post more than 230 State-certified nurses in 133 health centres, allowing for the opening of 33 centres offering the minimum package of health care and services. It also enabled the reopening of more than a dozen centres in urban and peri-urban areas in N’Djamena (10), Moundou (1) and Abéché (2), providing access to health care for hundreds of thousands of women and children in the capital and beyond.

238.Despite the increased commitment of the Government, many obstacles stand in the way of an effective response:

•The persistence of sociocultural and religious constraints, as well as popular beliefs

•Persistent discrimination against and stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS

•Gender inequality in access to services, and a low health-care utilization rate

•Insufficient financing for scaling up the programme aimed at achieving universal access targets (insufficient bilateral and multilateral financial assistance)

•Weak national capacity for monitoring and evaluating the national response to HIV/AIDS

•Inadequate human capacity, in particular in relation to national coordination, and insufficient capacity among civil society organizations and the AIDS units of lead ministries

239.To provide an appropriate response, four studies are currently being undertaken:

•A national seroprevalence survey

•A mapping of interventions in response to HIV

•A study on adherence to antiretroviral therapy, people lost to follow-up and AIDS-related deaths

•A study on resistance to antiretrovirals

240.The Government also plans:

•To enhance and strengthen capacity among second-line prescribers

•To delegate prescription renewal tasks performed by doctors to paramedical personnel

Economic empowerment

241.The Government has put in place a national microfinance strategy for the period 2009–2013 aimed at reducing poverty and promoting harmonious development among vulnerable sectors of the population, including women, who play a critical role in rural production.

242.Several other initiatives have also been implemented to promote the economic development of women, including several training courses:

•Between 2011 and mid-2013, training of trainers was provided to 120 women on techniques for making, building and using prototypes of improved cooking stoves in six southern provinces (Mayo-Kebbi Est, Tandjilé, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul and Moyen-Chari).

•In 2013, 80 women were trained on the organization and management of groups and associations, and on local soap-making techniques, on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women.

•In 2014, 40 women were trained on the empowerment of women and local soap-making on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women.

•In 2015, 369 women received training on income-generating activities related to the processing of local products.

•In 2015, production equipment worth 3,492,500 CFA francs was distributed to two women’s groups, and two tractors were provided to women’s groups in Salamat, on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women.

•In 2016 in Biltine, during National Chadian Women’s Week, two tractors and other inputs were distributed, 165 women were trained on the processing of local products and 42 women were trained on weaving.

•The Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend project was launched on 15 December 2015, with funding of 7 billion CFA francs.

•Events related to the International Day of Rural Women were organized every 22 November.

•A modern fish market in N’Djamena opened in 2016, with women given priority in the allocation of stalls.

243.These initiatives are designed to equip women with the skills they need to engage in income-generating activities. Easy access to credit allows women to start their own businesses and improve their social situation.

244.Partners such as Concern Worldwide, International Relief and Development, Oxfam Great Britain and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are also involved in income-generating activities for displaced women in the east.

Rural women

Ensure the participation of rural women in the design and implementation of local development plans

245.In the provinces that have drawn up local development plans, women have taken part in that process through their umbrella organizations.

Ensure that rural women participate in decision-making processes and have improved access to health care and education

246.Through their umbrella organizations, women participate in decision-making on the establishment of community health centres, community schools and water infrastructure. It is important to recognize, however, that access by women to health care depends on their degree of autonomy.

247.Women face challenges with regard to access to land, especially in rural areas, where men own the means of production. The demographic and health multiple-indicator cluster survey for 2014–2015 shows that more men in rural areas own a home than do men in urban areas (68 per cent compared with 30 per cent). That same study also reveals that home ownership and land ownership among women increase with age, to 53 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively, among women aged 45–49. Home ownership and land ownership among women are at similar levels when comparing rural areas (39 per cent home ownership and 41 per cent land ownership) with urban areas (27 per cent home ownership and 25 per cent land ownership).

Eliminate all forms of discrimination with respect to the ownership, sharing and inheritance of land

248.To eliminate all forms of discrimination with regard to the ownership, sharing and inheritance of land, the Government and its partners continue to promote awareness-raising programmes that involve all stakeholders, including traditional and religious authorities, and to hold the higher judicial authorities responsible for the effective application of the law.

Introduce measures to address negative customs and traditional practices which affect the full enjoyment of all rights of women, including the right to property

249.While current Chadian positive law recognizes the right of everyone to access land, provided that they comply with the relevant laws, in some areas women are still unable to exercise their rights, especially their property rights. This trend will eventually be reversed through the continued implementation of the strategies undertaken by the Government and its partners, the adoption of national gender policy texts and the scaling up of awareness-raising campaigns related to gender equality.

Provide information on the results of project CHD5 G104 on the empowerment of rural women

250.Projects CHD5 G102 (Gender equality and equity) and CHD5 G104 (Empowerment of rural women), established in 2006, with annual funding of $400,000 from UNFPA, and managed by the Ministry of Gender and National Solidarity and the Ministry of Agricultural Development, have enabled capacity-building activities to be carried out through awareness-raising, advocacy, education, advisory support and training to combat gender-based violence, and the promotion of girls’ education, literacy among women, family welfare, HIV/AIDS prevention and the processing of local products.

251.During the 2006–2010 period, 740 field officers were trained on family welfare, 704 on gender and development and 569 on common property management. In addition, 64 field officers were provided with training on literacy, in order to select and train 160 community trainers in targeted villages.

252.A training module on gender-based violence was approved and used for awareness-raising and advocacy; 118 officers from 32 centres who received the training then trained 700 women’s leaders, youth leaders and local authority leaders. Awareness-raising has been conducted among more than 15,000 people since 2009.

Disadvantaged groups of women

Improve the security of refugee camps and sites for internally displaced persons

253.Chad continues to welcome refugees and displaced persons, as it has done in response to the crises in Darfur and the Central African Republic and the abuses of the Boko Haram sect in the Lake Chad region.

254.To ensure the safety of these refugees and displaced persons, the Government and its partners have set up the following mechanisms:

•For displaced persons in the east, the Government and its partners established the Détachement intégré de sécurité in 2008 during the conflict in the Sudan. Supported until 2010 by the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), the Détachement was composed of 850 officers from the Chadian national police and the Gendarmerie. Its mission includes ensuring the safety of civilians in danger and humanitarian workers operating in the eastern and southern parts of the country. It will be disbanded in 2012, however, at which time the security of sites and camps will be entrusted to the Gendarmerie.

•Also in the east, Chad and the Sudan signed an agreement in N’Djamena on 15 January 2010 enabling the deployment of a joint force of 4,000 troops to patrol the entire 1,350-km border between the two countries, preventing the cross-border movement of armed elements and significantly helping to ensure the safety of refugees in camps along the border.

•To protect people expelled or repatriated following the sociopolitical crisis at the end of 2013 in the Central African Republic, Chad deployed a Gendarmerie unit to the sites where people had gathered. Some 80 per cent of the 52,796 people hosted at that time were women and children, including unaccompanied children. The presence of the Gendarmerie at the sites protects these displaced people from further rights violations.

•In the Lake Chad region, 56,000 persons were displaced following the barbarous attacks of Boko Haram. To protect them and fight against the group, a joint force was deployed to the region to secure the borders. The force’s presence also helps to protect the camps for refugees and displaced persons, although protection inside the camps is provided by a Gendarmerie unit.

255.Alongside these security measures, a special mechanism for protecting refugee women has been set up: in each camp, there is a refugee committee composed of refugee representatives selected on the basis of their origin. Gender is taken into consideration in the composition of the refugee committees: there is parity between men and women).

256.The refugee committee has established several subcommittees, including one for women, which is composed of women refugee leaders. It ensures the well-being, safety and health of women, and supports income-generating activities. To ensure that women’s rights are respected, the committee is required to report any violation of rights to a vigilance committee, which monitors security in the camps and reports discriminatory practices and violence against women to the authorities.

257.Concerned about the situation of refugees, the Government of Chad adopted Act No. 027/PR/2020 of 31 December 2020 on asylum in Chad to provide a framework for the right of asylum.

Conduct awareness-raising and training on sexual and gender-based violence

258.Law enforcement officials who guard the refugee camps are provided with regular awareness-raising and training on the following:

•Strict respect for the humanitarian nature of the camps

•The rights and duties of refugees

•The Code of Conduct of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

•Compliance with existing Chadian law

Recruit female officials to be deployed at refugee camps and sites for internally displaced persons

259.To ensure the security of refugee camps and displaced persons sites, 250 women were recruited and trained as police officers in 2010. Since the departure of the Détachement intégré de sécurité, the majority of law enforcement officials at these sites have been men.

Provide access to legal remedies

260.In refugee and displaced persons camps, the committee ensures, among other things, respect for the rights of those living there. In the event of a violation, the committee informs the vigilance committee, which reports such violations to the authorities. At that point, legal action may be taken against those responsible.

261.The Government has set up an initiative to assist sexually abused women and girls in eastern Chad, which organized training sessions for 500 administrative, traditional and religious authorities on the concepts of gender-based violence and human rights, and deployed focal points on gender-based violence in the 10 municipalities of N’Djamena.

Reinforce cooperation with the United Nations and international and local humanitarian organizations

262.At the national level, a national committee for the reception and resettlement of refugees has been set up to coordinate humanitarian action. The committee has three subcommittees, focusing on reception, appeals and eligibility.

263.Regular meetings are held with UNHCR to share information and find ways to resolve problems.

264.Such cooperation enabled a biometric census of refugees to be conducted throughout the country. UNHCR also provides funding for local organizations that work with refugees.

265.In Maro in the Grande Sido and at the site for displaced persons in Maïngama, the Association pour la promotion des libertés fondamentales au Tchad has recruited community liaison officers, who have been selected for their commitment to defending human rights. They act as focal points and work to prevent conflict. Their proximity enables them to intervene and relay information to the delegation of the Association tchadienne pour la promotion des droits de l’homme for appropriate action. There are eight community liaison officers – three women and five men – who have been trained in communication techniques and conflict resolution. In addition, two clubs bringing together 216 young people (96 girls and 121 boys) have been set up to popularize the concept of citizenship with a view to peaceful coexistence.

Marriage and family relations

Prohibit polygamy and raise the minimum age of marriage for women

266.The demographic and health multiple-indicator cluster survey for 2014–2015 showed that almost two in five women in unions, or 39 per cent, were in polygamous unions, a statistic that varies depending on the residential environment and the region. The rate is slightly higher in rural areas than in urban areas (39 per cent compared with 35 per cent). The same study also found that the percentage of women in polygamous unions decreases as the level of education rises, from 40 per cent among women with no education, to 37 per cent among those with a primary-level education, to a low of 9 per cent among women with a higher level of education. The study indicates that monogamous unions nevertheless predominate among all of those groups.

267.Polygamy is a matrimonial arrangement recognized by custom in Chad. While the Bible forbids polygamy, the Qur’an permits it, subject to regulation.

268.A preliminary draft of the code on the person and the family is currently being reviewed with a view to adapting the positive law of Chad to the country’s situation.

269.Ordinance No. 006/PR/2015, ratified by Act No. 029/PR/2015 of 21 July 2015, prohibits child marriage in Chad and sets the minimum age of marriage for girls at 18 years.

270.In order to ensure the effectiveness of Act No. 029/PR/2015, a thematic working group on child marriage and female genital mutilation was set up on 20 May 2016 by an order of the Ministry of Women, Social Action and National Solidarity. The working group is composed of representatives of ministerial departments, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations and technical and financial partners. One of its missions is to implement the road map against child marriage and female genital mutilation. Its activities will undoubtedly help to ensure that the minimum age of marriage, which has been raised to 18, is respected.

271.With regard to women’s inheritance rights, positive law, in particular the 1958 French Civil Code, which is still applicable in Chad, contains no discriminatory provisions. The draft code on the person and the family reaffirms these rights, specifying that only persons whose existence is certain at the time that inheritance proceedings begin are allowed to inherit. A child may inherit from the moment of conception, provided that the child is born alive and viable.

272.The same applies to the guarantee of full legal capacity for women. Indeed, article 1, paragraph 1, of the draft code states that “every human person is sacred and inviolable, and has rights and enjoys freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution”. According to article 4: “Citizens of both sexes have the same civil rights. These rights are exercised in accordance with the law. Deprivation of such rights may occur only in accordance with the law or a judicial decision rendered in conformity with the law.”

Take the measures necessary to prioritize the adoption of the draft code on the person and the family

273.By Order No. 7124 of 11 July 2023, the Prime Minister established a committee to review the draft code on the person and the family.

Undertake awareness-raising activities throughout the country on the negative effects of early marriage for girls

274.The establishment of a thematic working group on child marriage and female genital mutilation, by an order of the Ministry of Women, reflects the wish of the Government to increase awareness-raising on the issue of child marriage. Part of the working group’s mandate is to implement the road map against child marriage and female genital mutilation, which has awareness-raising as one of its areas of focus.

275.With regard to civil society initiatives, the Association des femmes juristes du Tchad, as part of its project on ensuring access to law and justice, which is subsidized by the European Development Fund, raised awareness among 118 traditional leaders and 15 criminal investigation officers living in the project area (Mayo-Kebbi Est and Mayo-Kebbi Ouest). The goal was to inform traditional leaders and criminal investigation officers about the extent of violence against women and the laws that protect the rights of women and children.

276.Of particular note is the establishment in 2014 of the Maison nationale de la femme, which provides awareness-raising, training, supervision and psychosocial care for victims of violence. Similarly, “La voix de la femme tchadienne”, a radio station created within the Maison nationale de la femme, provides awareness-raising, education and information on the main themes related to women’s development.

Data collection

277.To improve gender-disaggregated data, Chad ratified the African Charter on Statistics in 2014. Prior to ratification, national surveys were carried out and published, taking into account the Committee’s concerns. These include the following:

•Third survey on consumption and the informal sector in Chad, in 2011

•Demographic and health multiple-indicator cluster survey for Chad, 2014–2015

•Survey on multidimensional poverty in Chad, 2015

•Survey on girls’ enrolment in school and literacy

•2013 study on mapping gender-based violence in Chad. The results of this study highlighted the characteristics of gender-based violence by region

Request for technical assistance from relevant United Nations entities

278.The present report was produced with financial support from UNFPA.

279.The Government wishes to emphasize that requests for technical assistance from United Nations partners have not always been adequately addressed. Sometimes responses are not received in time to implement the planned actions.

280.The presence of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) in Chad would further strengthen the efforts of partners in support of the Government with regard to promoting and protecting the rights of women.

Optional Protocol and amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention

281.The Government notes that the Optional Protocol has not yet been ratified.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

282.Chad prepared its report on the 20-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which informed the regional report. It provided information on achievements related to critical areas of the Beijing Platform discussed in March 2015 in New York during the fifty-second session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

283.The Government, through the National Women’s Council, has produced television programmes on the 12 critical areas. There was also a report on the Beijing+20 Conference held in New York. The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, prepared the Beijing+25 report in 2019 with funding from UNFPA.

Millennium Development Goals

284.Aware of the delay in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, which have since become the Sustainable Development Goals, Chad drew up a five-year action plan on 5 of the 10 priorities of Chadian women, covering the 2012–2016 period. It also developed the national gender policy, taking into consideration Millennium Development Goal 3.

Dissemination

285.The Committee’s observations were disseminated, but not on a large enough scale to inform the entire population.

Technical assistance

286.To implement the recommendations of the Committee, included in its observations relating to the Convention, the Government has requested and obtained technical assistance from partners in the United Nations system, notably UNFPA in the fight against gender-based violence, the empowerment of women and the promotion of reproductive health, and UNICEF in the implementation of several programmes for the protection of the girl child, girls’ school enrolment and child marriage.

287.UNAIDS and WHO have supported Chad in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the promotion of reproductive health, including the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

288.The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has supported the Government in the production of initial and periodic reports, as well as with regard to training and the organization of surveys on human rights issues.

Ratification of other treaties

289.The Government has not yet ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

290.Nevertheless, it has signed and ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

Preparation of the report

291.The present report was prepared and validated by an interministerial committee, which also included civil society organizations.