33.The most frequently requested services were issuance of national identity cards, birth registration, issuance of Indigenous identity cards, healthcare and enrolment in social programmes.

34.The Public Prosecution Service promotes internal equality policies, training processes and coordination forums for institutional capacity-building, conducting research, developing action guidelines and carrying out fieldwork with a view to harmonizing State law and Indigenous customary law.

35.The first International Research Conference was held in 2023 to disseminate open access studies on such topics as violence against women and gender-based violence.

36.The specialized unit for combating trafficking in persons and the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, in coordination with the training centre and the deputy prosecutors’ offices, offers training and awareness-raising workshops on criminal acts under the unit’s jurisdiction for Public Prosecution Service officials. The unit also visits primary and secondary schools to deliver awareness-raising workshops and talks on child pornography and trafficking in persons.

Reply to paragraph 3 (f)

37.Under Paraguayan law, the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms is prohibited pursuant to article 44 of Act No. 5777/16. The special procedure for protecting women in situations of violence therefore does not include any sort of alternative dispute resolution mechanism, thereby safeguarding full access to justice without renunciation of rights.

Reply to paragraph 3 (g)

38.In 2024, the participatory process for the development of a national plan for access to justice was launched, led by the Public Defence Service with support from OHCHR. The aim is to eliminate obstacles to access to justice and ensure that all people, in particular the most vulnerable, can fully exercise that right.

39.Since 2022, the guide for safeguarding access to justice for all without distinction of any kind in Paraguay has served as the foundation for training activities for judges and judicial personnel. Training activities address the rights of persons in vulnerable situations, including women with disabilities, Indigenous women, women of African descent, migrant women and women in detention.

40.The Public Prosecution Service has more than 100 criminal complaints offices. It also has a number of units aimed at safeguarding access to justice, whose specific functions are to provide assistance and protect and promote rights, such as the Ethnic Rights Department, the Office of the Deputy Prosecutor for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Victim Support Centre, the Witness Protection Department, the Human Rights Department, the Centre for Criminal Mediation and the Gender Office.

Reply to paragraph 4 (a)

41.In 2024, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs was provided with 24,124,867,588 guaraníes in funding. In the national budget for 2025, 25,213,520,785 guaraníes were allocated to the Ministry to strengthen its operational capacity. That initial allocation was adjusted during the parliamentary review process, which resulted in the allocation of an additional 1.5 billion guaraníes.

42.With respect to institutional and technical matters, the Government is working to mainstream gender into the budgeting process using methodological tools. The Ministry of Economy and Finance developed a methodological guide for measuring gender-related investment to orient the process of gender budget tagging for public programmes. In public expenditure evaluations, emphasis is placed on the fact that gender-sensitive budgeting does not mean allocating funds exclusively under separate line items, but instead applying a gender-sensitive approach to analyse and reallocate resources to address the differentiated priorities of women and men.

43.The Ministry of Economy and Finance submitted a report assessing the impact of public expenditure on gender gap indicators, which covered gender-related investment in the 2024 national budget.

Reply to paragraph 4 (b)

44.The President of Paraguay vetoed the bill establishing the Ministry of Family, which contained the proposal to merge three Ministries (the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Ministry for Children’s and Adolescents’ Affairs and the Ministry of Youth). In keeping with that position, the budget for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has steadily increased since 2023, amounting to a total of 28.192 billion guaraníes for fiscal year 2026, which is an 11.8 per cent increase compared with 2025.

45.Circular No. 005/22, for internal use by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is aimed at facilitating negotiations of texts that contain concepts that are not universally accepted, that are highly sensitive or that are still the subject of debate between States or within our societies. It serves to guide government officials and ensure that any interpretations made in such documents reflect national law, thereby enabling them to make progress in negotiations without undermining national interests.

Reply to paragraph 4 (c)

46.The Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs have made available to government officials a mandatory course on Act No. 239/24 on the social emergency declaration in response to violence against women, children and adolescents, which was launched in 2025 and which is one of the Government’s priority measures for building institutional capacity for preventing, combating and eradicating violence in all its forms. At the time of writing, 56,000 government officials had completed the course.

Reply to paragraph 4 (d)

47.Paraguay is engaged in an ongoing process to develop a comprehensive care system that will include the national care policy approved in December 2022 by the Social Affairs Office of the Office of the President. The policy was drawn up on the basis of workshops entitled “Women’s voices for the development of the national care policy”, which were held for 130 women representing various civil society organizations, as well as women in leadership, women from rural areas, Indigenous women, women entrepreneurs and businesswomen.

48.Face-to-face workshops were also held to allow the cooperative and private sectors, the media, civil society and human rights networks to contribute to the development of the policy and the creation of the governance model known as the inter-agency commission on care, in which civil society is recognized as both benefiting from the policy and jointly responsible for its implementation.

49.The first care action plan, for the period 2025–2030, brings together the contributions of civil society, academia, the scientific community and domestic workers’ unions.

50.With regard to the legal framework, the care and support bill was submitted to the Senate this year and referred to 10 committees for consideration. The structure of the bill reflects the national policy and the first action plan.

Reply to paragraph 4 (e)

51.A workshop was held on accelerating gender equality in the public sector, and 12 public institutions participated. As a result, four decided to implement the Gender Equality Seal programme in the 2020–2021 call. The institutions evaluated externally in that regard were the Supreme Court of Justice, which obtained the silver certification (2024) and the Ministry of Social Development, which obtained the bronze certification (2024).

Reply to paragraph 4 (f)

52.The national action plan is currently in effect. Each institution that has signed the agreement has the option to request an amendment related to an expansion of activities, where necessary.

53.The Ministry of Defence established a committee made up of women serving as heads of the gender offices of the armed forces (army, navy and air force) and logistics command; the Gender Department of the Ministry acts as the lead entity for the study, framing and analysis of gender issues.

Reply to paragraph 4 (g)

54.The Ministry of Women’s Affairs issued a public call for civil society organizations to apply for membership of the inter-institutional committee for the prevention of violence against women. The purpose of the call was to strengthen citizen participation in the design, implementation and monitoring of public policies aimed at preventing violence against women.

Reply to paragraph 6 (a)

55.Through an inter-agency commission on care, Paraguay is promoting awareness-raising efforts and policies aimed at ensuring the recognition, redistribution and reduction of care work as part of the implementation of the national care policy and the first action plan.

56.The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is promoting the development of knowledge and skills in a context where equality and equity are fundamental values. Through its Institute, it offers in-person, hybrid and virtual training tailored to each academic programme. It also promotes studies and research on violence against women, in coordination with public institutions and civil society organizations. In that context, efforts are under way within the Ministry’s Observatory to judge entries to the first competition for scientific articles taking a holistic approach to the Ministry’s three strategic pillars.

Reply to paragraph 6 (b)

57.Within the framework of the national legal system, the laws and public policies of Paraguay incorporate inclusive and gender-sensitive language. Such language is incorporated subject to the limits established by the Constitution.

Reply to paragraph 7 (a)

58.Under article 6, paragraph 1, of Act No. 5777/16, ICT-facilitated violence is recognized as a form of violence.

59.The national strategy “Noviazgo sin violencia” (Dating without violence), which is aimed at young people and promotes non-violent relationships, has a particular focus on ICT-facilitated violence. To date, the campaign has reached 9,123 adolescents and young people (4,988 young men and 4,135 young women).

60.In addition, Act No. 7394/24 has been enacted, introducing a broader definition of the crime of sexual abuse by technological means, with the aim of providing greater protection against this type of violence.

Reply to paragraph 7 (b)

61.A proposal to extend the national emergency is under consideration in Congress. As a result of Act No. 6806/21, Act No. 7239/24 was enacted, which declares violence against women, children and adolescents to be a social emergency and reinforces strategies aimed at changing the sociocultural patterns that sustain inequality between men and women.

Reply to paragraph 7 (c)

62.Terms of reference are currently being prepared ahead of a consultation process on the development of the third national plan.

63.The new plan will have a medium- to long-term horizon (2025–2035), in accordance with Act No. 5777/16, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention of Belém do Pará and Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 16. A participatory and intercultural process is envisaged, including consultations with Indigenous and rural women, civil society organizations, academia and the public sector.

Reply to paragraph 7 (d)

64.Training workshops were held in educational centres on Act No. 5777/16 and the protocol for inter-institutional action for prevention and comprehensive care in cases of violence, and in this context, workshops were organized at the Sargento Ayudante José Merlo Saravia police training centre. This training is continuing at national police stations under a capacity-building workplan.

65.In 2025, the Supreme Court of Justice approved a plan to organize three training days aimed at raising awareness of material related to the protocol among judges and officials for the purposes of subsequent implementation.

66.The Public Defence Service has implemented its action protocol for public defenders specialized in Act No. 5777/16 in order to ensure due access to justice for women in situations of violence. The protocol has been expanded to incorporate a specific approach to addressing violence against Indigenous women and to incorporate general recommendation Nos. 33, 35 and 39 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

67.The Public Prosecution Service has a protocol for the criminal investigation of the crime of femicide. This institutional instrument is designed to mainstream gender in criminal investigations, establishing uniform criteria for the comprehensive analysis of facts, context and the vulnerability of the victims.

Reply to paragraph 7 (e)

68.Under Act No. 6495/19, technological means may be used without charge in court hearings in all judicial and Public Prosecution Service jurisdictions, allowing victims, witnesses and experts to appear virtually where appropriate, such as in cases of gender-based violence or organized crime, or if they have a physical impediment.

69.The Supreme Court of Justice issued a decision aimed at regulating and optimizing the use of virtual hearings in criminal proceedings, thereby upholding the principles of orality, publicity, immediacy, adversarial procedure and procedural economy and consolidation.

70.The Public Defence Service is actively participating in the system of virtual hearings in judicial proceedings on violence against women:

2024: 86 virtual hearings

2025: 37 virtual hearings to date

Reply to paragraph 7 (f)

71.In accordance with Act No. 6202/18, the Ministry for Children’s and Adolescents’ Affairs developed a nationwide preventive programme for the comprehensive care of child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. The aim of the programme is to prevent sexual abuse, provide comprehensive and specialized care to victims and ensure the restoration of victims’ rights. The programme promotes inter-agency coordination with protection system entities, offering psychological, medical, legal and social care, as well as family support and community strengthening. There is also a digital platform allowing for cases to be monitored and tracked in real time, ensuring coordinated and effective responses. Since the launch of the programme, assistance has been provided to 1,036 girls and adolescents, including Indigenous girls.

72.Furthermore, the Ministry for Children’ and Adolescents’ Affairs has entered into discussions with Articulación de Mujeres Indígenas del Paraguay (a network for Indigenous women in Paraguay), with a view to establishing joint strategies for the prevention and the provision of care to girls who are victims of violence, or experiencing other types of vulnerability, from an intercultural perspective.

Reply to paragraphs 7 (g), 12 (d) and 22 (b)

73.The inter-institutional road map for a comprehensive response to the sexual abuse of children and adolescents has reached more than 90,000 professionals and focal points in the prevention of sexual abuse, with the corresponding activation of the protection system; from 2023 to 2025, a total of 21,062 children and adolescents participated in prevention workshops focused on self-protection and on reporting channels and support networks. The road map forms part of the mandatory training provided for by Act No. 7239/24.

74.The Ministry for Children’s and Adolescents’ Affairs is promoting the #TodosSomosResponsables (We are all responsible) campaign to raise awareness about preventing and reporting sexual abuse and other forms of violence against children. The initiative has mobilized society and increased community activation of alerts and the protection system, in partnership with the private sector and with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

75.The Ministry of Education and Science launched a guide for action in the educational environment in the event of the detection of sexual harassment or abuse.

76.The Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Guide was disseminated, reaching more than 45,000 people through its distribution in educational institutions, communities and training settings for children and adolescents, families and community leaders.

77.With support from UNFPA, the Ministry for Children’s and Adolescents’ Affairs and the Paraguayan Football Association developed a protocol for prevention and comprehensive care in situations of violence against children and adolescents in the context of football. Under the protocol, 280 coaches and managers from 12 clubs have received training.

78.A set of violence prevention tools and strategies have also been implemented in the various areas of intervention, taking into account the context and characteristics of each region. In addition, efforts have been made to disseminate and support the use of the dolls created by the Ministry of Education and Science as an educational tool for preventing child abuse from an early age.

79.With support from UNICEF and Itaipú Binacional, safe spaces for adolescents have been in operation since 2023, offering protective environments and healthy activities to prevent violence, abuse and exploitation of adolescents.

80.Pursuant to Act No. 6572/20, those with final convictions for sexual offences against minors are permanently listed on the national registry of sex offenders against children and adolescents. To date, 1,079 perpetrators have been added to the registry (98 per cent men and 2 per cent women, with the highest concentration in the 30–49 age range).

Reply to paragraph 7 (h)

81.Through the “Semillas del futuro” (Seeds of the future) programme, the Ministry for Children’s and Adolescents’ Affairs is offering workshops for parents and community leaders on positive parenting, providing care, protection and treatment tools that boost the well-being and healthy and harmonious development of children and adolescents, as well as addressing the right to identity and relationships with both parents. These workshops are being replicated in the 52 care units of the Abrazo Programme.

82.The Ministry for Children’s and Adolescents’ Affairs partnered with the national training and work skills development system to run a course for caregivers of children featuring a module on comprehensive care and respectful parenting of children from 0 to 5 years of age, thereby raising awareness among social actors of the importance of respectful parenting.

Reply to paragraphs 7 (i) and 23 (b)

83.Together with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs developed a computer system for the road map for reporting violence against women. It will be implemented through the State protection system, facilitating inter-agency coordination and effective monitoring in every case of violence against women to ensure real-time reporting of the actions of the institutions involved in providing protection to women.

84.Progress was also made in relation to establishing a single and standardized registry of violence against women. In 2024, the results of efforts to systematize existing records for the single and standardized registry of data on violence against women were presented, along with an analysis of the capacities currently available for the collection and processing of information in the various agencies.

85.The National Institute of Statistics is working to improve the quality of information on gender-based violence by standardizing records, building disaggregated indicators and designing a national system of gender-based violence statistics that integrates surveys and records. It also has a gender atlas, prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), which highlights gender gaps and supports the development of public policy.

86.The Public Defence Service has significantly improved the collection of data on gender-based violence through the implementation of the access to justice indicator management system, allowing information to be gathered from each of the country’s public defender units. The data collected are in line with the Committee’s recommendations.

87.An indicator development process was initiated in 2022 with the participation of the Judicial Secretariat for Gender Issues, the National Institute of Statistics and other departments, in the context of the inter-institutional committee for the prevention of violence against women, to update records on family and domestic violence, and to make data on femicide and attempted femicide visible. Seven inter-agency meetings were held, resulting in the preparation of methodology sheets on cases of and convictions for femicide, attempted femicide, domestic violence and family violence. Two sheets on trafficking in persons are currently being prepared and one on the sexual abuse of children and adolescents is planned for 2026.

88.In 2023, the judiciary and the National Institute of Statistics signed an agreement to boost the generation of data on violence against women. In 2024, the quality of administrative records was evaluated and the National Institute of Statistics issued recommendations that the Judicial Secretariat for Gender Issues is implementing to improve the systematization and reliability of the information.

89.The Public Prosecution Service implemented the Integrated Electronic Case Management System to optimize the management and monitoring of criminal cases. Through its monitoring centre, it publishes reports and studies on femicide, child sexual abuse and family violence, disaggregated by year, region and demographic variables; such publications serve as a guide for the creation of more effective policies and include analysis of emerging issues.

90.The Ministry of Women’s Affairs recently updated its Gender Observatory, introducing a holistic approach entitled “Datos que abren caminos” (Data that open doors) aimed at highlighting the structural inequalities affecting women in various areas of social, economic and political life.

91.With support from the European Union, technical assistance was provided for assessing institutional capacity to produce data on gender-based violence and a protocol for the transfer of information was proposed. The report is available on the website of the National Institute of Statistics.

92.The judiciary’s updated Gender Observatory is expected to be launched in November 2025, as part of the implementation of a project aimed at promoting gender equality in the judiciary in Paraguay, with the cooperation of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

Reply to paragraph 8 (a)

93.The implementation of the national plan on preventing and combating trafficking in persons for the period 2020–2024 has made it possible to consolidate the inter-institutional response and adopt a more comprehensive approach. According to an evaluation conducted with the support of UNFPA, significant progress has been made in inter-institutional coordination and in the establishment of departmental committees, thereby contributing to the decentralization of prevention, detection and victim assistance efforts.

94.The establishment of an operational secretariat for the national programme for prevention, suppression and support for victims of trafficking in persons is a key step towards ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of the activities to be carried out. The Ministry of the Interior has been designated as the body responsible for hosting it, and has been tasked with establishing a specific unit within its framework and working with the Ministry of Economy and Finance on budgetary and financial arrangements.

95.The inter-institutional committee on preventing and combating trafficking in persons has decided to extend the duration of the national plan to cover the period 2025–2026, with a view to ensuring the continued implementation and consolidation of the strategies in place.

Reply to paragraph 8 (b)

96.Below is an overview of information provided by the guarantee courts on the number of cases related to the crime of trafficking in persons.

	2022		2023		2024
	Accused	Convicted	Accused	Convicted	Accused	Convicted
Male	2	2	4	4	0	0
Female	1	1	1	1	3	3
Total	3	3	5	5	3	3

Note: The table shows data on defendants by sex, which may differ from the number of cases, as each case may involve multiple defendants.

Reply to paragraph 8 (c)

97.With the active support of the National Commission for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labour and for the Protection of Adolescent Workers, a draft law was put forward to guarantee the right of children and adolescents to protection from unpaid domestic child labour. However, Congress did not approve it. In accordance with the Constitution, once the appropriate constitutional term has elapsed, the National Commission, in coordination with the Ministry for Children’s and Adolescents’ Affairs and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, intends to resume the process of drafting and presenting a draft law to criminalize unpaid domestic child labour (criadazgo) and establish criminal penalties for its practice, expressly recognizing it as one of the worst forms of child labour.

Reply to paragraph 8 (d)

98.During a meeting of the National Commission for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labour and for the Protection of Adolescent Workers in 2024, a monitoring workshop was held to evaluate the results of the national strategy for the period 2019–2024. The workshop had broad tripartite participation and received technical support from the International Labour Organization and UNICEF. During the workshop, five working groups were formed to analyse the progress made in implementing the seven strategic actions, as well as the main challenges and lessons learned. Those contributions will serve as core inputs for the development of a new national strategy aimed at maintaining and strengthening efforts to prevent and eradicate child labour and forced labour.

99.The proposed methodology for the new strategy has been approved, and the implementation process, including the conduct of several workshops and consultations, is expected to begin this year.

Reply to paragraph 8 (e)

100.The Women’s Support Service provides comprehensive care, information and advice to women in situations of gender-based violence. The 137 helpline is a round-the-clock national support mechanism for women who are victims of violence. It provides clear and effective responses to women and to people who are aware of cases of violence. In 2025, it has provided 2,888 women with assistance.

101.Furthermore, the Mercedes Sandoval shelter and other shelters for women who are victims of violence and their children have been launched to provide temporary housing, personal safety, social assistance, psychological care and legal advice, as well as comprehensive support from social workers who can facilitate their access to relevant programmes.

102.In addition, five regional centres have been set up to provide support to women in situations of violence and women affected by trafficking in persons (including women from Indigenous communities). The establishment and configuration in the Department of Alto Paraná of the model for the coordination of prevention and comprehensive care for women in situations of violence are expected to be completed in 2025. In addition, the regional centres model is expected to be expanded to other departments.

Reply to paragraph 9 (a)

103.The draft law was developed on the basis of inputs such as the model of the Committee of Experts of the Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention and other inputs, such as Act No. 5777/16, national plans to combat violence against women and equality plans.

104.In 2021, the Senate issued an opinion on the draft law, suggesting changes. It approved the draft law in principle, but a detailed review of the text is still pending.

105.In collaboration with the High Court of Electoral Justice, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs launched a protocol for preventing and responding to cases of gender-based political violence against women in order to prevent and avoid harm to women in the full exercise of their political rights, as well as to their families and loved ones.

Reply to paragraph 9 (b)

106.As at June 2025, 14 public institutions had submitted their reports, stating that 16 persons belonging to Indigenous communities had been incorporated. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs has an Office for Indigenous Women, which has recently launched a merit-based competitive selection process.

Reply to paragraph 9 (c)

107.The fifth national equality plan, covering the period 2025–2031, is currently under development.

Reply to paragraph 9 (d)

108.Under Act No. 834/96, political parties must ensure a minimum quota of 20 per cent for women candidates on their internal electoral lists. Failure to comply may prevent electoral lists from being registered by the courts.

109.Women’s political participation in Paraguay advanced between 1998 and 2023; on average, women now represent 22.6 per cent of the legislative branch, and there has been an increase in departmental positions held by women. Although more women were elected to Congress in 2023, the overall participation of women candidates decreased from 39 per cent to 33 per cent compared with 2018. Despite ongoing inequalities, the data reflect gradual progress.

Reply to paragraph 10 (a)

110.The Ministry of Women’s Affairs has been working on a prevention strategy that includes awareness-raising and training activities focused on building the capacity of organizations of women human rights defenders in matters such as approaches to addressing violence, thereby enabling them to serve as facilitators in cases of violence. During this period, 981 women and 634 men were trained.

Reply to paragraphs 10 (b) and (c)

111.According to data collected by the deputy prosecutor for human rights offences, there were three criminal cases involving women journalists and nine involving men. The Specialized Human Rights Unit, in coordination with the Human Rights Department and the Technical Office for Gender, applies a gender mainstreaming approach, taking into account vulnerability factors and promoting an institutional response free from discrimination.

Reply to paragraph 10 (d)

112.In order to strengthen police capacities in the protection of press workers, efforts are under way to develop a continuous training plan on procedures that are consistent with international human rights standards. In 2025, 13 workshops on the security protocol for journalists in high-risk situations were held, attended by 6,000 personnel, mainly new officers, non-commissioned officers and special forces agents.

Reply to paragraph 10 (e)

113.In the Senate, draft law S-2311464 was referred to five committees; two recommended approval, two proposed changes and one is yet to issue an opinion. In the Chamber of Deputies, draft law D-2164736 was referred to six committees; one recommended approval, two recommended that it be archived and one is yet to issue an opinion.

114.The implementing regulations for Act No. 7363/24 have recently been issued.

Reply to paragraph 11 (a)

115.A total of 5,425 identity cards were issued in 2022, 1,787 in 2023, 2,694 in 2024 and 2,160 in 2025.

Reply to paragraphs 11 (b), (c) and (d)

116.Although Act No. 1938/02, on refugees, lacks specific implementing regulations, it is fully implemented through the National Commission for Stateless Persons and Refugees, which ensures favourable treatment for women and girls seeking asylum, with a focus on non-discrimination and respect for their human rights, especially in cases of gender-based violence or trafficking in persons.

117.Paraguay implements Act No. 6149/18, under which the procedures for identification, protection and naturalization are established and the National Commission for Stateless Persons and Refugees is assigned responsibility for handling those matters. The Act is implemented with a focus on human rights and non-discrimination, ensuring that vulnerable people have access to the relevant processes and services.

118.The National Migration Department implements the “Migramóvil” programme to facilitate the regularization of the migration status of persons in an irregular situation, with the aim of promoting safe and orderly migration and respecting human rights.

119.Women asylum-seekers can gain access to job skills training programmes through the National Career Development Service, inclusive employment services through the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and free healthcare through the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare. In addition, psychological support, legal advice, vocational training and economic empowerment programmes for women in vulnerable situations are provided through Ciudad Mujer, the Women’s City Centre initiative.

Reply to paragraph 12 (e)

120.In cooperation with UNICEF and the Education Above All Foundation, the “Vamos a la escuela” (Let’s go to school) initiative promotes the enrolment of children outside the education system. The Ministry of Education and Science has up-to-date and reliable data on enrolment and the national education system on its educational statistics portal.

Reply to paragraph 12 (f)

121.The aim of the “Semillas del futuro” (Seeds of the future) programme, under the leadership of the Ministry for Children’s and Adolescents’ Affairs and the Office of the First Lady, is to establish 100 comprehensive early childhood care centres across the country. These centres will provide early stimulation, food, training and support to families, enabling teenage mothers, fathers and caregivers to resume their studies or gain access to job training opportunities. The purpose is to relieve adolescents, especially girls, from heavy caregiving responsibilities at home, thereby reducing school dropout rates and broadening their career prospects.

122.The Abrazo Programme is the main public policy instrument for the social protection of children and adolescents at risk of, or engaged in, hazardous child labour. It currently operates at 44 centres, spread across 32 districts in 12 departments. In 2024, 5,085 families and 13,400 children and adolescents benefited from the programme, which is aimed at protecting adolescents from social and labour risks, ensuring their access to education, health and protection services, and supporting families through economic aid, social assistance and training.

123.The new national strategy for the prevention and eradication of child labour will include domestic work, unpaid domestic child labour and unpaid care, with a view to addressing the causes of educational exclusion and promoting equality, social protection and decent employment in adulthood.

Reply to paragraphs 12 (g) and 14 (f)

124.Act No. 6393/22 on the free provision of period products, together with its implementing regulations, sets out the responsibility for the purchase, distribution and budget allocation necessary for the provision of such products. In addition, a guide on menstrual management, health and hygiene has been produced to provide healthcare professionals and the general public with guidance and information, with the aim of ensuring that girls, adolescents and women can manage their menstrual health with autonomy and dignity. The necessary administrative steps are currently being taken to include such items in institutional budgets.

125.The National Environmental Sanitation Service is responsible for the provision of drinking water and sanitation in rural and Indigenous areas. In coordination with the committees and boards that manage and maintain sanitation systems, the Service has achieved 90 per cent coverage for improved water sources nationally, supplying more than 50 per cent of the population. It also promotes the sustainability of services through the provision of technical assistance and training to strengthen local management and ensure continued access to safe water.

Reply to paragraph 13 (a)

126.Draft law S-199205 was referred to five committees, one of which issued a favourable opinion and another proposed changes. Draft law S-2211034 was referred to five committees, one of which requested changes.

Reply to paragraph 13 (c)

127.Decision No. 894/21 was repealed in 2022. The regulations governing adjustments to the legal minimum wage are revised annually; at present, Decision No. 677/25 is in force.

Reply to paragraph 13 (d)

128.According to the institutional complaints system, there were no reports of alleged sexual harassment in the workplace in 2024 or 2025, or in any earlier periods. Furthermore, there were no complaints of pregnancy- or maternity-based discrimination during recruitment, promotion processes or other situations in 2024 or 2025.

Reply to paragraph 14 (a)

129.The right to life, from the moment of conception, is enshrined in article 4 of the Constitution. As a result, abortion is an offence under current criminal law, except when the woman’s life is at risk.

130.Paraguay underscores its commitment to fully safeguarding maternal and reproductive health, including through the implementation of the plan to reduce maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality for the period 2023–2030, which is spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.

131.In 2025, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, with support from the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization, has held a series of workshops to strengthen the epidemiological monitoring of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, using a root cause analysis methodology and developing practical recommendations aligned with the plan.

Reply to paragraphs 14 (b) and (g)

132.The regulatory framework of Paraguay that supports actions in this area includes the Health Code (Act No. 836/80), Act No. 4313/11 on guaranteed funding for reproductive health programmes and birth kits, Act No. 5446/15 on public policies for rural women and Act No. 5469/15 on Indigenous health.

133.The aim of the national sexual and reproductive health plan for the period 2024–2030 is to promote inclusive, equitable and integrated policies that improve access to, and quality of, care offered by the national health system. In addition, a handbook setting out a comprehensive men’s healthcare model, with a focus on maternal and child health, was developed to promote the prevention and treatment of common conditions, with a particular emphasis on the active involvement of men during the partner’s pregnancy.

134.The budget allocated to the Directorate for Sexual and Reproductive Health is 15,262,550,285 guaraníes, 95 per cent of which is earmarked for the purchase of contraceptive methods, medicines and supplies for birth kits.

135.The guide to sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescents with disabilities, approved by Decision No. 758/2021, contains guidelines to ensure inclusive care adapted to their specific needs.

136.The plan to reduce maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality for the period 2023–2030 and the guide on epidemiological monitoring of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality enable the monitoring of adverse events and promote continuous improvement strategies at all levels of the national health system. In addition, the national family planning standards manual for women and men recognizes family planning as a constitutional right and encourages voluntary decision-making about parenthood, thereby helping to reduce maternal mortality and prevent teenage pregnancy.

Reply to paragraph 14 (c)

137.Act No. 3940/09 provides for access to information on, and prevention and treatment of, all sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis. In addition, free testing and treatment for pregnant women and the general public have been made available through ministerial decisions and public policies, such as the national programme to control HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. Those efforts are supplemented by various guiding documents, including a manual on national standards for preconception, prenatal, labour, birth and post-partum care, a manual on managing major obstetric pathologies and a manual on family planning.

138.Efforts to procure male condoms are under way through the national sexual and reproductive health plan. The national programme to control HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections ensures access to voluntary, confidential and free testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C. As part of the combined prevention strategy, it provides access to condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis, and implements the ETMI Plus initiative. As part of the decentralization process, pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis services have been made available in family health units and primary hospitals, and training has been provided for healthcare professionals and institutional leaders on implementation, patient care and the provision of supplies.

Reply to paragraph 14 (d)

139.The national strategy is focused on effectively increasing coverage by deploying multidisciplinary family and community health teams as part of the comprehensive and integrated health service networks and the family health units, as a gateway to the health system.

140.After 18 months of implementation, the project to expand access to and the coverage of maternal and child healthcare in remote rural areas, Indigenous communities and border areas of the Paraguayan Chaco ended with a positive evaluation. The project was spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, with support from the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization and funding from the India-United Nations Development Partnership Fund. The project, which involved several sectors and actors, was carried out in the Chaco region, taking into account social, environmental and healthcare access factors, with a view to promoting equity in terms of maternal, fetal, neonatal and child health among these populations.

Reply to paragraph 14 (e)

141.The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare has issued and implemented the following protocols for managing the most frequent cancers and benign and malignant oncohaematological diseases: protocol for the treatment of haematological diseases; and protocol for the management of lung, prostate, breast, cervical and colorectal cancer.

Reply to paragraph 14 (h)

142.The national mental health policy for the period 2024–2030 and the national mental health plan for the period 2024–2030 contain strategies to expand decentralized coverage and strengthen the services offered. As part of those strategies, a directory was compiled to facilitate access to care for all, without distinction, through the integrated and comprehensive health service networks of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.

143.The national plan for the prevention of gender-based violence and care for victims within the national health system 2020–2025 sets out priorities and actions for tackling family, domestic, sexual and other forms of violence against women, children and adolescents, including trafficking in persons, forced labour and child labour. In addition, a handbook on the provision of comprehensive care to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence offers technical guidelines and protocols for comprehensive care.

Reply to paragraph 15 (a)

144.See tables in annex II.

145.Between July 2020 and July 2021, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock organized various activities for the economic empowerment of rural women, including agricultural fairs known as short-circuit marketing fairs, which allowed beneficiary organizations of women farmers to collect and sell their agricultural products directly, avoiding intermediaries. Ninety percent of the fair participants were women from family farms, with 186 fairs held throughout the country, involving 300 organizations and benefiting 4,782 rural families, with 8,848,855,722 guaraníes of generated income.

Reply to paragraph 15 (c)

146.An inter-institutional commission comprising 33 State institutions was formed to implement the law in question. In that context, 95 women farmers participated in a “Ñemongueta con mujeres rurales” (chat with rural women), at which the policies established under the law were shared, thereby promoting gender mainstreaming and intercultural approaches in the agrarian sector and strengthening the political empowerment of rural, peasant and Indigenous women, through their active participation in organizations, cooperatives and decision-making forums.

Reply to paragraphs 15 (b), 16 (a) and 17 (c)

147.According to data contained in the National Institute for Rural and Land Development system, 2,098 women benefited from the financial surcharge percentage applied pursuant to Decision No. 364/2025 of 2023.

148.The Institute promoted the participation of women as active subjects of agrarian reform through land allocations, co-ownership, regularization campaigns and activities to raise awareness of rights. It implemented a preferential financing rate of 0 per cent for women and 4 per cent for men for the purchase of lots, together with a protocol for preventing and addressing property-related violence.

149.These measures helped to strengthen gender equity in agrarian reform, increasing women’s participation as follows: from 35 to 46 per cent in land allocations; from 34 to 48 per cent in land titling; and from 54 to 58 per cent in access to rural housing.

Reply to paragraph 16 (b)

150.The “Sape’a 2.0” project was conducted between 2019 and 2024 and achieved the following results: creation of 312 formal jobs; granting of seed capital to 465 entrepreneurs; and more than 4,700 beneficiaries. Women from rural areas made up 66 per cent of the total number of beneficiaries, while 2 per cent came from Indigenous communities and 15 per cent were persons with disabilities.

151.The national training and work skills development system promotes equality and economic empowerment for rural women to acquire technical, productive and business skills. From July 2024 to July 2025, 254 training activities were conducted, through different modalities, benefiting a total of 6,979 people – 3,876 women and 3,103 men.

Reply to paragraphs 17 (a) and (b)

152.Under a project for strengthening meaningful participation, awareness was raised among Indigenous young people from various communities as part of the “Noviazgo sin violencia” (Dating without violence) programme.

153.The National Secretariat for Culture has promoted various activities to draw attention to and promote the cultural rights of Indigenous women and women of African descent. It promotes cultural diversity through fairs, campaigns and cultural funds, of which almost 60 per cent benefit projects led by women. The Secretariat also issues publications and holds workshops in Indigenous languages, and conducts training sessions for communities and cultural entrepreneurs and awareness-raising campaigns on racism and diversity. It is currently carrying out projects, such as “Casas culturales” (Cultural houses), competitive funds for Indigenous literature and initiatives to safeguard intangible heritage.

154.The institutions that are part of the pathway of care for Indigenous women established the “Abriendo caminos” (Forging paths) project, promoting the active participation of women leaders from 18 ethnic groups in discussion forums and participatory workshops. During these activities, participants addressed ideas about violence, community mechanisms and access to public services, incorporating respect for Indigenous values and world views in the prevention of gender-based violence.

155.The Ministry of Social Development, as part of the “Ñaime Porãvéta” Plan and the national plan for Indigenous Peoples for the period 2020–2030, implements public policies to improve the living conditions of Indigenous communities, promoting inclusive social development, women’s and girls’ access to basic services and their economic empowerment through productive inclusion and income generation.

156.Some relevant statistics are listed below.

•Tekoporä Programme: 31,415 families from Indigenous communities, including 326,445 women;

•Tenonderä Programme: 3,284 Indigenous women;

•Programme on community kitchens and centres: 15,601 Indigenous women and girls benefited in 2025;

•“Hambre cero” (Zero hunger) programme: provision of school meals to Indigenous children and adolescents as a priority population.

Reply to paragraph 17 (d)

157.Paraguay implements the judgments of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights through the Inter-Agency Commission for the Enforcement of International Judgements. The judgments of the Court contain specific compliance clauses, which the State implements progressively, prioritizing a victim-centred approach and comprehensive respect for human rights.

Reply to paragraphs 18 (a) and (b)

158.There are currently 156 women with disabilities employed in the public sector. The Civil Service Secretariat portal provides open data on civil service staff. The portal makes it possible to explore the total number of staff, as well as their distribution according to different criteria, including institution, employment status, gender, age and disability status.

Reply to paragraph 18 (c)

159.During the period 2024–2025, 28 companies and organizations were certified under the programme in question.

Reply to paragraph 18 (d)

160.The plan is monitored using human rights indicators. The National Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities promotes the participation of persons with disabilities, in order to ensure that policies and indicators reflect their needs and address the various forms of discrimination they face, in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Reply to paragraph 18 (e)

161.A questionnaire is being developed for health professionals who provide care to adolescents, with a view to assessing their knowledge and effective application of the Technical Standard on Comprehensive Adolescent Healthcare and the “Towards inclusive care” guide to sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescents with disabilities. The guide is part of efforts to promote sexual and reproductive health with an inclusive approach. The focus is placed on ensuring that adolescent girls with disabilities receive appropriate and accessible care in this area.

Reply to paragraphs 20 (a), (b) and (d)

162.Women awaiting trial: 656; Convicted women: 443; Paraguayan women: 1053; Foreign women: 45; Total: 1099.

163.In 2023, 3,153 persons deprived of their liberty participated in formal education, technical training and vocational training programmes offered by the Ministry of Justice. An additional 1,600 individuals deprived of their liberty participated in occupational and manufacturing workshops. These programmes involved the production and sale of goods made in prison workshops and served to strengthen inmates’ occupational skills, self-esteem and social inclusion.

164.A total of 1,303 comprehensive assistance measures were taken for vulnerable groups within the prison system, such as older persons, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons and foreign nationals.

165.The Emboscada women’s penitentiary is making progress towards transforming the women’s prison system, with a management model based on human rights, a restorative approach and gender equity. Capable of holding more than 1,200 women, it promotes education, work and social reintegration, and offers adequate housing units, medical and psychosocial care, training workshops and spaces that ensure dignified conditions and respectful coexistence.

166.The Ministry of Justice conducts ongoing training for prison staff, in line with the Nelson Mandela Rules and the Bangkok Rules. With the support of the United Nations, specific training sessions have been held for administrative officials of the Ministry and for prison officers, to promote the effective implementation of international standards in the prison environment.

Reply to paragraph 21

167.Paraguay has incorporated gender indicators into the system for monitoring and evaluating adaptation to climate change, as part of a capacity-building project to improve climate transparency countrywide.

168.Under the “Aula del clima” (Climate classroom) programme, training modules are being developed to highlight the gaps between men and women in terms of the impact of extreme weather events, strengthen the technical capacities of vulnerable groups and promote the use of gender-sensitive data in decision-making.

169.The Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development brings attention to and follows up on the commitments made in the national plan for gender and climate change through the National Climate Transparency Platform, a tool that facilitates the monitoring of progress towards gender equity, the generation of technical evidence, and accountability through periodic reports.

170.The Chaco Project for Ecosystem-based Adaptation, which is implemented by the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development and the United Nations Environment Programme, promotes climate adaptation and food security by providing supplies to women’s groups for the production of garden vegetables, honey and poultry. Meanwhile, the platform for women leaders in the sustainable commodities production chain has evolved into a sustainable development platform, with a more inclusive and participatory institutional vision, in which 49 women in the Chaco region and 32 in Itapúa, including Indigenous representatives, are currently participating.

Reply to paragraph 22 (a)

171.Draft law D-2482560 on the subject was introduced in the Chamber of Deputies. It was referred to three committees, together with technical reports prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science, the National Institute of Statistics, the Supreme Court of Justice and the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare. A public hearing has also been held.

Reply to paragraph 22 (c)

172.The Public Prosecution Service conducts regular awareness-raising campaigns on violence against women. These initiatives are aimed at highlighting the different manifestations of gender-based violence, building public trust in institutions and fostering a culture of respect and equality. The campaigns include educational messages with a special emphasis on the importance of breaking the silence and practical information on points such as how to get assistance and report cases, access to justice and the prevention of domestic violence, sexual harassment, femicide and abuse against children and adolescents.

Reply to paragraph 23 (a)

173.See tables in annex III.

Reply to paragraph 23 (c)

174.During the planning phase of the 2022 census, the National Institute of Statistics decided to remove the question owing to the results of the preparatory tests. The adopted modality required extensive training in a short period of time and, based on experiences in the pilot tests, the different questions on the subject were not satisfactory. In order to obtain statistical data on this population group, a national registry of people of African descent will be established.