Country fact sheet: Cabo Verde
Women’s rights in law and practice in Cabo Verde: key indicators, treaties, ten laws and their gaps, recent developments and reforms recommended.
Last updated · October 30, 2026
Country fact sheet · Cabo Verde · women’s rights in law and practice
Read from RFLD’s Cabo Verde legal profile, October 2026. “Gaps recorded” means a treaty body, the government or national organisations have reported shortcomings in the law or its application.
Treaty commitments
| Maputo Protocol | ratified 21/06/2005 / deposited 22/07/2005 |
| CEDAW | acceded 5 Dec 1980 |
| CEDAW Optional Protocol | acceded 10 Oct 2011 |
| African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child | signed 27/02/1992 / ratified 20/07/1993 / deposited 01/09/1993 |
Ten laws that matter for women, and their gaps
| Topic | Law | Gaps recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Gender-based and domestic violence | Lei n.º 84/VII/2011, de 10 de janeiro de 2011 (Lei Especial sobre a Violência Baseada no Género) | – |
| Rape and sexual offences | Lei n.º 84/VII/2011, de 10 de janeiro de 2011 (Lei Especial sobre a Violência Baseada no Género) | Marital rape is addressed in the GBV law, while the Penal Code provisions on sexual offences were not detailed in the government’s reply to CEDAW. |
| Female genital mutilation | No specific law on female genital mutilation | – |
| Child marriage and age of marriage | Código Civil (1997), artigos 133 e 1575 | Marriage of minors remains possible with parental consent. |
| Family and personal status | Código Civil, artigos 1564, 1627, 1628 e 1733 | – |
| Land and property | Código Civil, artigo 1638, e Decreto-Lei n.º 2/2007, artigos 5 e 8 | – |
| Abortion and sexual and reproductive health | Law of 31 December 1986 on the voluntary termination of pregnancy | – |
| Political participation and quotas | Parity law of November 2019 | – |
| Human rights defenders | No specific law on human rights defenders | Defenders have no specific legal protection. |
| Online violence and cybercrime | Lei n.º 8/IX/2017, Lei do Cibercrime | – |
See the West Africa legal scorecard 2026.
Recent developments
- 18 June 2026. Janira Hopffer Almada elected Speaker of the National Assembly.
- May 2026. Legislative elections: women won 34 of 72 seats (47.2%).
- November 2023. Cabo Verde reviewed under the fourth cycle of the UN Universal Periodic Review.
Reforms recommended
- Ratify ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work (not yet ratified as of May 2026).
Sexual violence law reform since 2020
RFLD and its member organisations have advocated for stronger laws on sexual violence in Cabo Verde since 2020. Pending: No new law on sexual violence recorded since 2020; advocacy continues.
Sources and updates
Every entry comes from RFLD’s Cabo Verde legal profile, which cites the official text or source for each line. Last checked: October 2026. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
Frequently asked questions
Has Cabo Verde ratified the Maputo Protocol?
Yes. Cabo Verde’s status is: ratified 21/06/2005 / deposited 22/07/2005.
What is the minimum age of marriage in Cabo Verde?
Sets the age of majority at 18 and allows a minor to marry with the consent of parents or guardians, with court approval if consent is refused. Gap recorded: Marriage of minors remains possible with parental consent. (Código Civil (1997), artigos 133 e 1575)
Is female genital mutilation banned in Cabo Verde?
No specific law on female genital mutilation. The 2003 Penal Code has no FGM offence; general bodily harm offences apply. The CEDAW Committee (2019) asked the State to watch for possible cases.
Does Cabo Verde have a law on violence against women?
Lei n.º 84/VII/2011, de 10 de janeiro de 2011 (Lei Especial sobre a Violência Baseada no Género). Special law that covers physical, psychological, sexual and patrimonial violence and makes gender-based violence a public crime prosecuted without a complaint. It provides victim support and perpetrator rehabilitation.
Does Cabo Verde have a gender quota?
Parity law of November 2019. Requires at least 40% of candidates of each sex on electoral lists.
Cite and share
How to cite: RFLD (2026). Country fact sheet: Cabo Verde. Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement. https://rflgd.org/country-fact-sheets/cabo-verde-fact-sheet/ (accessed [date]).
Free to quote and share with attribution. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
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