Country fact sheet: Côte d’Ivoire
Women’s rights in law and practice in Côte d’Ivoire: key indicators, treaties, ten laws and their gaps, recent developments and reforms recommended.
Last updated · October 30, 2026
Country fact sheet · Côte d’Ivoire · women’s rights in law and practice
Read from RFLD’s Côte d’Ivoire 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 | signed 27/02/2004 / ratified 05/10/2011 / deposited 09/03/2012 |
| CEDAW | signed 17 Jul 1980 / ratified 18 Dec 1995 |
| CEDAW Optional Protocol | acceded 20 Jan 2012 |
| African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child | ratified 01/03/2002 / deposited 18/06/2007 |
Ten laws that matter for women, and their gaps
| Topic | Law | Gaps recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Gender-based and domestic violence | Loi n° 2021-894 du 21 décembre 2021 relative aux mesures de protection des victimes de violences domestiques, de viol et de violences sexuelles autres que domestiques | – |
| Rape and sexual offences | Loi n° 2019-574 du 26 juin 2019 portant Code pénal, article 403 | – |
| Female genital mutilation | Loi n° 98-757 du 23 décembre 1998 portant répression de certaines formes de violences à l’égard des femmes | Prosecutions remain rare: the first trial took place in 2012 and only one prosecution was reported in 2020. |
| Child marriage and age of marriage | Loi n° 2019-570 du 26 juin 2019 relative au mariage, articles 2 et 26 | – |
| Family and personal status | Loi n° 2019-570 du 26 juin 2019 relative au mariage | – |
| Land and property | Loi n° 98-750 du 23 décembre 1998 relative au Domaine foncier rural, modifiée notamment par la loi n° 2019-868 du 14 octobre 2019 | – |
| Abortion and sexual and reproductive health | Loi n° 2019-574 du 26 juin 2019 portant Code pénal, article 427 | Abortion remains a crime in other cases, including incest and fetal impairment, with penalties for the woman of six months to two years. |
| Political participation and quotas | Loi n° 2019-870 du 14 octobre 2019 favorisant la représentation de la femme dans les assemblées élues | – |
| Human rights defenders | Loi n° 2014-388 du 20 juin 2014 portant promotion et protection des défenseurs des droits de l’homme | – |
Recent developments
- 17 January 2026. Patrick Achi elected Speaker of the National Assembly.
- December 2025. Legislative elections: 38 women elected to the 255-seat National Assembly (14.9%).
- November 2024. Visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights.
- 29 July 2024. Côte d’Ivoire acceded to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (in force 1 November 2024).
- 3 April 2023. Côte d’Ivoire deposited its ratification of the AU Malabo Convention.
Reforms recommended
- Strengthen enforcement of the 30% candidate quota, as women won only 14.9% of National Assembly seats in 2025.
- Ratify ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work.
Laws on sexual violence adopted since 2020
RFLD and its member organisations contributed to the advocacy behind these laws in Côte d’Ivoire:
- Loi n° 2021-894 du 21 décembre 2021 relative aux mesures de protection des victimes de violences domestiques, de viol et de violences sexuelles autres que domestiques (2021). Sets protection measures for survivors of domestic violence, rape and other sexual violence.
See all 13 laws in the register of laws and policies we helped change.
RFLD in Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire is one of the eight countries of RFLD’s Afrofeminist Initiative for Human Rights Development in Francophone West Africa, supported by the SEA-T programme (GIZ, on behalf of BMZ). See our countries of work and the West Africa legal scorecard 2026.
Sources and updates
Every entry comes from RFLD’s Côte d’Ivoire legal profile, which cites the official text or source for each line. Last checked: October 2026. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
Frequently asked questions
Has Côte d’Ivoire ratified the Maputo Protocol?
Yes. Côte d’Ivoire’s status is: signed 27/02/2004 / ratified 05/10/2011 / deposited 09/03/2012.
What is the minimum age of marriage in Côte d’Ivoire?
The World Bank records these articles as the legal basis protecting girls from child marriage. (Loi n° 2019-570 du 26 juin 2019 relative au mariage, articles 2 et 26)
Is female genital mutilation banned in Côte d’Ivoire?
Loi n° 98-757 du 23 décembre 1998 portant répression de certaines formes de violences à l’égard des femmes. Punishes FGM with one to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 360,000 to 2,000,000 CFA francs, doubled for health professionals. The penalty is five to 20 years where the victim dies. Parents who order or tolerate the practice are also liable, and article 5 of the 2016 Constitution prohibits FGM. Gap recorded: Prosecutions remain rare: the first trial took place in 2012 and only one prosecution was reported in 2020.
Does Côte d’Ivoire have a law on violence against women?
Loi n° 2021-894 du 21 décembre 2021 relative aux mesures de protection des victimes de violences domestiques, de viol et de violences sexuelles autres que domestiques. Sets out protection measures for victims of domestic violence and of sexual violence, including rape.
Does Côte d’Ivoire have a gender quota?
Loi n° 2019-870 du 14 octobre 2019 favorisant la représentation de la femme dans les assemblées élues. Requires at least 30 per cent women among candidates in elections to elected assemblies. An implementing decree was adopted on 25 November 2020.
Cite and share
How to cite: RFLD (2026). Country fact sheet: Côte d’Ivoire. Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement. https://rflgd.org/country-fact-sheets/cote-divoire-fact-sheet/ (accessed [date]).
Free to quote and share with attribution. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
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