DƆNÙESÈ Data Center / Women’s Rights Laws by Country / Central African Republic
Central Africa · Country law profile
Central African Republic: women’s rights and civic space laws
The Central African Republic ratified the Maputo Protocol in August 2025 and ILO Convention 190 in 2022. Its 2016 parity law (Act 16.004) and 2019 Electoral Code require parties to field at least 35% women candidates, yet women held only 11.4% of seats in the outgoing National Assembly. The 2023 Constitution extended presidential terms to seven years and removed term limits. Civic space is restricted: a 2022 ban on public protests remains in force and in May 2025 parliament reintroduced criminal press offences.
At a glance
| Capital | Bangui |
|---|---|
| Legal system | Civil law system of French origin, with customary law |
| Official languages | French, Sango |
Key indicators
11.4% (16 of 140)Women in National Assembly (2026)
53.48World Bank WBL 2026 legal frameworks score (2026)
77.5World Bank WBL 2024 (WBL 1.0) score (2024)
Regional and international treaties
| Treaty | Status | Reservations or notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maputo Protocol | signed 17/06/2008 / ratified August 2025 | |
| CEDAW | acceded 21 June 1991 | None recorded in the sources consulted |
| African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child | signed 04/02/2003 / ratified 07/07/2016 / deposited 01/08/2016 | |
| ILO C190 (Violence and Harassment) | ratified 9 June 2022; in force | |
| ILO C100 (Equal Remuneration) | ratified 9 June 1964 | |
| ILO C111 (Discrimination, Employment and Occupation) | ratified 9 June 1964 | |
| ICCPR | acceded 8 May 1981 | |
| Kampala Convention | signed 23/10/2009 / ratified 20/12/2010 / deposited 08/03/2011 | |
| AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo) | No signature or ratification (AU status list dated 02/02/2026) | |
| Budapest Convention on Cybercrime | Not a party, signatory or invited State |
Constitution
| Constitution | Constitution of 2023 (adopted by referendum) |
|---|---|
| Quotas or parity | Act 16.004 of 26 November 2016 (Arts. 7 to 9) and Article 281 of the 2019 Electoral Code require political parties to present at least 35% women candidates for parliamentary elections; the Constitutional Court rules on non-compliance. |
National laws
Political participation and quotas
Act 16.004 of 26 November 2016 (parity law), Arts. 7 to 9; Electoral Code 2019, Art. 281
Requires at least 35% women candidates on party lists for parliamentary elections.
Gaps: Women held 11.4% of seats in the outgoing Assembly, far below the 35% target.
Source: data.ipu.org
Access to justice and legal aid
Special Criminal Court (hybrid court) and ICC proceedings
The Special Criminal Court convicted armed group members of war crimes and crimes against humanity in 2025; the ICC convicted two anti-balaka leaders in July 2025.
Source: hrw.org
Gender-based and domestic violence
Loi n°06.032 du 27 décembre 2006 portant protection de la femme contre la violence en République Centrafricaine
Dedicated law on violence against women that defines and punishes forms of violence against women, including harmful practices.
Gaps: The CEDAW Committee review in 2024 noted that spousal rape was still not criminalised and that the Penal Code was being reformed on this point.
Source: cnudhd.com
Female genital mutilation
Loi n°06.032 du 27 décembre 2006 portant protection de la femme contre la violence, articles 9 and 19 to 21
Defines FGM and punishes anyone who performs it with 2 to 5 years of imprisonment and a fine, with lifetime forced labour if the victim dies. Planning or promoting FGM is punished in the same way. Failure to report a known or planned FGM is also an offence.
Gaps: No explicit provision on medicalised FGM or cross-border FGM, and no documented prosecutions since enactment.
Source: fgmcri.org
Female genital mutilation
Loi n°10.001 du 6 janvier 2010 portant Code pénal centrafricain, articles 114 to 116
The Penal Code repeats the criminalisation of FGM and its penalties and makes reporting of planned or committed FGM mandatory.
Gaps: The term non-therapeutic reasons is not defined, which leaves a possible loophole.
Source: fgmcri.org
Rape and sexual offences
Loi n°10.001 du 6 janvier 2010 portant Code pénal centrafricain
The Penal Code contains specific protections for vulnerable persons, including women and children. It punishes sexual violence, with increased penalties for gender-based violence.
Gaps: Marital rape is not explicitly criminalised; a reform of the Penal Code to cover spousal rape was under way at the 2024 CEDAW review.
Source: ungeneva.org
Harmful practices
Loi n°10.001 du 6 janvier 2010 portant Code pénal centrafricain, Titre III
Sanctions violence against widows linked to widowhood rites, such as deprivation of food and confiscation of their property by the in-laws.
Gaps: Penal Code provisions on witchcraft, under which women are accused, were still awaiting amendment in 2024.
Source: rf-efh.org
Sexual harassment
No specific sexual harassment law: draft law on sexual harassment before the National Assembly
The government reported to CEDAW in 2024 that a draft law to strengthen prevention of sexual harassment, including in the workplace, was under consideration by the National Assembly.
Gaps: Sexual harassment in employment is not yet covered by a dedicated law.
Source: ungeneva.org
Child marriage and age of marriage
Code de protection de l’enfant, 2020
The 2020 Child Protection Code sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 and prohibits child marriage without exception. It protects children from abuse and violence. It also protects them from exploitation.
Gaps: Customary practice still allows marriage of girls from 16 with parental consent, and 68% of girls marry before 18.
Source: girlsnotbrides.org
Family and personal status
Loi n°97.013 du 11 novembre 1997 portant Code de la famille
Governs marriage, divorce, filiation and parental authority; it permits polygamy and a symbolic dowry.
Gaps: Discriminatory provisions remain, such as the husband’s choice of family residence and the exceptional authorisation of child marriage; a revised code was still pending before the National Assembly in 2024.
Source: rf-efh.org
Inheritance and succession
Loi n°97.013 du 11 novembre 1997 portant Code de la famille (succession provisions)
The Family Code regulates succession, including the share of surviving spouses.
Gaps: The treatment of widows in succession was identified as discriminatory and was among 67 articles in a revision drafted in 2021 that had not been adopted.
Source: reliefweb.int
Abortion and sexual and reproductive health
Loi n°06.005 du 20 juin 2006 on reproductive health (Loi Bangayassi)
Recognises reproductive health rights, including a woman’s right to decide freely on the number and spacing of her births.
Source: rf-efh.org
Labour and maternity
Loi n°09.004 du 29 janvier 2009 portant Code du travail de la République Centrafricaine
Requires that pay be set by identical standards for men and women and protects maternity during employment. It contains a chapter on women’s work.
Gaps: The CEDAW Committee noted that a draft law on workplace sexual harassment was still before the National Assembly.
Source: rf-efh.org
Political participation and quotas
Constitution of the Central African Republic, 2023
The 2023 Constitution promotes gender equality and the involvement of women in decision-making bodies.
Source: ungeneva.org
Nationality
Loi n°1961.212 du 20 avril 1961 portant code de la nationalité centrafricaine
Governs acquisition and transmission of Central African nationality, including through marriage.
Gaps: The law transfers a husband’s nationality to his wife but does not let women transmit nationality to foreign husbands on equal terms; a reform working group was set up.
Source: ungeneva.org
Trafficking
Loi n°10.001 du 6 janvier 2010 portant Code pénal centrafricain, article 151
Defines and criminalises human trafficking, including for slavery, with 5 to 10 years of imprisonment and heavier penalties when the victim is under 18.
Gaps: A mechanism to collect data on trafficking was still being developed in 2024.
Source: antislaverylaw.ac.uk
Access to justice and legal aid
Décret n°15.007 du 8 janvier 2015 creating the Unité Mixte d’Intervention Rapide et de Répression (UMIRR)
Creates a joint police and gendarmerie unit to respond rapidly to and investigate sexual violence against women and children.
Source: rf-efh.org
Access to justice and legal aid
Loi n°17.015 du 20 avril 2017 creating the National Commission on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Creates the national human rights commission, which can receive complaints of rights violations including against women.
Gaps: In 2024 the commission was still working toward Paris Principles A status and gender elements were being added to its mandate.
Source: rf-efh.org
Women and girls with disabilities
Loi n°00.007 du 20 décembre 2000 portant statut, protection et promotion de la personne handicapée
Sets out the status, protection and promotion of persons with disabilities, including women and girls.
Source: cnudhd.com
Vulnerable Groups
Loi n°10.001 du 6 janvier 2010 portant Code pénal centrafricain (public indecency provision)
There is no blanket ban on same-sex conduct. The Penal Code sanctions homosexual conduct in public while it does not do so for heterosexual conduct.
Source: features.hrw.org
Civic space
| Press and media law | In May 2025 the National Assembly revised the press law to reintroduce criminal press offences (using media to incite crimes or threaten national security), reversing the 2020 decriminalisation. An editor was detained in May 2025. |
|---|---|
| Public order and counter-terrorism | A 2022 ban on public protests remains in force and was used to arrest seven people at a June 2025 memorial vigil. |
| Notes | Since 2022 authorities have cracked down on civil society, independent media and opposition protests, often with unfounded accusations of links to armed groups (Human Rights Watch). |
Data protection
Loi n° 24.001 portant protection des données à caractère personnel (2024)
Sets rules for the processing of personal data.
Source: arcep.cf
Human rights defenders
Loi portant promotion et protection des défenseurs des droits de l’Homme, adopted on 27 December 2024 (not yet promulgated)
Adopted unanimously by the National Assembly. The Constitutional Council sent it back for corrections in February 2025, and it had still not been promulgated in September 2026.
Source: loc.gov
Social protection
Loi n° 06.035 du 28 décembre 2006 portant Code de sécurité sociale
Social Security Code.
Source: faolex.fao.org
Recent developments
- 7 May 2026. Speaker of the new National Assembly elected.
- 28 December 2025. Presidential, legislative and first local elections in 36 years, held under the 2023 Constitution without term limits.
- August 2025. Ratification of the Maputo Protocol.
- July 2025. ICC convicted two anti-balaka leaders.
- 27 June 2025. Seven people, including three civil society organisers, arrested at a vigil for students killed in a school explosion.
- May 2025. Parliament reintroduced criminal press offences in the press law.
Reforms recommended
Reforms recommended by the African Commission, UN treaty bodies or national organisations, as reported in the sources below.
- Lift the 2022 blanket ban on public protests and stop arresting activists for peaceful assembly (Human Rights Watch).
- Repeal the May 2025 reintroduction of criminal press offences (Human Rights Watch).
- Enforce the 35% candidate quota of Act 16.004 and the Electoral Code (IPU Parline).
- Deposit and domesticate the Maputo Protocol ratified in 2025.
- Ensure accountability for sexual violence by government forces and armed groups through the Special Criminal Court (Human Rights Watch).
Being verified. RFLD is checking the laws on the following topics against official texts and will add them to this page: land and property, girls’ education, online violence and cybercrime, older persons. Corrections and documents are welcome at programs@rflgd.org.
African Union treaties
Status of 29 African Union treaties as recorded in the official AU status lists published by the African Union Commission. The date of each list is shown: a ratification deposited after that date may not appear yet. 4 of the 13 human rights and governance treaties below are ratified.
Other AU treaties (16)
Sources (24)
- data.ipu.org · data on women
- documents1.worldbank.org · P179153 156eebab c7a8 46ea aefa ab7ca80708a0
- wbl.worldbank.org · WBL2024 Economy Scores
- hrw.org · central african republic
- treaties.un.org · ViewDetails
- au.int · 36804 sl AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE…
- hrlibrary.umn.edu · ratification cenafricanrep
- treaties.un.org · iv 4.en
- au.int · 36846 sl AFRICAN UNION CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION AND …
- au.int · 29560 sl AFRICAN UNION CONVENTION ON CYBER SECURITY AND P…
- coe.int · parties observers
- hrw.org · central african republic activists arrested at memorial e…
- hrw.org · central african republic concerns over crucial election
- data.ipu.org · CF LC01 E20251228
- au.int · 37077 sl PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEO…
- treaties.un.org · iv 8 b.en
- cnudhd.com · CNUDHD-AC, textes de lois de la République Centrafricaine
- fgmcri.org · Central African Republic: The Law and FGM/C
- ungeneva.org · CEDAW review of the Central African Republic, February 2024
- rf-efh.org · Réseau francophone pour l’égalité femme-homme, fiche Centrafrique
- girlsnotbrides.org · Girls Not Brides, Child Marriage Atlas: Central African Republic
- reliefweb.int · PNUD: revised Family Code to be submitted to the National Assembly, 2021
- antislaverylaw.ac.uk · Antislavery in Domestic Legislation: Central African Republic
- features.hrw.org · Human Rights Watch, maps of anti-LGBT laws
Other countries in Central Africa
BurundiCountry law profileCameroonCountry law profileChadCountry law profileDemocratic Republic of the CongoCountry law profileEquatorial GuineaCountry law profileGabonCountry law profileRepublic of the CongoCountry law profileSão Tomé and PríncipeCountry law profile
Information verified as of October 2026. This page is for information and advocacy and is not legal advice. Laws change: check the official text before relying on it. Part of the DƆNÙESÈ Data Center of the Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD). See also the Maputo Protocol Hub and the Maputo Barometer.
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