DƆNÙESÈ Data Center / Women’s Rights Laws by Country / Cabo Verde
West Africa · Country law profile
Cabo Verde: women’s rights and civic space laws
Cabo Verde has one of the strongest legal frameworks for women’s political participation in Africa: a parity law adopted in November 2019 requires at least 40% of candidates of each sex, and women won 34 of 72 National Assembly seats (47.2%) in May 2026. It has ratified the Maputo Protocol, the CEDAW Optional Protocol, the Malabo Convention and the Budapest Convention. It scores 75.03 on the World Bank’s 2026 legal frameworks index for women.
At a glance
| Capital | Praia |
|---|---|
| Legal system | Civil law system based on the Portuguese model |
| Official languages | Portuguese |
Key indicators
47.2% (34 of 72)Women in National Assembly (2026)
75.03World Bank WBL 2026 legal frameworks index (2026)
Regional and international treaties
| Treaty | Status | Reservations or notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maputo Protocol | ratified 21/06/2005 / deposited 22/07/2005 | |
| CEDAW | acceded 5 Dec 1980 | None listed in the UN Treaty Collection status page |
| 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 | |
| ILO C100 Equal Remuneration | ratified 16 Oct 1979 | |
| ILO C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) | ratified 3 Apr 1979 | |
| ICCPR | acceded 6 Aug 1993 | |
| Kampala Convention | Not signed or ratified (AU status list) | |
| AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo) | ratified 13/11/2020 / deposited 05/02/2022 | |
| Budapest Convention on Cybercrime | acceded 19 June 2018 / entered into force 1 October 2018; signatory of the Second Additional Protocol on electronic evidence |
Constitution
| Quotas or parity | Parity law adopted in November 2019 requiring at least 40% of candidates of each sex |
|---|
National laws
Political participation and quotas
Parity law of November 2019
Requires at least 40% of candidates of each sex on electoral lists.
Source: data.ipu.org
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)
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.
Source: digitallibrary.un.org
Rape and sexual offences
Lei n.º 84/VII/2011, de 10 de janeiro de 2011 (Lei Especial sobre a Violência Baseada no Género)
Recognises sexual violence within intimate relationships, including marital rape, and sets aggravated penalties of up to 30 years’ imprisonment for the most serious cases.
Gaps: 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.
Source: cmalex.net
Sexual harassment
Lei n.º 84/VII/2011, de 10 de janeiro de 2011 (Lei Especial sobre a Violência Baseada no Género)
Lists sexual harassment as one of the forms of gender-based violence punished under the law.
Source: cmalex.net
Gender-based and domestic violence
Código Penal, artigo 134
Penal Code provision applied to domestic violence, alongside the special GBV law.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Access to justice and legal aid
Lei n.º 18/VIII/2012, de 13 de setembro de 2012 (Office of Asset Recovery)
Allocates 15 percent of the proceeds of confiscated assets to the fight against gender-based violence.
Gaps: No dedicated legal aid law for survivors was cited by the government.
Source: digitallibrary.un.org
Trafficking
Código Penal, artigo 271-A (tráfico de pessoas)
Criminalises trafficking for sexual or labour exploitation. It also criminalises trafficking for organ removal. Penalties range from four to twelve years’ imprisonment depending on the circumstances and the victim’s age.
Source: antislaverylaw.ac.uk
Child marriage and age of marriage
Código Civil (1997), artigos 133 e 1575
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.
Gaps: Marriage of minors remains possible with parental consent.
Source: antislaverylaw.ac.uk
Family and personal status
Código Civil, artigos 1564, 1627, 1628 e 1733
Prohibits polygamy and grants equal divorce rights. It gives both spouses equal standing as head of household with no duty of obedience.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Inheritance and succession
Código Civil, artigos 2064, 2070 e 2072
Gives sons and daughters, and surviving wives and husbands, equal inheritance rights.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Land and property
Código Civil, artigo 1638, e Decreto-Lei n.º 2/2007, artigos 5 e 8
Grants women equal rights to own and administer property and recognises non-monetary contributions in the division of marital property.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Labour and maternity
Decreto-Legislativo n.º 5/2007, de 16 de outubro de 2007 (Código Laboral), alterado pelo Decreto-Legislativo n.º 5/2010
Prohibits sex discrimination in hiring, conditions, pay and dismissal. It provides maternity and paternity leave and protects pregnant workers.
Gaps: The World Bank found no explicit guarantee of equal pay for work of equal value.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Social protection
Decreto-Lei n.º 50/2009, artigo 44
Sets how maternity benefits are paid through social security.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Social protection
Decreto-Lei n.º 5/2004, artigos 15 e 81
Pension rules covering retirement age and pension credits for periods of childcare.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Nationality
Lei n.º 33/X/2023, artigos 8 e 10
Allows women and men to pass Cabo Verdean nationality to their spouses and children on equal terms.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
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
Reforms recommended by the African Commission, UN treaty bodies or national organisations, as reported in the sources below.
- Ratify ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work (not yet ratified as of May 2026).
Being verified. RFLD is checking the laws on the following topics against official texts and will add them to this page: female genital mutilation, harmful practices, abortion and sexual and reproductive health, girls’ education, online violence and cybercrime, data protection, older persons, women and girls with disabilities, human rights defenders, same-sex relations. 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. 7 of the 13 human rights and governance treaties below are ratified.
| AU treaty | Status | AU list dated |
|---|---|---|
| Maputo Protocol (rights of women) | Ratified 21/06/2005 | 19/09/2023 |
| African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights | Ratified 02/06/1987 | 15/06/2017 |
| African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child | Ratified 20/07/1993 | 14/02/2023 |
| Protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights | Not signed | 14/02/2023 |
| African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance | Ratified 12/10/2023 | 08/07/2024 |
| AU Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls | Not signed | 22/05/2026 |
| Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | Not signed | 22/05/2026 |
| Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons | Not signed | 22/05/2026 |
| Protocol on Social Protection and Social Security | Not signed | 22/05/2026 |
| African Youth Charter | Ratified 15/02/2011 | 19/09/2023 |
| OAU Refugee Convention | Ratified 16/02/1989 | 16/05/2019 |
| AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption | Not signed | 14/02/2023 |
| AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo) | Ratified 13/11/2020 | 02/02/2026 |
Other AU treaties (16)
Sources (19)
- data.ipu.org · CV
- data.ipu.org · women ranking
- documents1.worldbank.org · P179153 156eebab c7a8 46ea aefa ab7ca80708a0
- au.int · 37077 sl PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEO…
- treaties.un.org · iv 8.en
- treaties.un.org · iv 8 b.en
- au.int · 36804 sl AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE…
- treaties.un.org · showDetails
- humanrts.umn.edu · ratification capeverde1
- 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 · cabo verde joins the data protection and cybercrime conve…
- rm.coe.int · 1680b6622f
- ohchr.org · cabo verde
- digitallibrary.un.org · Cabo Verde replies to CEDAW list of issues
- cmalex.net · Carla Monteiro & Associados: VBG em Cabo Verde
- wbl.worldbank.org · Women, Business and the Law 2024: Cabo Verde
- antislaverylaw.ac.uk · Antislavery in Domestic Legislation: Cabo Verde
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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.