DƆNÙESÈ Data Center / Women’s Rights Laws by Country / Côte d’Ivoire
West Africa · Country law profile
Côte d’Ivoire: women’s rights and civic space laws
Côte d’Ivoire has the highest score among the West African countries profiled here on the World Bank’s 2026 legal frameworks index for women (78.25). Its electoral law requires at least 30% women candidates with alternating placement and gives extra public funding to parties that field 50% women, yet women won 38 of 255 National Assembly seats (14.9%) in December 2025, compared with 24.5% in the Senate. The country acceded to the Budapest Convention in 2024 and ratified the Malabo Convention in 2023.
At a glance
| Capital | Yamoussoukro (political capital); Abidjan is the economic capital |
|---|---|
| Legal system | Civil law system based on the French model, with customary law in some personal matters |
| Official languages | French |
Key indicators
14.9% (38 of 255)Women in National Assembly (2025)
24.5% (24 of 98)Women in Senate (2023)
78.25World Bank WBL 2026 legal frameworks index (2026)
Regional and international treaties
| Treaty | Status | Reservations or notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maputo Protocol | signed 27/02/2004 / ratified 05/10/2011 / deposited 09/03/2012 | |
| CEDAW | signed 17 Jul 1980 / ratified 18 Dec 1995 | None listed in the UN Treaty Collection status page |
| 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 | |
| ILO C100 Equal Remuneration | ratified 5 May 1961 | |
| ILO C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) | ratified 5 May 1961 | |
| ICCPR | acceded 26 Mar 1992 | |
| Kampala Convention | signed 12/11/2009 / ratified 20/12/2013 / deposited 22/01/2014 | |
| AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo) | ratified 08/03/2023 / deposited 03/04/2023 | |
| Budapest Convention on Cybercrime | acceded 29 July 2024 / entered into force 1 November 2024 |
Constitution
| Quotas or parity | Electoral law requires at least 30% women candidates under both majority and proportional systems, with alternating placement; parties fielding 50% women receive increased public funding |
|---|
National laws
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
Sets out protection measures for victims of domestic violence and of sexual violence, including rape.
Source: unwomen.org
Rape and sexual offences
Loi n° 2019-574 du 26 juin 2019 portant Code pénal, article 403
The 2019 Penal Code defines rape in article 403.
Source: unwomen.org
Sexual harassment
No comprehensive sexual harassment law recorded
The World Bank found no comprehensive legislation on sexual harassment in employment meeting its criteria.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Female genital mutilation
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.
Gaps: Prosecutions remain rare: the first trial took place in 2012 and only one prosecution was reported in 2020.
Source: ofpra.gouv.fr
Child marriage and age of marriage
Loi n° 2019-570 du 26 juin 2019 relative au mariage, articles 2 et 26
The World Bank records these articles as the legal basis protecting girls from child marriage.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Family and personal status
Loi n° 2019-570 du 26 juin 2019 relative au mariage
Establishes equality of the spouses and joint management of the household. Companion laws of the same date cover filiation (Loi n° 2019-571), which simplifies recognition of children born outside marriage, and minority (Loi n° 2019-572).
Source: achpr.au.int
Family and personal status
Loi n° 2022-793 du 13 octobre 2022 relative au divorce
Gives women the same rights as men to obtain a divorce.
Gaps: The World Bank finds that article 41 does not give women the same right to remarry as men.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Inheritance and succession
Loi n° 2019-573 du 26 juin 2019 relative aux successions
Improves the inheritance rights of the surviving spouse.
Source: achpr.au.int
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
Governs rural land, including customary land, and the conversion of land certificates into title. The 2019 amendment revised the deadlines for that conversion, and the rural land agency AFOR was created in 2016.
Source: achpr.au.int
Land and property
Loi n° 2015-537 du 20 juillet 2015 d’orientation agricole, article 61
Provides for equitable access to land resources.
Source: unwomen.org
Abortion and sexual and reproductive health
Loi n° 2019-574 du 26 juin 2019 portant Code pénal, article 427
Allows abortion when necessary to save the life of the woman and, at her written request, when the pregnancy results from rape. Two doctors must certify the conditions.
Gaps: Abortion remains a crime in other cases, including incest and fetal impairment, with penalties for the woman of six months to two years.
Source: reproductiverights.org
Girls’ education
Loi n° 2015-635 du 17 septembre 2015 portant modification de la loi n° 95-696 relative à l’enseignement
Makes school compulsory for all children aged 6 to 16.
Source: achpr.au.int
Political participation and quotas
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.
Source: achpr.au.int
Labour and maternity
Loi n° 2015-532 du 20 juillet 2015 portant Code du travail, modifiée par l’ordonnance n° 2021-902 du 22 décembre 2021
Prohibits gender discrimination at work (articles 4 and 18.5) and requires equal pay (article 31.2). It provides at least 14 weeks of paid maternity leave (article 23.6) and paternity leave. The 2021 ordinance strengthened protection of pregnant workers.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Social protection
Ordonnance n° 2012-03 du 11 janvier 2012, articles 150 et 151
The World Bank records equal retirement ages for women and men under these provisions.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Nationality
Code de la nationalité, articles 6, 7 et 12
The World Bank records equal rights for women and men to confer nationality.
Source: wbl.worldbank.org
Nationality
Loi n° 2013-653 du 13 septembre 2013 portant dispositions particulières en matière d’acquisition de la nationalité par déclaration
Lets long-settled migrants and their descendants acquire Ivorian nationality by declaration. In 2013 Côte d’Ivoire also acceded to the 1954 and 1961 statelessness conventions.
Source: achpr.au.int
Trafficking
Loi n° 2016-1111 du 8 décembre 2016 relative à la lutte contre la traite des personnes
Criminalises trafficking in persons. Decree n° 2017-227 of 13 April 2017 sets up the National Committee against trafficking, and Loi n° 2010-272 of 30 September 2010 separately covers child trafficking and the worst forms of child labour.
Source: achpr.au.int
Access to justice and legal aid
Décret n° 2016-781 du 12 octobre 2016 (assistance judiciaire)
Decentralises legal assistance by creating local legal aid offices at nine courts.
Source: achpr.au.int
Women and girls with disabilities
Décret n° 2018-456 du 9 mai 2018 relatif à l’emploi des personnes en situation de handicap dans le secteur privé
Implements the Labour Code’s employment quota for persons with disabilities (article 12.2) in the private sector.
Source: achpr.au.int
Human rights defenders
Loi n° 2014-388 du 20 juin 2014 portant promotion et protection des défenseurs des droits de l’homme
Guarantees defenders’ freedoms of association and assembly. It also guarantees the inviolability of their premises. Decree n° 2017-121 of 22 February 2017 sets its implementing rules.
Source: achpr.au.int
Data protection
Loi n° 2013-450 du 19 juin 2013 relative à la protection des données à caractère personnel
Regulates the processing of personal data. ARTCI is the supervisory authority.
Source: news.abidjan.net
Older persons
No specific law on older persons
In July 2026 the national human rights commission noted the absence of a specific law on older persons.
Gaps: No law on the rights of older persons.
Source: aip.ci
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
Reforms recommended by the African Commission, UN treaty bodies or national organisations, as reported in the sources below.
- 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.
Being verified. RFLD is checking the laws on the following topics against official texts and will add them to this page: harmful practices, online violence and cybercrime, vulnerable groups. 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. 9 of the 13 human rights and governance treaties below are ratified.
| AU treaty | Status | AU list dated |
|---|---|---|
| Maputo Protocol (rights of women) | Ratified 05/10/2011 | 19/09/2023 |
| African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights | Ratified 06/01/1992 | 15/06/2017 |
| African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child | Ratified 01/03/2002 | 14/02/2023 |
| Protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights | Ratified 07/01/2003 | 14/02/2023 |
| African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance | Ratified 16/10/2013 | 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 30/11/2009 | 19/09/2023 |
| OAU Refugee Convention | Ratified 26/02/1998 | 16/05/2019 |
| AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption | Ratified 14/02/2012 | 14/02/2023 |
| AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo) | Ratified 08/03/2023 | 02/02/2026 |
Other AU treaties (16)
Sources (20)
- data.ipu.org · CI
- 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
- hrlibrary.umn.edu · ratification cotedivoire
- 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 · côte d ivoire accedes to the convention on cybercrime
- rm.coe.int · 1680b6622f
- ohchr.org · cote divoire
- unwomen.org · Côte d’Ivoire submission to the UN Secretary-General report A/77/243 (2022)
- wbl.worldbank.org · Women, Business and the Law 2024 (2.0) Côte d’Ivoire profile
- ofpra.gouv.fr · OFPRA country note on FGM in Côte d’Ivoire, March 2023
- achpr.au.int · Côte d’Ivoire periodic report to the ACHPR 2016-2019
- reproductiverights.org · Center for Reproductive Rights: Côte d’Ivoire’s abortion provisions
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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.
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