3022nd Meeting, 93rd Session, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Human Rights Treaty Bodies
Date: 14 October 2026
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/cedaw/3022
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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CEDAW · Chair [0:05]:

Good morning. I will attempt to read in English and speak in French. We are pleased to have a Francophone delegation with us, even if the text in front of me is in English. So please bear with me. I will be sight translating as I read in English and speak in French. I call to order the 3021st meeting of the CDAW. The committee will continue with agenda item 4. the report submitted by States Parties under Article 18 of the Convention. Today, the Committee will consider the combined periodic report from Togo, 8, 9 and 10. I should like to insist that the NGOs represented, I would note that they can be here as observers, although they do not have the option of taking the floor. The NGOs have an unhindered right to have access to the committee. As is our usual procedure in the treaty bodies, the individuals or groups of individuals that face reprisals or intimidation for having sought to cooperate with or for having cooperated with the Committee can report as much to the rapporteur on reprisals. This, should there be any intimidation, act of intimidation or reprisal, this can be submitted electronically to the Secretary of CEDAW as well. I would now like to welcome the distinguished delegation. presided over by His Excellency Mr. Afou Ousmane Salifou, the ambassador and permanent representative of Togo to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. He will be presenting the report to us. I should like to recall as well to the head of delegation that the introductory remarks should not go beyond 30 minutes. The delegation is also reminded that to allow for an accurate and complete interpretation of your remarks, the participants are asked to speak at a reasonable, natural pace. Your Excellency, the floor is yours. Should you wish, you can also introduce the other members of your delegation. Sir, the floor is yours.


Togo · Ambassador and Permanent Representative [3:00]:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, distinguished members of the Committee, it is an honor for me to take the floor before your Committee on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Togo at this combined eighth, ninth, and tenth periodic report. of Togo on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. First off, I should like to convey to you the brotherly and warm greetings of His Excellency Mr. Afour Sossinhé N'Gassambe, President of the Council of the Republic of Togo, as well as those of the administration. Our presence before your committee of an inter-ministerial delegation that is also pluridisciplinary is a testament to the importance that Togo affords the promotion and protection of women and girls, as well as to the constructive dialogues held with the treaty bodies of the United Nations. The delegation that I have the honor of presiding over brings together representatives of our National Assembly, ministerial departments working in the implementation of the Convention, as well as of the Permanent Mission of Togo to Geneva. We bring together complementary skill sets in the realm of human rights, justice, gender, the family, education, the labor sector, as well as the fight against trafficking in persons. In order to allow for the distinguished members of the committee to better identify those who will be taking part in this dialogue and responding to the questions asked in their areas of remit, I would like to invite each one of the members of the delegation to introduce themselves briefly, indicating their name, their post, and if necessary as well, the area of their remit. I should like to thank you, colleagues, to move directly to introduce yourselves. Please be clear and precise. We will begin with Madam Deputy.


Togo · Second Rapporteur [5:47]:

Thank you very much, Your Excellency, Ambassador. I am Honorable Amadou Lamine Rachiditou from the National Assembly and second rapporteur of the Committee on Human Rights and Gender. I thank you kindly.


Togo · Counselor to the Minister of Justice and Human Rights [6:07]:

Thank you very much, Your Excellency, Ambassador. I am Mr. Amadou Djoko. I'm a magistrate and I'm a counselor to the Minister of Justice and Human Rights. Thank you.


Togo · Director General of Gender and the Promotion of Women [6:27]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. My name is Madame Kuchikalo Benedicte Nyanza, in charge of gender and the promotion, Director General of Gender and the Promotion of Women and member of the Inter-Ministerial Commission on the drafting of reports. I thank you kindly.


Togo · Director of Legislation and the Protection of Human Rights [6:47]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. I am Akbou Abdoul Gafou, the Director of Legislation and the Protection of Human Rights. I'm the coordinator of the Interministerial Commission on Report Drafting and Follow-up on Human Rights Recommendations. My thanks, Your Excellency.


Togo · Director of Affairs for Families and Girls [7:10]:

Thank you, Your Excellency, Ambassador. My name is Madame Boko Afi, I'm the Director of Affairs for Families and Girls in the Ministry of Gender, Family, and the Protection of Childhood. Thank you.


Togo · Deputy Prosecutor [7:28]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. I'm Mr. Touartre Leikouba. I am a magistrate by training and the deputy to the prosecutor in the courts of Lome and in the team on trafficking persons. in the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. Thank you.


Togo · Labor Inspector [7:52]:

Thank you, Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador. My name is Bellegou Benin Dozi, labor inspector, head of service for labor inspection for the law on social matters, working in the labor and social dialogue sector. Thank you.


Togo · Minister-Counselor [8:14]:

Thank you, Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador. My name is Mr. Wiembe Mbadelblakhe, the Minister and Counselor for the Mission of Togo to Geneva.


Togo [8:25]:

Thank you, Your Excellency, Ambassador. My name is Assana Tipina of the Permanent Mission of Togo to the United Nations in Geneva. Thank you.


Togo · Ambassador and Permanent Representative [8:37]:

Thank you, dear colleagues. Madam Chair, distinguished members of the committee, Togo has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and without reservations in 1983. Since then, and specifically during the period covered by this report, our country has continued its efforts to advance the rights of women and of girls. Our work is based on a fundamental conviction, namely that equality between women and men is not merely a juridical exigency or a principle of justice. Rather, it is an essential precondition for social cohesion, for the quality of governance, and for sustainable and inclusive development. The report that we are submitting to your consideration takes stock of reforms underway, mechanisms implemented, and outcomes and results. It also is a testament to the difficulties that remain and to the need to continue our efforts to ensure that the rights recognized by law also become an effective reality in the daily lives of all women and of all girls. It is in this spirit of responsibility that we wish to conduct our exchanges with you. Madam Chair, Togo's number one priority has been to bolster the legal foundations of equality and to better protect women from all forms of discrimination and violence. The Constitution of 6 May 2024 reaffirms the principle of equality before the law and of non-discrimination, particularly as regards sex. This constitutional reality is the essential foundation of our public sector action. It guides the developments in our legislative and institutional structures. Along the same lines, these reforms to the Code of Persons and Family, the Criminal Code, the Labor Code, and the Social Security Code have allowed for us to strengthen guarantees offered to women in numerous areas that are determinant in their lives. The Code on Persons and Families consolidate equality between partners in matrimony and harmonizes the legal age of marriage for men and women at 18, and it bears in mind the respective contributions made by spouses to include activities tied to domestic work in the division of assets in the event of a dissolution of marriage. The provisions of the right of labour law and social security strengthen, for their part, our protection of maternity the social rights of female workers, and also it addresses the prevention of discrimination and harassment and violence in the workplace. The criminal code sanctions numerous forms of gender-based violence, including domestic and sexual violence, as well as sexual harassment. The law adopted in 2022 on sexual harassment and the protection contributes as well to providing better protection for women and girls in school, university, and learning environments. In matters of real estate, the Real Estate Code of 2018 enshrines the principle of equality and access to land. This area of progress is of particular importance in a country where access to productive resources is determinant when it comes to the economic empowerment of women, including in rural settings. Beyond the adoption of texts, the government works hard to improve the conditions covering access to protection and to the judicial system. The legal advice centers contribute to bringing judicial services to the population. The listening centers, the victims care centers for gender-based violence, and the hotlines strengthen the possibilities of reporting, support, and guidance. Our goal is clear. We want to ensure that legal protection does not remain theoretical. Rather, we wish for it to be effectively mobilized by any woman or girl when needed, without distinction to social reality, area of residency, or level of vulnerability. Madam Chair, The strengthening of the legal framework should come with concrete transformation in the areas where equal opportunity is relevant and where we see the need to ensure the ability and opportunity of women to fully participate in national development. As regards participation in public and political life, there have been electoral reforms. There are measures that favor women candidacy, female candidacy, as well as the presence of women in posts of high responsibility has seen meaningful progress. Women in Togo hold and have held important functions within our national and regional institutions. These changes marked progress to be consolidated. For the administration, the goal now is to continue these efforts in order to ensure that the participation of women in decision-making translates lastingly into effective representation and meaningful influence, as well as full contribution to the conduct of public affairs. In the realm of education, the public sector action seeks to reduce the obstacles that hinder presence in school, aiming to keep girls in school. Certain school charges being waived, distribution of school kits, the cafeterias and scholarships force students to higher levels of education are part of this plan. For the period 2020-2025, the school cafeterias have covered 1,390 establishments, benefiting 2,029,410 students, 111,795 of which are girls. In higher education, the proportion of students in public universities female students, that is, has increased from 38.59% in 2023 to 40.11% in 2024. This is some 30%, or rather a quota of 30% is set forth for female students when it comes to the allocation of scholarships to study abroad. These results should be appreciated through the lens of a broader objective, that is, to say, ensuring that girls have not only access to education, but also the possibility of moving ahead in their lifetime arcs to diversify their choices for training and to access qualified employment, including in the areas of science and technology. Economic empowerment of women is another central pillar of our action. The inclusive financing mechanisms, these systems for supporting entrepreneurship and the programs for supporting young project developers and measures aimed at facilitating access for women to land and economic opportunities. are a reflection of one single ambition, that is to say, capacity building for these women to create revenue, to help to master their productive resources, and to participate fully in the generation of wealth. Our national strategy for entrepreneurship for women, drafted in 2025, is to be found within the scope of these actions. It seeks to better articulate the existing initiatives on entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation, and economic resilience for women. Particular attention is afforded to rural women. Their contribution to food security and the national economy is essential. Access to financing, to land, to skills, and to the markets remain determinant when it comes to strengthening their autonomy and to improving in a lasting manner their living conditions. All of these efforts have allowed Togo to be classified second or number two, the number two African economy when it comes to equality of economic rights, between men and women, according to Women, Business, and Law 2026. That report is from the World Bank. Thus, we plan to move from an idea of access to opportunity to a logic of lasting autonomy. In this, women will have increasing means of decision-making, entrepreneurship, so that they can fully benefit from their contribution to development. Madam Chair, equality cannot be fully attained without effective protection from violence, without sufficient access to care, and without particular attention afforded to women and girls that face situations marked by vulnerability. In the realm of maternal and infant health, child health, the government has continued measures aimed at improving access to care. This includes provisions for maternity care, the WEZU program, the strengthening of health care services, as well as preventative actions. The indicators available show encouraging progress. This progress should be consolidated with an ongoing improvement of the quality and of the accessibility of services. The fight against violence, gender-based violence, requires, in turn, a coordinated response. This requires not just the punishment of the authors of such violence, but also prevention, victim protection, access to care, psychosocial and legal support and counsel, as well as the waging of a battle against stereotypes that lead discriminatory behavior. These provisions are of a holistic vision, and they're implemented with a protocol adopted in 2024 to improve the coordination between the concerned or relevant stakeholders. The administration remains aware that mechanisms for protection must come with effective access to these services, better information for the population, and a climate in which the victims can report while feeling safe to do so. The security situation in the northern reaches of our country, particularly in the Savane region, or the savanna, increases the vulnerabilities of certain communities, women and children, can be particularly exposed to the consequences of population displacements, precarity, and lack of access to essential services. In these contexts, the activities undertaken in these regions, the emergency regions for the Savannah or Savanes region, address the concerns of protection and resilience. The administration is continuing its efforts in this area, bearing in mind the specific needs of the affected girls and women. The protection of women cannot be disassociated from their safety, from their dignity, and from their ability to access essential services, basic services, to include in crisis contexts. Madam Chair, the progress that I've shared with you here should not hide or obscure the difficulties that remain. The Government and administration are fully aware of this. Sociocultural norms, sexist stereotypes continue in some situations to limit the effective exercise of rights or enjoyment of rights recognized for women, including in areas of inheritance, access to resources, and in the area of the prevention of domestic violence. The legal framework has It can only bring about these changes if there are changes in practices and behaviors and in relationships between different members of society. Likewise, access to appeals mechanisms and care mechanisms should also be bolstered. The availability of statistical data sufficiently complete and broken down remains an important task when it comes to accurately measuring progress made and identifying those populations that remain insufficiently covered. Facing these challenges, the government plans to deepen its activities on three complementary pillars. First, a strengthening of the effective nature of rights, improving the implementation of legal texts, access to judicial mechanisms and the coordination of provisions for the prevention and care in cases of violence. Secondly, increasingly include gender equality in our programming and evaluation of public policy, and this includes through budget creation that is gender sensitive. This we have been doing since 2022. We also seek to develop tools that allow for us to better assess the true impact of expenditures and programs that address the living conditions of women and girls. Third, we wish to improve the follow-up of results and better mobilize social sector actors, strengthening broken down data and in continued dialogue with different groups in society, civil society organizations, traditional chieftains, and religious leaders. Their involvement is essential when it comes to bringing lasting changes to practices, preventing forms of discrimination that remain in our communities. However, these are not an end the end of the work. These are aimed at translating the will to continue reforms and to better target our actions and to strengthen responsibility of institution when it comes to the commitments made under this Convention. Madam Chair, the consideration of this report for Togo is not just a periodic obligation. Rather, it is an opportunity for us to confront our public policy and to have it assessed by the expertise in the committee and to identify progress that is worth consolidating and to better target those areas in which additional efforts are necessary. We will address this exercise then with a will to present our progress with sincerity, to exchange on these matters with an openness, specifically on the difficulties that we found, and to afford all necessary attention to the recommendations that will result from our work. The government of Togo remains determined to continue with these efforts in order to ensure that the commitments under the Convention are translated into tangible change in the lives of women and of girls. For our administration, for our government, beyond the texts, policies and indicators, what's at stake at the heart of the matter is that of letting all women and all girls, wherever they might live in Togo, to fully enjoy their rights, to participate in decisions that affect them, and to contribute on equal footing to the future of our country. It is in this spirit of responsibility and constructive dialogue that my delegation, Madam Chair, is available here to the committee to respond to your questions and to continue with you this exchange. I thank you kindly for your kind attention. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Thank you. Laurence.


CEDAW · Chair [27:30]:

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Our thanks to the head of delegation for his introductory statement. that has shed light on many areas of the current situation in Togo. Mr. Bruni Waw Sambi, the President of the National Commission for Human Rights of Togo, will now address the Committee through a video statement for a few minutes.


National Commission for Human Rights of Togo · President [28:01]:

Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, members of the committee, the National Commission for Human Rights, on the occasion of this consideration of the eighth, ninth and 10th periodic report of Togo. to welcome the progress that's been made in recent years in the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls, but it's also an opportunity to speak of the challenges which call for collective action. First of all, on the legislative and institutional level, the adoption of the new constitution in May 2024, the revised code of persons in the family in 2022, amendments to the criminal code, strengthening the repression of violence against women, and the adoption in 2024 of a protocol to provide holistic care for victims of gender-based violence, as well as the prohibition of discrimination, sexual harassment, moral harassment, violence and intimidation in the workplace, are fundamental. To that, we must add the institutionalisation of gender units with budgets in all ministries, and putting in place legal advice centres, listening centres and one-stop centres are to be commended. When it comes to economic empowerment, the mechanisms such as the national fund for inclusive financing, the mechanism for agricultural financing and actions from the national agency to promote and guarantee financing contribute to ensuring that women have access to financing and to support their economic activities. organisation also recognises that the land legislation recognises that women have the same rights as men when it comes to the purchase, possession, use, transmission and inheritance of land. When it comes to education, between 2019 and 2024, the gross rate of school attendance from preschool went from 37.3 to 45.2 per cent, whereas the the rate for attending primary school went from 91.6 to 97.9 per cent. We have parity between boys and girls at the primary level. When it comes to women's health, the availability of contraception, subsidies for caesarean sections, the implementation of the WESU programme, strengthening prenatal consultations and extending health coverage through universal health insurance demonstrate our will to find a better response to the specific needs of women and girls. And finally, our Commission notes the adoption on the 15th of May 2026 of a law ratifying the protocol to the African Charter of the Rights of Peoples on the rights of persons with disabilities in Africa. This is an important step forward to ensure better protection of women and girls with disabilities. Madam Chair, despite this progress, our Commission can see that there are persistent disparities which are a barrier to an effective enjoyment of the rights of women and girls. We see the persistent discrimination and violence against women. UN reports and national reports demonstrate that discrimination against women and girls continue, especially within the family and education, when it comes to accessing economic resources or political participation. This is also true for access to justice and protection against gender-based violence. Within the family, certain discriminatory practices continue, despite the fact that law has primacy over custom. Moving on to education of girls, despite progress that we have seen in terms of school attendance for girls, gender inequality, poverty in households, sociocultural discriminatory practices Domestic tasks and gender-based violence, as well as differences between regions, are barriers ensuring that girls find it harder to attend school, to stay in school, and to complete their school careers. We have to add child marriage and early pregnancies to these problems, which can also mean that girls either interrupt their schooling or abandon it altogether. The Commission would encourage the government to continue this constructive dialogue with the Committee and with other treaty bodies, and we would invite the international community to continue to provide support for the government so that the country can truly build on the progress it has made and what it has achieved thus far. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [32:56]:

My thanks on behalf of the Committee to the National Commission for Human Rights of Togo. Now, ladies and gentlemen, members of the delegation, the procedure for considering national reports provides for Committee members to ask questions in clusters, which broadly follow the order of the articles of the Convention, and then the delegation can reply. This is the same procedure that will follow this morning and this afternoon. The committee will attempt to conclude its dialogue with Togo at 5 pm today. We are broadcasting or webcasting this whole dialogue on UN Web TV. I draw the delegation's attention to the need for good time management. I urge everyone to provide specific, concise answers to the questions asked. The head of delegation is asked to indicate when a reply cannot be provided. In that case, the delegation should take note of the questions that cannot be answered immediately. and you can provide answers in writing within 24 hours, one working day, so at the latest by Thursday 15 October, at 5pm. In order to ensure that we have an interactive dialogue, written responses should be the exception rather than the rule. If the delegation does provide written replies within 24 hours. These cannot exceed 1500 words and should address specific questions asked by experts. And the answers will also be posted on our website because they will be part of the interactive dialogue. If necessary, the delegation can be invited to limit its answers because of a lack of time. I will now give the floor to expert members of the Committee who wish to ask questions pursuant to particular articles of the Convention. The experts also need to make good use of time. Experts will also have an opportunity to ask follow-up questions for two minutes. We can now turn our attention to articles 1 and 2, the first part of the convention. In the first instance, I will give the floor for a few minutes to Ms. Genoveva Ticheva, who is the country rapporteur, followed by Genella Pierni Cornella, who will also ask questions on articles 1 and 2. Ms. Ticheva, you have the floor first.


CEDAW · Country Rapporteur [35:55]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Distinguished representatives of the delegation of Togo, welcome to our constructive dialogue with our committee. We commend Togo as a country that has a very high potential because of its young people and also a high potential for women and girls. And this requires the deployment of resources and major investment so that women can truly be empowered.

Of all citizens before the law and the ban of any discrimination. on a broad range. Okay. The new constitution affirms equality of all citizens before the law and the ban of any discrimination on a broad range of grounds. We know the legislative reforms mentioned from 2022. of the Penal Code, the Code of Persons and Family, the Labour and the Social Insurance Code, which brought about important developments. But we also know that there is insufficient implementation of both the Constitution and the adopted legislation, as still remaining gaps related to education, to sexual and reproductive health and rights, to employment, to social insurance and protection from gender-based violence. There is no special anti-discrimination legislation adopted in Togo. The definition of discrimination against women has been incorporated into Article 311 of the new criminal code without clear perspectives for its direct application. The persisting economic and political crisis and unrest make serious obstacle to the realization of women's rights in Togo. The restrictions and violations of the women's rights and freedoms to assembly, to free speech and expression, to personal security, to organize and work freely as NGOs without restrictions are barriers for the realization of all their rights. My questions are, how will the State Party further guarantee the respect of the rule of law and safeguard of democracy and ensure non-prosecution, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression for women and women's organizations and women's human rights defenders? When will the State Party adopt special anti-discrimination legislation? When will it ensure the adoption of provisions against polygamy? and also guarantees for non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and sexual identity. How will you address the systemic lack of gender-disaggregated data, including statistical data on the number of complaints lodged by women and girls concerning human rights violations and discrimination against them? Thank you, and my colleague will continue.


CEDAW · Chair [38:38]:

Thank you, Mrs. Tishaba. Mrs. Pia Comella, you have the floor on article 1 and 2 follow-up.


CEDAW [38:48]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Ambassador, I too wish to wish you and members of your delegation a very warm welcome to this constructive dialogue. The committee welcomes the progress that has been made in terms of legal provisions, as has already been mentioned, but despite this progress, We note that it is still necessary to harmonise all legislation with the constitution and with international law in order to ensure that there is equality between men and women legally but also in practice. Similarly, despite the existence of law 2013/10 relating to legal assistance and the existence of a legal assistance programme, we regret to see that that programme is not yet operational and that the implementing legislation is not yet in force. The committee is also concerned that women continue to be faced with stigmatisation, social pressure and the fear of reprisals, and those things stand in the way of them having full access to justice. What measures is the State Party envisaging to take in order to ensure that the convention has greater visibility, especially in rural and isolated areas? When will the legislation on legal assistance be fully applied? And how is education and training on the Convention included in training for judges and prosecutors? Are there any legal decisions and rulings invoking the Convention? What measures will you take to combat sociocultural obstacles such as fear of reprisals that women can face if they seek access to justice? What measures will you take to guarantee access to justice and remedies for women with disabilities, other than putting in place sign language? The committee welcomes the adoption of the third national plan for the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda. Now, we do commend the efforts to strengthen participation of women and women's organization in decision making within the security sector. And we've also seen the better participation of women within the Ministry of Security, but we're nevertheless concerned by the situation in the Savann region. Here we see mass displacement of people, which disproportionately affects women who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and who do not have access to sexual health and reproductive services. We welcome what we've heard this morning from the head of delegation, but we would like more details on the measures taken to guarantee decent housing and access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls that are refugees and displaced in the Savann region. This is pursuant to international humanitarian law.


CEDAW · Chair [42:01]:

Thank you very much to Ms. Pierre-Cornelia. So let me return the floor to the delegation so they can answer these questions from the experts. Head of delegation, you may distribute the answers amongst your delegation as you wish.


Togo · Head of delegation [42:17]:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. And my thanks also to the different speakers. And we commend them for the high quality questions that they've asked us. Mr. Touatoro, followed by Ms. Nuan Sa, and then Judge Mr. Amadou can address some comments in relation to all of these questions and concerns that have been raised.


Togo [42:50]:

Thank you, Your Excellency, Ambassador. Let me first address the matter of the definition of discrimination against women. Togo has a legal framework that defines and sanctions discrimination against women. In this respect, article 311 of the new criminal code, which has already been mentioned, defines discrimination as any acts based on the sex of a woman whose aim or effect is to violate the recognition or exercise by women whatever their marital state, of their human rights and fundamental rights in the political, social, cultural and civil space or in any other field. This is a definition which is in line with that provided by the CEDAW Convention. On measures to eliminate discrimination, the strengthening of the Togolese legal framework is based on the Constitution of 6 May 2024, that of the Fifth Republic. This guarantees the equality of all citizens before the law, without any gender-based discrimination or discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, language, region, opinion, or any other personal or social circumstance. The principle of non-discrimination is enshrined in Article 3 of the annex to our Constitution. Togo has also adopted and then revised various legislative texts in order to strengthen the protection of women. The aim was to strengthen protection of women and combat discrimination. The code of the family and persons, which was amended in 2014 and 2022, enshrines various different guarantees and provides for the spouses jointly conducting the household. This is pursuant to the relevant article. and a civil registrar must carry out the marriage rites, which ensures that the state can control that the marriage is pursuant to the law, and it allows the opportunity for either of the spouses to notify if there is a forced marriage. When it comes to reciprocity of rights, Women and men have to be faithful, have to respect the respect of mutual respect for each other. They have to contribute to the tasks and finances of the family pursuant to their abilities. And this is relevant pursuant to Article 100. The code strengthens the protection of a surviving spouse. Article 427 provides for what happens in cases of dissolution of marriage and to protect women against harmful effects. And article 404 provides that The applicable custom can be used only if it is respectful of human rights and the provisions of the constitution. Article 411 recognises that the surviving spouse has the right to refuse degrading rights if they violate their dignity. and there is a further article which improves the surviving spouse's position in the inheritance chain. On rape and marriage, the code specifies that sexual relations between spouses must be free and consensual, and there is a further law which includes a number of provisions on discrimination against women in chapter 7, section 2, paragraph 2. And article 301 Hartley uses language of Article 1 of the CEDAW convention. Article 312 says that any discrimination against women is punished with a six-month to two-year imprisonment, and there is a financial penalty as well, which is applied. Article 313 sanctions any person that, because of the gender of a woman, prevents them from having access to land or to factors of production and development, prevents their movement or prevents them from belonging to associations. The sanctions are imprisonment of six months to two years and a financial penalty of 500,000 to 2 million francs. These measures ensure that women can enjoy freedom of association. The penal code also provides for sanctions against acts of discrimination in various areas, notably participation in public life, education, employment, access to health and justice, access to credit and social security, among others. Those provisions are mentioned in a relevant article of our code. The legal framework also provides for sanctions against any harmful practices. We're particularly thinking of degrading practices here such as leveret, family abandonment, the refusal to contribute to family costs, and non-payment of alimony, not allowing women to access land, etc. The reference document refers to articles 376 and 381, and article 313 of the same code, and article 311 of the code of persons and the family. We also have a law on the land registry, adopted in 2008, and this ensures equality between men and women when it comes to land ownership. Articles 13 and 14, as well as others, are based on preventing discrimination on the basis of gender and ensuring access to land. When it comes to women's political participation, article 225 of the code, which was amended Law 04 of 2013 and Law 13 of 2013 provide for ensuring that half of the electoral quota for legislative elections should be reserved. This is a measure to encourage women's participation in political life and to improve their representation in Parliament. Now, on the provisions of the Labour Code on equality between men and women, well, we have some data on this in our periodic report. Certain elements remain applicable. There are provisions from 2021 as well as 2013. ensuring that there is equal treatment for public officials when it comes to employment, careers and retirement. Your Excellencies, Ambassador, turning our attention now on the measures to prohibit exploitation of women. Now, the information that we have was submitted in the sixth and seventh report, and this is information which is still relevant. Additional measures, however, have been taken by the state with the support of local technical financial partners to make sure there is no exploitation of women. When it comes to trafficking and smuggling of migrants, these are dealt with by Article 317 and 326 of the new penal code. and in fact, the definition in article 317 is in line with the definition of the Palermo Protocol, and this is in compliance with one of the committee's recommendations. And we also have a national commission to combat trafficking in persons, which was signed on the 29th of September. And after the appointment of its members in January 2022, the commission has become fully operational. Measures have been taken, such as hotlines, in order to combat trafficking against women and girls. We have a hotline 8284 to combat trafficking, and we have an 8250 hotline to combat violence at school. There is also a strategy trying to address the situation of migrant women. I hope that we have been able to provide sufficient answers to the concerns raised about the evolving legal framework in Togo. in order to comply with obligations pursuant to the CEDAW Convention. Thank you.


Togo [54:44]:

Thank you, Your Excellencies, Ambassador, and Madam Chair, distinguished committee members and experts. Togo recognizes that sexist stereotypes and harmful practices remain barriers to achieving true equality between men and women in the country. This is why government action is not limited to legislative and regulatory reform. It also wants to bring about lasting change in social norms doing this through awareness raising in communities and building a close partnership with traditional and religious authorities. Their role remains key when it comes to developing and changing attitudes and customs. So all of these activities translate into the Nchuk Nongche, declaration, which addressed the chieftains' willingness to abandon traditional harmful practices against women and girls. There have also been provisions taken in relation to child marriage. When it comes to Christian, Muslim and local traditions, we have put in place activities to address these in a participative way.


CEDAW · Chair [56:39]:

I apologize. I'm very interested. We are all very interested. However, unfortunately, you're delving a bit too deep into the details on questions of legal principles. We will circle back to article 5 on stereotypes and harmful practices, et cetera. So please kindly limit your responses to the questions specifically asked by the country rapporteur on the legal frameworks, on the implementation of the law, et cetera. on a more generic level, and then we'll delve deeper into these matters through specific articles. Thank you kindly.


Speaker 24 [57:17]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will then go directly to the issue of access to justice. Access to justice. Togo continues its efforts to bring judicial services to the citizens, particularly women, and persons in vulnerable situations. Created as of 2018, the legal advice centers offer mediation services, reconciliation services, when there is litigation in matters of daily life. In 2025, 24 legal advice centers were operating. Four are being launched. The mediation has reached. more than 90% of cases. These provisions contribute to facilitating access to dispute settlement mechanisms on the community level. These mechanisms should be articulated with the normal judicial channels when the nature of the events or when the protection of victims require judiciary intervention. I believe that, as regards the question on these paragraphs, that is what we could say at this time.


CEDAW · Chair [58:52]:

Excellency, your ambassador, thank you. Thank you very much to the delegation. Follow-up questions? That's our practice. I'll give the floor to Mr. Madame Pia Comella, followed by Madame Tischeva. And that is the order in which I saw your placards.


Speaker 26 [59:11]:

Yes, thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, ladies, to the delegation as well. We will circle back to some of the issues. I would like to ask more about two items. If you don't have the information right now, you can always submit it to us in written form. We commend you for the work done through the legal advice centers. We are pleased that there are already 24 of them. However, the question was specifically regarding the legislation on legal counsel and when that law will be implemented. Might you also tell us more about how you support women with disabilities to ensure that they have access to the judicial system? I know that we will circle back to the issue of humanitarian aid, Madam Chair, and how to provide care to refugee and displaced women. Thank you very much.


CEDAW · Chair [1:00:12]:

Thank you, Madam Comella. Madam Tischeva, please.


CEDAW · Country Rapporteur [1:00:14]:

Thank you very much. I would like to thank the delegation for the answers concerning the anti-discrimination framework. I know, and I said that there is such provision in the constitution, but how effective it is? Are the prosecutions based on what the gentleman said, Article 311, Article 313? Are there real prosecutions based on discrimination and the normal thing would be also to have, if you have in the constitution, to have also anti-discrimination legislation of civil and administrative character, because this is the way actually things are regulated, to have sanctions of civil law and if needed, as you said, sanctions of penal law. And also concerning the direct application of the Constitution, I doubt that these provisions can be directly applied because we have not seen cases raised based on this. Second, in order to reinforce the access to justice, what would be the timeline for the state party to ratify the optional protocol to CEDAW concerning the communications and inquiries to the committee because it would be very good addition to being online with the access to justice legislation plus to give access to justice to women in Togo at international level. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:01:52]:

Mr. Sheba, I give back the floor to the delegation.

You have the floor.


Ambassador [1:01:58]:

Sir, thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to the rapporteurs, Madam Tichva, Madam Comella. Thank you for the questions asked. I will give the floor to Mr. ****. He will provide information on jurisdictional assistance, judicial decisions, and the implementation thereof.


Speaker 31 [1:02:20]:

Thank you, Mr. Ambassador, Your Excellency, Madam Chair, thank you, and thank you to the experts as well. As regards jurisdictional support, legal aid, the law adopted, as law has been adopted, the process is in place to implement the law. As regards the concerns on litigation undertaken under Article 311 of the new criminal code, I would say that there are decisions that have been handed down in cases of gender-based violence. However, discrimination specifically, we do not have or have not seen litigation in such cases or reports that would lead to such situations. However, gender-based violence, yes, we do have cases. that could be and can be provided to the committee. There is the issue of the direct implementation of the Constitution, if I understood the question correctly. Yes, we cannot directly invoke the convention in our courts. However, this is done through our laws that must be in step with the convention. If there is a law that is not in step with the Constitution, the unconstitutional nature of the law means that the judge cannot apply it. So we do not implement this through the Constitution, but since we must harmonize our laws, this is done so de facto. when questions are brought, and these matters can be brought before the constitutional judges to declare if laws are constitutional or not, and then they'll be implemented or not. Thank you very much. I believe that there was a question as well on the ratification of the protocol. Yes, pardon me, ratification of the optional protocol. I believe that your Excellency, His Excellency the Ambassador, if you will, perhaps we can circle back to this issue or hear the question again.


Ambassador [1:04:59]:

Yes, I think we can respond to it immediately. The question is actually being studied by the administration currently. We do envisage a ratification, but as you know, many countries such as ours have a great many texts that are awaiting ratification. So we are one by one going through these texts. So this is being currently considered. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:05:27]:

Thank you. I thank the delegation. I thank you for the responses provided for articles 1 and 2. With your leave, I should like to move to article 3. I would like to give the floor for article 3 to Madam Silva de Alves for five minutes. The floor is yours.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:05:48]:

Thank you, Madam Chair, Your Excellencies. Distinguished delegates, pursuant to Togo's leadership, the UN General Assembly adopted the non-binding Correct the Map resolution on September 4th of 2026. You're also working with the African Union on addressing the historical memory of the transatlantic slave trade. One of the functions of Togo's National Commission of Human Rights and the Gender Machinery is to support the revision of laws and the application of the Constitution and the Convention. Togo has a strong provision in the Penal Code, Article 164, in line with the Rome Statute and CEDAW's Women, Peace and Security Addendum. Article 164 criminalizes genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and apartheid under Togolese domestic law. Article 155 of the Criminal Code also grants universal jurisdiction, allowing Togo's domestic courts to prosecute atrocity crimes even if they are committed outside Togo's borders, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator or victim. Excellencies, in your statement to the UN Sixth Committee, Togo emphasized your pivotal Article 164. My question to you, have you tried any cases of gender persecution as a crime against humanity in your domestic courts? Have you exercised universal jurisdiction in crimes constituting gender persecution? October 2025 marked the ICC's first ever conviction on gender persecution in the case of Ali Rahman Ali Mohamed of the Janjaweed. and we hope that this will be a starting point for Togo to exercise universal jurisdiction in cases of gender persecution under international law. This is also important, Your Excellencies, as part of your leadership in the Women, Peace and Security agenda and your Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan, which I see has lapsed. It expired in 2022. I hope you consider the drafting of a new National Action Plan. My colleague will address women in detention, but I want to address the 2025 pivotal ruling of the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruling on the right to menstrual products and the dignity of women detainees in Togo. How is Togo and the National Commission on Human Rights and the National Gender Machinery responding to this ruling? Articles 15 to 19 of the Togo Constitution protects the civil rights of all, including the right to habeas corpus, the right to counsel, fair trial, and the right to be free of arbitrary arrest and arbitrary detention. How are these constitutional guarantees being applied to all female detainees, including, Your Excellencies, female politicians in pre-trial detention? How is the National Machinery on Human Rights addressing the right to due process in access to justice for women and the rule of law for all women, including women political leaders and youth? Your Excellencies, the civic space, including peaceful youth engagement is a national strength. Given time limitations, I will address the role of national machinery and its role in the AI revolution. As you very well know, Togo is emerging as a pioneer in AI in Africa. In launching the Novissi program, Togo gained international recognition during the pandemic for using AI and machine learning, analyzing satellite imagery and mobile phone network data to identify and deliver AI-assisted emergency cash transfers to the most vulnerable citizens. The program even paid higher payouts to women than to men, recognizing their foundational role in household health and childcare. Given the expanding AI divide, how will you close the digital gender gap, given the gender gaps in digital access and mobile penetration for women in rural areas? Mobile money too reflects a the digital gender gap, Your Excellencies? How will you guard against the gender and intersectional divide, given AI's development at warp speed? Togo is one of the co-creators of the hub Kemi Chatbot, an AI-powered WhatsApp tool designed with violence survivors across West Africa. It provides support to individuals facing tech-facilitated gender-based violence. However, Your Excellency, how is this pivotal tool accessible to 63% of the population that does not yet have access to the internet? As you know, AI is a double-edged sword. Reports indicate that nearly one in two people in Togo have been the target of an online scam attempt, with scammers increasingly turning to generative AI. Older women have lost their pensions and life savings because of cyber fraud. How do you ensure the data protection of women from cyber scams such as malware, ransomware, and phishing. Togo has embarked on an ambitious project for the biometric identification of its population. But how do you balance the risk to vulnerable women in terms of data privacy and the government's direct access to this data? You announced at AI for Good that Togo's AI labs, Xindi, and Umbaji will build AI language models that understand and generate content in 50 national languages. Congratulations, Your Excellency. This is a seminal opportunity to ensure that this content is inclusive of women and created by women for women, avoiding algorithmic bias and automated gender and intersectional stereotypes. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:11:44]:

Very much, Mrs. da Silva de Alves. I would like to give the floor now on article 4 to Mrs. Corinne de Mayer for three minutes, please, and then give back the floor to the delegation, please.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:11:57]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. I too welcome the distinguished delegation of Togo. As my colleague mentioned, the Novissi programme is in place. The committee notes with appreciation that the programme has made good use of temporary special measures during the Covid-19 pandemic and encourages the state party to expand the use of such measures. The State Party has not reported on measures taken to raise awareness among members of parliament, government officials, employers and the general public of the non-discriminatory nature of temporary special measures and their role in accelerating substantive equality. What measures will be taken to this end, and will the State Party develop a strategy to adopt and implement temporary special measures in all areas of the Convention where women are underrepresented or disadvantaged, with time-bound targets, benchmarks and monitoring mechanisms? The Committee is particularly concerned about women's over-representation in the informal sector, high unemployment among women and their limited property ownership and access to financial services and financing. What temporary special measures will the State Party take to strengthen women's economic empowerment, in particular for women with disabilities, rural women and women from other marginalized groups? and what measures will be taken to address religious, traditional, and cultural practices that hinder women's economic participation. The Committee welcomes a new strategy for literacy and non-formal education 2024-2028. Yet gender disparities in literacy rates persist, and according to the Committee's information, only 0.1% of the education budget is allocated to literacy initiatives. So what temporary special measures will the State Party take to close the literacy gap between women and men, such as gender-targeted budget allocation, teacher training, and the development of suitable programs, with particular attention to the accessibility of these programs for women with disabilities and rural women in the Savane, Kora, and Centrale regions? The committee commends the state party for requiring gender parity on candidate lists in the electoral code, introducing financial incentives for parties electing women and reducing application fees for women candidates. However, women remain underrepresented in elected offices and decision positions. What additional temporary special measures will be taken to ensure gender parity in elected offices and decision-making positions. Thank you, Madam Chair.


CEDAW · Chair [1:15:00]:

Thank you very much, Mrs. Corinne Detmeyer. I give back the floor to the delegation now for article 3 and 4, please.


Togo · Ambassador [1:15:13]:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and I thank the members of the Committee as well for their questions. Specifically, thank you for your appreciation of the efforts deployed by the administration, by the Government of Togo, in the case of the promotion and protection of the rights of women. I would like to give the floor at this time to the Prosecutor Traore, and then to Madame Nientzah. There were many questions. There are a lot of questions in there, and I hope that we will be able to answer all of them in the responses.


Togo · Prosecutor [1:15:50]:

Thank you, Your Excellency, Madam Chair. The concerns expressed by the first speaker-- I'm sorry, I did not retain your name. I apologize for that. As regards universal jurisdiction, yes, indeed, the legal framework in Togo through the relevant article sets forth that the crime of genocide war crimes and crimes against humanity and the link between that and statelessness is covered to crimes committed in national territory or out of the national territory, whatever the nationality might be of the author of the crime or accomplice or the place in which the crime is committed. That is to say that the Togolese legal framework does recognize universal jurisdiction. However, in cases of jurisprudence. So far, we have not had such cases before the Togolese judicial system in which we've had to look at crimes against humanity. So the answer is no, we have not had such cases. However, there is jurisdiction to do so. There were questions as well on the detention conditions of women. In a general sense, I would say the following. The detention of women, as does the trials against women or of women, they are follow the principle of non-discrimination. They're equal before the law. The same law applies to all people that are suspected of having committed crimes. Specifically, however, as regards the respect for the status of women and their dignity in these situations, we can note that the Togolese legal reality does bear in mind these matters because the places of detention for men and women are separated. We do not put our women and the men in the same detention facilities. And that's the case from when they are held by the police to when they're in prison. There are separate channels. And we also recruit female judicial police as well that are tasked with-- and the same for those that staff the prison facilities, the penitentiaries. We have as many women in such career paths as men in order to ensure the rights of women are respected. Ambassador, that's what I can provide at this time on that aspect. I thank you.


Togo [1:18:54]:

Thank you, Ambassador, Your Excellency. I will take the floor on three items. The plan of action, peace and security. We have updated this plan. We're in the 2025-2030 period. So it's a new plan. Just last week, Togo participated in the high-level conference in Abidjan. We presented our plan of action. That has been adopted. It will be financed with the implementation of the new Women, Peace, and Security resolution that was adopted. We also spoke of specific measures taken to favor or to give priority to the participation of women in elected posts. We would note that Togo has deployed efforts along these lines. We have made provisions to favor and to prioritize the participation of women in elected posts. Beyond the promotion of women through the nomination of women, Togo is committed to implementing legal mechanisms and institutional mechanisms that favor the effective participation of women in public life. The electoral code sets forth measures that create incentives encouraging the political parties and their party structures to present and increasingly elect women. These provisions are based, among other things, on parity between men and women and on the granting of financial funding publicly tied to the amount of women elected legislatively and in local government. There is applicable legislation that has led to some 20% and 10% of the financing provided to those political parties that put forth women to elected posts. Further, the principle of parity adopted at the highest level for the nomination of senators shows female senators that is shows the desire of Togo to lift women to these decision making powers. So for the naming of senator candidates, this is done with parity. I thank you, your excellency. That's what I wanted to add on these questions asked. Thank you kindly.


Togo · Ambassador [1:21:43]:

Thank you. Please, sir.


Togo [1:21:49]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thought also to have heard a question on the implementation of a decision from the ICC. Togo is not party to the Rome Statute, so we are not bound by the ICC decisions since we are not parties or party. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:22:21]:

Thank you very much.

Question on 3 and 4. Yes, I see Mrs. Tshiba, followed by Mrs. Dechmeier, please.


CEDAW · Country Rapporteur [1:22:33]:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I would like to thank the delegation for the answers. Concerning the national machinery, I have one clarifying question because part of it is also the National Human Rights Commission. And I would like to know what kind of complaints and cases were considered and decided by this commission in relation to women's rights, because several cases were mentioned, about 50 or 60 of the commission in the last years. So would be interesting very much to understand what kind of cases is taken by this mechanism.


CEDAW · Chair [1:23:08]:

Thank you.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:23:15]:

Thank you to the delegation for your answer on gender parity in elected offices. How will the State Party address barriers to women's representation in elected offices and decision-making positions, including by addressing discriminatory social norms, intimidation and violence, limited campaign financing, and political parties' non-compliance with parity requirements? I'm sorry to say that I did not receive answers on the questions regarding literacy, but, Madam Chair, you already explained that answers can be given in writing. And I would also very much like to have an answer on the awareness, the duty the State Party has to raise the awareness concerning the temporary special measures. Thank you very much.


CEDAW · Chair [1:24:11]:

Delegation, please.


Togo [1:24:16]:

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. We do take note of the possibility of submitting written responses to the questions that were insufficiently addressed. However, I would like to give the floor to Madam Nyanza on the question that was just asked. Do you have additional responses?


Togo [1:24:41]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. On the eve of upcoming elections, the government, working together with CSOs, organizes awareness-raising sessions and training for women candidates. This through a program, Women Seeking Victory in Elections, that's what it's called, that allows for them to be at the same level of male candidates competing on equal footing. That's what I might add at this time on that question. On that follow-up question that is. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:25:25]:

I think that there is still one follow-up question. Madam De Silva, there, Alves, you have the floor. Thanks.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:25:31]:

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. You're absolutely right, Ambassador, your excellency, that that Togo is yet to ratify the Rome Statute. You're the only country in the African Union yet to ratify the Rome Statute. However, we do appreciate the fact that you have in so many ways translated the Rome Statute into domestic legislation in the penal code. So congratulations on that. I did ask you a question about the expanding AI divide, the gender digital divide, and the ways in which some of your pioneering efforts, such as the Kemi chatbot, that is designed with violence survivors across West Africa to provide support to individuals facing tech-facilitated gender-based violence is to a large part limited because of the ways in which 63% of the population is yet to have access to the internet, and the majority of them are women.


Togo [1:26:30]:

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. We don't have any prepared response to this question right now, but we will come, we will revert to you with a written response.


CEDAW · Chair [1:27:01]:

Thank you. Thank you very much. With this, I would like to move now to Article 5. and six of the first part of the convention. And for article five, I would like to give the floor to Ms. Patricio Toledo Vasquez for five minutes. You have the floor.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:27:23]:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. It's an honor for me to participate in this dialogue. It falls to me to tackle article five of the convention on the elimination of gender stereotypes and issues such as gender-based violence against women and girls. We thank the State Party for the information it has provided, and we commend it for the legislative and institutional progress it has made in relation to recent Committee observations. However, main challenges remain. First of all, on gender stereotypes and harmful practices, we recognise that efforts have been made to raise awareness, that there have been initiatives to promote positive masculinity and cooperation with civil society organizations and traditional and religious leaders. However, we are concerned that domestic violence continues to be seen as a private issue and that one out of every four women considers that a man hitting their wife in certain circumstances is justified. Despite a prohibition in law, there are discriminatory practices in the family that remain, particularly relating to widowhood measures such as isolation, head shaving, withholding food, preventing mobility, as well as levirate and other pressure on women to marry again. How do you assess the impact of laws and programs for awareness raising on gender stereotypes? How do you aim to tackle religious discourse that explicitly discourages women from seeking justice? Moving on to legislation, we value the criminalization of domestic violence as a crime and the law for the protection of schoolchildren against sexual violence. However, Togo does not have a comprehensive law tackling all forms of violence against women, including violence in technology. does the State plan to adopt such comprehensive legislation on gender-based violence? And can you reform the definition of rape, exclusively basing it on the absence of consent? Moving on to the issue of protection and care, we welcome the fact that there are hotlines and care centers, including those in Dapaong and other places. However, many women in the regions of Savanes, Kara, and Centrale don't know about available mechanisms or have barriers in using them because they fear reprisals, stigmatization, family pressure, economic barriers, or they simply live too far away. We're particularly concerned at the of shelters or temporary housing, which means women have to remain with their aggressors or depend on third parties in a situation of risk and exploitation. There are also problems in accessing medical and psychological care, sexual and reproductive health services. And we also want to know what is being done to provide special services and safe refuges and housing. especially for women refugees and women with disabilities. How can you ensure that the women in such centres have training to help women with disabilities or refugee women? How can you make it easier to have access to protection orders? Do you plan to introduce protection measures in the civil sphere, which could be swifter and more effective than criminal proceedings? On investigations and sanctions, we're worried about language barriers and logistical barriers to complaints and investigations. We're concerned about allegations of sexual violence, aggression, and ill treatment committed by police and security staff, including against detainee women. What independent procedures exist to investigate such complaints? On reparations, we'd like to know what reparations people can have access to for gender-based violence and what you have to do to obtain it. Now, finally, on data and institutional coordination, there are no disaggregated data on sex, age, type of violence, or region of the country, and we need institutional coordination. Do you plan to have a national unified system or database? including the number of complaints, investigations, prosecutions, sentences, protection measures, reparation and access to services? When will you have the first national survey on gender-based violence? And what mechanisms for inter-institutional coordination would allow you to monitor and assess your preventive policies and your response to gender-based violence? Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:32:28]:

Here the questions under Article 6. I would like to give the floor to Ms. Madina Jargosinova for four minutes. You have the floor, please.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:32:38]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Committee welcomes the creation of the National Commission against Trafficking in Persons in Togo, its first national action plan adopted in 2023, and the new cooperation with Gabon and Nigeria. We also know the work of the National Committee for Child Victims of Trafficking, but structures are not results. Togo is a country of origin, transit, and destination for trafficking. Girls are exploited in domestic work, on the streets, and trafficked to Gabon, Nigeria, and Benin. Women are recruited for work abroad and end up in forced labor or sexual exploitation. Insecurity in the north and the Sahel crisis add new risks. My concerns about resources, justice and protection. First, resources. Is there a budget line for the National Commission and for the action plan? Does the plan cover adult women, not only children? Second, justice. Our information is that no trafficking convictions were reported for two years in a row. Please give us the numbers for the last five years, investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences by sex and age of victims and by form of exploitation. Are trafficking cases still heard only by the RC's court, which causes long delays? Will you allow ordinary criminal courts to hear them? Third, protection. According to the National Statistics Institute, identification mechanisms do not reach the places where victims are, in particular the informal economy, which accounts for 87.9% of employment in Togo. A victim who is never identified is never referred, never accommodated, and never the subject of a prosecution. So, please provide information on the number of women and girls identified as victims last year. Are they identified at borders, in markets, and among migrants and refugees? Are women protected from prosecution for offences they were forced to commit, and can they testify safely? As it has been already mentioned by my colleague, specialized services for adult victims are limited. A woman identified as a victim of trafficking may therefore have no safe place to go and no adapted support, which in practice means she returns to the environment she was removed from. Now, prostitution. The penal code criminalizes women in prostitution. This punishes the women, not those who exploit them. Criminalization does not only punish a woman, it removes her from protection altogether. Will Tonga amend article 91 to decriminalize women in prostitution, as the Committee asked in the List of Issues? Please give the number of women prosecuted under this article. Trafficking grows where girls leave school, where women have no decent work, and where people have no documents. How is the anti-trafficking plan linked to girls' education, to work for rural women, and to birth registration? Do labor inspectors control private recruitment agencies and domestic work? And will Togo ratify ILO Convention 189 on domestic workers? Togo has built institutions, but now they need money, convictions, and services for victims. And women in prostitution should be seen as right holders, not as offenders. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:36:24]:

Thank you very much, Ms. Jarbousinovas. So for Article 5 and 6, I give back the floor to the delegation. Please, you have the floor.


Togo · Ambassador, Permanent Representative [1:36:34]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Nyansa.

Madame Nyaoussa can address this question, to be followed by Mr. Touatre, who can address these questions of the legal and judiciary later, and maybe Ms. Pelucou also on the ratification of the ILO convention. But I think you could also say more about trafficking. Thank you.


Togo [1:37:06]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. Now, I will be addressing the question of specific measures to strengthen the fight against gender-based violence in the Savane region. On centralization of data to combat gender-based violence and on updating the study on gender-based violence. When it comes to measures to combat gender-based violence in the Savann region, as the expert has said, we put in place centres to address the issue. We have a holistic centre providing care for victims. and on a daily basis it is a centre that receives dozens of women victims of violence. On centralised data, in its report, TOGA has spoken about the institutionalisation of a holistic protocol. The protocol provides for the centralisation of data. When we implement the protocol, we will set up an interministerial committee that will co-ordinate all activities and ensure that the data are centralised and properly managed, of course, respecting personal data. relating to the people within the system. We carried out a study on gender-based violence in 2010. That is a priority for the Government, and we want to update that study. We will work very hard to try to update it. Those are the answers that I can provide to the questions asked. Thank you, Your Excellency.


Togo [1:39:35]:

Following on from what you've heard from my colleague, now we heard from the expert, Ms. Toledo-Vasquez, on the impact of harassment. The penal code and the legal framework in Togo cover this issue. It is now sanctioned as a crime. Article 399 of the new penal code explicitly says that there is a harassment, which can result from words, gestures or any other activity of a sexual nature. There is also the question of harassment at work, which is covered by our legislation as well. It is sanctioned differently depending on whether it occurs at the workplace or outside it. In the workplace, it is provided for that the sanction against the perpetrator of the harassment is doubled if there has been an abuse of authority or of their social position vis-a-vis the victim. The Togolese code has properly covered this issue, in our view. When it comes to whether victim has been a victim of harassment within technology or the digital sphere, we have an article 20 within the relevant code that does address the question of harassment online. This is an aggravating circumstance. So, in fact, it means that the perpetrator will face a heavier sentence. Moving on to the issue of trafficking. Togo is a host country, but also a country of origin and of transit for victims of trafficking and of migrant smuggling. Very much aware of this situation, the National Commission against Trafficking in Togo has been working together with our legal and financial partners, and some tools have been put in place to combat this scourge, which affects every country. With the UNDC, we have a special programme covering Togo and Gabon. This is following on from an agreement that started in 2018. So this is to address the Lome-Gabon axis of migration. Obviously, you can also cross Cameroon, Nigeria, other countries on your migration route. So we now conduct joint activities in order to combat this scourge of trafficking. And with our French technical partners, we also have put in place a protect program, which aims to work with countries from the Gulf of Guinea. and this is to address trafficking as well. So I believe I've covered all questions, Ambassador. Thank you.


Togo [1:43:25]:

Thank you, Ambassador, distinguished experts, Madam Chair. I want to say something about the ratification of ILO Convention 189. So the ratification by Togo is underway. Activities have been conducted. workshops organized with the cooperation of social partners, especially with employer and trade union organizations for domestic workers, to make sure that we can carry out advocacy and awareness raising prior to ratification. And our general labor directorate is currently working on or has worked on the justification for ratification, which has now been sent to government for approval. So that is the situation with ratification of ILO Convention 189.


CEDAW · Chair [1:44:33]:

Thank you.

Thank you. I can see that there are follow-up questions. Let me first give the floor to Ms. Tishiva, Ms. Toledo-Vasquez in the first instance. Ms. Tishiva.


CEDAW · Country Rapporteur [1:44:49]:

Concerning Article 5, I have a comment and a question. Given the fact that we started with that, that the legal aid system is not operational yet, that first. Second, given the fact that there are no shelters, crisis centers, for example, for victims of domestic violence. There are centers,, other centers for some counseling, but not really for saving lives. And given the fact that there is not urgent protection, not under criminal law, we know that under criminal law, it takes time, and it has to be proved, and it's a different range of evidence that you have to present, and then the result comes much after than the escalation of violence, all that. So there is no such a law and such urgent protection. How does this victim feel? So how can you have realistic statistics about violence against women, about domestic violence, given all these three circumstances? And fourth, if you put this woman in the specific situation of the savannas and other places where there are additional obstacles, so what information could you have about what's going on with violence against women? So she has to go back home, go back to the place where she suffered violence. This is what I imagine. And so concerning the situation of safety, If you don't really decide about this legal aid, urgent protection through emergency protection orders, and also having where to place women in crisis centers or shelters, I don't see you can decide this question and have a solution of the question about protection, violence against women. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:46:52]:

The floor now to Mrs. Toledo-Vasquez, please.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:46:58]:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Well, following on from the questions asked by the rapporteur, I wanted to know, given that there are no refuges or few refuges, will there be a swifter issuing of protection orders? which mean that the men can be removed from the family home and women can stay in the home safely. How do these protection orders work at the moment, and can they be made swifter? Then we can also see that your legal provisions against violence are sort of spread out across different pieces of legislation. Is there any plan to unify them all under one comprehensive gender-based violence law? And a final question, I wonder what you're doing about violence allegedly perpetrated by public officials. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:48:02]:

Very much, I give the floor to Ms. Cherbushinova, please.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:48:08]:

Actually, I haven't received information on the questions I asked with regard to the statistics, the numbers of investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences by sex, age of victims, and by forms of exploitation. Also, I haven't received information, I haven't heard the information on the number of women and girls identified as victims of trafficking at least last year. And also about criminalization of prostitution, is there any plan of amending the penal code, in particular article 921, to decriminalize women in prostitution? And what measures exist to reduce demand? And are there exit programs with real income alternatives for women who want to leave prostitution? If you cannot give the statistical data, the information, now, please provide this in the written form.


CEDAW · Chair [1:49:17]:

Thank you very much, Mrs. Yarabusinova. I give back the floor to the delegation. Excellency, please.


Speaker 69 [1:49:29]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Let me turn once again to Mr. Touatre.


Speaker 70 [1:49:50]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. I want to address the question of shelters or refuges. It is quite right to say that Togo does not have shelters for victims of gender-based violence. However, we use the family units in order to provide emergency accommodation for victims in those cases where it's necessary for women to leave the place or the home within which they are experiencing violence. So this is a temporary measure. We believe that gender-based violence is a social problem. And we don't see any change happening in the short term, but we are trying to heighten awareness. The religious leaders in the community organize community dialogues and through such community dialogue they are able to detect such cases early and organize the care and treatment of such situations within the community. In the Savann region, and in fact, we seize the opportunity here to thank civil society organizations and NGO for the work that they're doing. There's one NGO called REFED that is working with the government to put in place an emergency shelter in this region. This is part of the activities that we conduct to promote the wellbeing of women and girls. So, Ambassador, this is what I can tell you in answer to the question asked. Thank you. You have the floor.


Speaker 71 [1:52:01]:

Thank you, Your Excellencies. On the follow-up questions relating to protection measures for women victims, if in cases where the women are experiencing violence from their partner and to prevent recidivism. We have article 130 of the new penal code, which ensures that the authorities that have had to decide on a case of gender-based violence can take emergency measures These are protection orders preventing the perpetrator from being in the vicinity of the victims. So the legal framework does allow for this. On violence by public officials against individuals, as we've already said, The status of being a public official is an aggravating circumstance. If they exercise violence against a citizen, then they will be punished as a perpetrator, but the fact that they're a public official means that sanctions against them will be harsher. And you have asked for statistics on trafficking. The Commission, in its annual report, does include some data. So we do have data up to last year, 2025. And if required, we can, of course, produce such figures. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [1:53:52]:

I believe we still need an answer on the repeal of the law on prostitution.


Speaker 73 [1:54:04]:

Ah, yes, that had passed me by. Now, repealing article 91 of the penal code. In fact, this is an article which does not prohibit prostitution. It deals with other issues, actually. but I can tell you that in Togolese law, prostitution per se does not constitute a crime. But the new penal code from articles 401 to 410 does prosecute such crimes. There can be a sentence of up to 50 years imprisonment and a hefty fine. These are sanctions which aim to try and discourage any person benefiting from prostitution and the new article 410 provides that persons that conduct prostitution or who work as prostitutes can may have to have health checks and ensure they're not transmitting STIs or HIV AIDS and all of this, the cost must be borne by the pimp that is prostituting the women. So I hope that I've been able to address some of these issues, Ambassador. Thank you.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:55:38]:

I think that the question was on the decriminalization of women that engage in the work of prostitution. So this decriminalization, has that been adopted in the modification of the law? I didn't fully understand. You spoke of the pimps here, but not of the prostitutes. So these women, are they criminalized?


Speaker 75 [1:56:13]:

Prostitution It was never a crime. Women are not ever criminalized or punished for doing that. It's those who take advantage of that woman that we punish. Thank you.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:56:27]:

Thank you very much. That's more clear for me. I have a follow-up question.


CEDAW · Chair [1:56:35]:

Madam Comella, the floor is yours.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [1:56:40]:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. As I was saying when I addressed the issue of the women, peace, and security agenda, yes, I, the committee, I assure you, I should the delegation and the chair, we have looked at your excellent third national plan. Thank you for having provided clarification on the care for refugee women and displaced women in the Savan, Savannah region. We would like more information on the shelters and on the lodging that you mentioned earlier. But just to end the recommendation, to wrap up that recommendation, I would like to ask you if you could share that information with us. And also, if you could share information with us on measures to ensure that these displaced women in Savann region are being cared for in step with international humanitarian law and if they have access to sexual and reproductive health as part of that. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.


CEDAW · Chair [1:57:49]:

Thank you very much. I give the floor anew to the delegation.


Ambassador [1:57:55]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Nyantse, would you like to add information to respond to the additional question?


Speaker 81 [1:58:06]:

Thank you. Thank you, Your Excellency. To attenuate the consequences of the security crisis and to strengthen resilience for women in the region of the Savann, the government has undertaken numerous initiatives. There is a program for strengthening resilience. Through that program, many women are provided support economically. They benefit from health care services as well, and within that program, there is a strengthened component of basic social services. And this includes new classrooms, new health care units or centers or clinics. Also in that project, there is another program that addresses social cohesion. The idea is to increase food security, to establish reestablish social services in light of these security problems, developing critical infrastructure as well in the area of healthcare, education, sanitation and hygiene. The government has undertaken economic development initiatives as well that are inclusive This includes programs for promoting value chains that are inclusive. This is being implemented with the UN program, with UNDP support. This initiative is aimed at reducing suffering in the rural communities with or through development. This has allowed for us to train and equip numerous agricultural cooperatives, women, refugees, As regards access to documentation, we have 1,900 requests for documentation that were met. Asylum seekers, refugees, birth certificates, refugee status certificates, and other licenses. Now, the issuance of these documents has been an important stage in helping to identify these individuals. As regards economic empowerment, 113 have received-- of these women in these cases have received economic support. Excellencies, Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador, these are-- this is some additional information that I wish to provide on the question asked. Thank you very much.


CEDAW · Chair [2:01:02]:

Thank you very much. So with that additional information, we can move from the first part of the convention.

You're welcome. Madame Jarbousinova, please. Please.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [2:01:22]:

Still, there is some misinformation. According to the information we have, according to the information from civil society, there is some misinformation on criminalization of prostitution in Togo. According to the information we have, and the distinguished delegate himself said that women in prostitution are prosecuted for 15 years, you said, or something like this. So prostitution is a criminal act in your country. And I think to your, the information was said that it's not, so it's decriminalized, but in practice, in reality, it is a criminal act.


CEDAW · Chair [2:02:15]:

Thank you, Monsieur Bousinov. I think, if I understood correctly from his honourable delegate, the criminalization is always considered that as a pimp, that there is a proxenet who is exploiting women. That's why they are criminalized, it's the proxenet. And to my question, if the women themselves are criminalized, because we have always called under Article 6 to decriminalize women in prostitution and only, you know, go to those who exploit women in prostitution. The answer that I felt I heard was, historically, this has never been the case in the country. So there is something between perception and what is happening on the ground because maybe of of the networks, but I think that we can take for face value the statement we heard today and see how we can ensure that if we have more shadow reporting information that goes to the, you know, the to the other indication that we, of course, continue to call for decriminalizing women in prostitution, because this has been forever our policy under Article 6. I think we will still call for it in the COPs. In my view, despite the answer, we still have to call for it, because you have the feeling that on the ground, there is no distinction clear, and so some of them are falling in the gray zone area. So with this, I still would like to move now to part two of the convention. And for article 7 and 8, I would like to give the floor to Mrs. Yudeen Barreto for five minutes, followed for article 9 by Mrs. Akia for three minutes. You have the floor, Mrs. Barreto. Thank you, Chair.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [2:04:13]:

Your Excellencies and distinguished members of delegation, welcome. CDAW commends Togo's efforts to promote women's full political and public participation. We welcome the additional 50% reduction in the cost for women candidates to participate in municipal elections. The 24.6% of women in the new upper parliamentary chamber, the training of women and girls for leadership, and the senior public leadership positions held by women. Our concerns. Only 15% of women are in the lower house. Only 0.06% of women serve as village chiefs. Men hold 99.9% of village chieftaincies. and when it comes to cantonal chieftaincies, women hold three of 387 positions, or 0.7 per cent. In your reply to the list of issues, paragraph 137, you admit to the absence of women as senior diplomats. Given CEDAW's general recommendation No. 40 on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems, Please provide a timeline for the adoption of the draft laws establishing quotas in elected and administrative positions. What measures have been implemented to ensure women have equal access to all spheres of decision-making at the highest level, including leadership position on private and public sector boards? What impact have these measures had on improving women's political and public participation? Please provide disaggregated data on the representation of women in decision-making positions in the justice, military, and police sectors. Include magistrates, prosecutors, clerks, and administrative officials, and all executive and senior ranks of the military and police sectors. towards expanding and protecting women's political participation from all forms of violence, including cyber violence. Please outline protections implemented for women in politics, journalists, members of the NGO/CSO community, community political organizers, and human rights defenders. Please include providing safe spaces for dialogue, public policy, monitoring and accountability. Given the very marginalized participation in political and public life of rural women and women living with disabilities, what specific measures have been taken to improve the participation of these women at all levels of decision-making? Decision making in digital bodies is growing and it's a critical area of public leadership and participation. Please indicate the legislative, institutional, budgetary and programmatic measures implemented to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of all women, including young women, rural women and women living with disabilities in digital governance in the formulation of public policies related to digital digital transformation, data protection, artificial intelligence, and decision making in digital bodies. And finally, Provide data on the strategies implemented and the outcomes that have been achieved to expand senior diplomatic appointments of women as ambassadors, permanent representatives, consuls general, and the appointment of or nomination of women to represent Togo within international organizations. Your excellencies and members of delegation, I thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [2:08:35]:

Thank you very much, Mrs. Barreto. I would like now to give the floor to Mrs. Brenda Akia for three minutes on Article 9. You have the floor, please.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [2:08:46]:

Very much, Chair. Distinguished excellencies, I join my colleagues to also welcome you to this constructive dialogue. First, the committee commends the government of Togo for having implemented CEDAW's recommendation to ratify the convention relating to the status of stateless persons and the convention on the reduction of statelessness of 1961. This is a manifestation of your commitment to protecting Togolese women and girls from lacking nationality or from being stateless, so congratulations. My questions Article 50 of the Constitution provides that the rights and duties ratified by Togo form an integral part of the Constitution. What concrete steps has the State Party taken to fully incorporate the Convention that I mentioned that you had ratified into its national legal and policy framework? My second question, Article 32 of the Constitution and Article 17 of the Children's Act provides that both a father and mother can confer citizenship to their child. Article 149 of Persons and Family Code, which was amended in 2022, allows a woman to retain the nationality she has acquired through marriage, even in the event of divorce, unless a judge decides the contrary. Excellencies, reliable information provides that Togolese women do not have the same legal right to confer nationality to their foreign spouses. Is this accurate? If this is correct, what steps is the state party taking to ensure gender equality in nationality laws to guarantee women the same rights as men to confer nationality to their foreign spouses? My third question, according to the law, all births, marriages and deaths must be registered. Births must be registered within 45 days free of charge and a late registration in case of fee. However, in practice, many women, including women with disabilities, women living in poverty, older women, women in rural areas, refugees, migrants and asylum seeking women and girls, face barriers in attaining civil registration documents, including birth certificates, passports, national identity certificates and identity cards. The barriers, including inaccessibility for women with disabilities, long distances to registration offices, unaffordable registration fees, and so many other barriers do create challenges in attaining civil registration documents, which impact women and girls' rights enjoyment to their social, economic, political, cultural, and civil rights and equal access to services. My questions: What concrete steps is the State Party taking to eliminate practical and structural barriers that undermine women and girls' equal access to essential civil registration documents? Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [2:11:39]:

Thank you very much, Mrs. Akya. Now I give back the floor to the delegation on article 7 and 8 and article 9. Please.


Speaker 89 [2:11:50]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Followed by Mr. Apao, please.


Togo [2:12:03]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. The promotion of the participation of women. I will be speaking to represent the representation of women in defense and security. That's my focus in these responses. In peacekeeping, for example, women, or at least the implementation of our PGAF and ELSI programs, have helped to increase the participation of Togolese women in peacekeeping operations, UN peacekeeping operations. Their proportion as the and the total deployment has gone from 10% to 34.8% in 2023. And this shows efforts to strengthen the participation of women in PKOs. On the regional front, Togolese women have also taken on posts frontline posts in community operations, including in the presidency of the part of the west of ECOWAS. The presidency is held by a woman from Togo, as well as other important posts. Togolese women have been holding then high-level posts contributing to the governance of regional bodies. We should also note that along these lines, there are other women that have held posts marked by high levels of responsibility, such as the High Commissioner's Office for National Unity, the ombudsperson of the republic, the secretariat of the council of the presidency, and the office of revenue, as well as in universities. For example, in Kara, that university is also has a woman as the director. Mr. Ambassador, these are the responses that I'm in a position to provide to the experts at this time.


Togo [2:14:39]:

Thank you, Excellency, Mr. Ambassador, Madam Chair, ladies and gentlemen, experts. I would like to clarify or note that since 6 May 2024, Togo, or on that date, we adopted a new constitution that brought the country into a Fifth Republic. The adoption on 6 May 2024 of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic marks important progress in consecrating the equality between men and women in the issue of transmission of nationality to the children. Article 14 of the annex of the constitution sets forth that nationality is attributed to children born of fathers or mothers that are Togolese. This provision expressly enshrines equality between the father and the mother in the transmission of nationality without establishing a gender distinction between the two parents. This constitutional guarantee is a foundation, and an essential one at that, of the prevention of gender discrimination in matters of equality between fathers and mothers in the transmission of nationality by blood this constitutional guarantee is the fundamental pillar for preventing nationality discrimination strengthening the legal certainty for the children with a recognition of their national of their citizenship now acquiring Togolese nationality by foreign spouses, there is a legal provision in place and this is within the code on persons and the family and nationality. As regards foreign women married to Togolese men, article 149 of the code on persons and the family in the framework of modifications made set forth provisions to address the acquisition of Togolese citizenship by marriage. Nationality or citizenship is retained if there is a divorce that follows. However, the conditions applicable to foreign spouses when it's a Togolese woman does not trans automatically transmit the citizenship to the male foreigner however article 12 of the code of nationality does set forth a flexibility in the conditions for citizenship compared to that which you see in article 11 particularly as regards the required period of residency As regards equal treatment between men and women in this realm, the government is currently reexamining the provisions in the process of a global review of the Code on Citizenship. This review is an opportunity to continue to harmonize our national legal framework with the exigencies regarding equality and non-discrimination. All of this bearing in mind the legal security needs, legal and security needs that are tied to the acquisition and preservation or retention of citizenship. Turning now to access to civil status documents and IDs. Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, Madam Chair, access to these documents is an essential precondition for the legal recognition of individuals and the effective enjoyment of their rights. It allows for the establishment of identity, It facilitates access to education and to public services. It makes the administrative procedures secure. Along these lines, Togo is continuing its efforts to ensure that all people, regardless of their gender, have an access to birth registration and IDs. The government has established that birth certificates are issued free of charge as of 2022. This measure is based on decree 2021 of 14 December 2021. And there's an inter interim, there's 0025. is the implementing decree on that. This seeks to reduce the financial obstacles that could hinder a family in registering a birth. This has allowed for more favorable access to civil status documents throughout the entirety of our national territory. Secondly, efforts have been deployed to bring the civil service, civil status services closer to the population. There are cantonal and village offices. This issue, they're also present in health care centers and clinics. This facilitates birth registration as of the births, and this favors the legal status of birth certificates within 45 days. Third, there are specific measures that have been taken to remedy the absence of IDs for those that have not or were not registered within that period of time. Between 2025 and 2026, there was an operation launched with technical and financial partners. This has allowed, according to available data, for 7,000 women without IDs to obtain a ruling on their documentation. This contributes to regularizing the administrative situation for these individuals, facilitating access to their rights. In 2026, there was a roaming campaign, itinerant campaign aimed at providing birth certificates to some 4,000 girls in their at the end of their high school years this has sought to facilitate administrative procedures and this allows them in turn to overcome difficulties when it comes to continuing with their studies or their insertion into their professional areas the measures presented reflect the will in Togo to consolidate equality between men and women in matters of nationality, and also to facilitate access for all to civil status documents. Enshrining this equality in the transmission of nationality to children, the efforts to reform the status of foreign spouses, and the initiatives aimed at providing IDs to those who do not have any are complementary levers in this policy. The government plans to continue these efforts in order to strengthen the consistency between the legal structure and the administrative and financial systems, reducing obstacles, ensuring that all man, woman, and child enjoy effective recognition of their legal existence and the enjoyment of their rights. Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador, thank you very much.


CEDAW · Chair [2:23:57]:

Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you, Your Excellency. I am looking to see whether there are more follow-up questions. I do have two requests, Madam Barito, followed by Madam Machia. Follow-up questions. Madam Barito, you have the floor.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [2:24:13]:

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, delegates, for your replies. But I do not think that we have received information on the low representation of women in traditional authorities. and it is low in local government, by your admission, but I focus because the statistics were so grossly imbalanced. The second areas, therefore, so no reply on the low representation of women in traditional authorities, no information on measures related to including rural women and women with disabilities in political and public participation to ensure their inclusion, so that politics is not only at the apex, but also at the base. No information on guaranteeing safe, violence-free spaces, both physical and online spaces for women, human rights defenders, political organizers, journalists, NGO, CSO members to work, dialogue, undertake monitoring and accountability, in other words, do the work that they are required to do. And four, no replies relating to measures to increase women's appointments to senior diplomatic positions and to international organizations. And I applaud the honesty of the state party because they admitted to that in the list of issues, but it is something that we would like to see improved upon. And so I welcome replies to that. Thank you, Chair.


CEDAW · Chair [2:25:47]:

Thank you very much, Mrs. Barreto. Mrs. Akia, please.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [2:25:53]:

Country delegation for the comprehensive response. I think I'm just piggybanking on the fact that you mentioned that the government is re-examining its legal framework to ensure gender equality in nationality so that women, Togolese women, just like Togolese men, can be able to confirm nationality on foreign spouses. So it's just my plea that the delegation is in here should be the strongest advocate that when they go back, when you go back home, you're able to push and ensure that in these legal reforms that gender equality for nationality, Togolese women can also be able to confer nationality to their foreign spouses. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [2:26:38]:

Thank you, Mrs. Akya. I give back the floor to the delegation, please, for these follow-up questions.


Togo [2:26:46]:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. We have taken good note of the concerns and the follow-up questions asked by the different committee experts, and we will try to answer within the deadline. We will send in answers to those questions that we have not been able to address immediately. Thinking about the representation of women at the highest levels of national representation, I can assure you that we are very much aware of the situation and we are paying close attention to it. In Togo, accessing diplomatic representation must be based on skill, experience and merit in respect of the principle of equality. The full implementation of that principle also means that we have to consider recruitment, followed by training and promotion. All of that should in no way stand in the way of the professional career of women. As things stand today, We only have seven women ambassadors over about 20 embassies. If we think about our national representations, we have no women ambassadors and no women who are in a position to take this on from their position as charge d'affaires. But we are very much aware of the situation and are paying attention to it.


CEDAW · Chair [2:28:51]:

Well, I understand that you will be submitting further information in writing. But I would draw your attention once again to the fact that answers in writing are the exception and not the rule. And if you do submit written answers, they must not be longer than 1,500 words. Right, we have now considered articles up to article 9 as part of our second cluster, so we can now move on to our third section. So on article 10, I'll give the floor to our colleague Corinne Dettmeier, so she can introduce these questions.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [2:29:38]:

I will consider concerns related to women's and girls' equal right to education. The Committee commends the Education Partnership Pact and the revision of the 2020-2030 Education Sector Plan. It is also aware of the challenges that the State Party faces, including the security crisis in the Sahel. What measures does the State Party take to ensure that refugee and internally displaced girls can continue their education? How will the state party ensure the effective mobilization of the budget allocated to the education partnership pact and include a dedicated budget for gender mainstreaming strategies in the education sector plan? The Committee welcomes the State party's commitment to progressively provide free education and the near parity achieved in primary enrolment. However, it notes with concern the drop in girls' enrolment at the lower secondary level and persistent gender disparities at the upper secondary and tertiary levels and in technical and vocational education and training. The committee is further concerned about the barriers to girls' education, including indirect education costs borne by households, which particularly affect girls from poor families; obstacles to school enrolment for children whose births are not registered within the legally required 45 days; the risk to girls' safety on the way to and from school, combined with a lack of safe transportation and inadequate sanitation facilities and sexual violence in schools. Please indicate the measures taken to eliminate indirect cost of education, to provide targeted financial support to poor families, and to enable girls without birth certificates to enroll in school. and please describe the envisaged measures to address gender disparities in school enrolment and completion, including safe school transport, separate toilets for girls and measures to ensure a safe school environment with effective responses to sexual violence. The committee welcomes the national programme to combat pregnancy and marriage among adolescent girls in school and out-of-school settings 2023-2027. Yet high rates of adolescent pregnancy and child marriage continue to cause girls to drop out of education. Comprehensive sexuality education could help to address this trend. Is comprehensive sexuality education mandatory at all levels of education, covering information on reproductive health services, modern contraceptives, consent, gender equality, and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and violence? What steps has the State Party taken to raise awareness among religious leaders, traditional chiefs and families about the importance of comprehensive sexuality education in preventing adolescent pregnancy and child marriage? The Committee applauds the repeal of the 1978 circular, which mandated the expulsion of pregnant girls and young mothers from school. However, to ensure girls' access to education in practice, effective remedial and re-entry programmes are essential. So, what remedial and re-entry programmes are offered for pregnant girls and young mothers, including financial and psychosocial support, protection against stigma and discrimination, and special accommodations such as flexibility in class schedules and access to childcare facilities? Will the State Party publish region-specific data on the effectiveness of these programmes? The Committee notes with appreciation the State Party's initiatives to improve access to education for girls with disabilities, including ramp construction, itinerant teachers, assistive devices and subsidies for specialised schools. Nevertheless, girls with disabilities continue to face barriers to access education due to insufficiently trained personnel and a lack of appropriate accommodation and infrastructure. What measures will the State party take to expand its existing efforts to ensure access to education for girls with disabilities, including clear targets, timelines and monitoring data disaggregated by region? and please report on the implementation of the inclusive education strategy, including adequate resource allocation and the integration of a gender perspective. Thank you, Madam Chair.


CEDAW · Chair [2:34:38]:

Thank you very much, Ms. Lettmeier. I would like to give the floor back to the delegation for Article 10.


Togo · Ambassador, Permanent Representative [2:34:51]:

Madame Belogou, you may have the floor.


CEDAW · Chair [2:34:56]:

Mr. Logo, you can take the floor, please.


Togo [2:35:00]:

Thank you, Your Excellency, Ambassador. And thank you to the experts for their questions. With respect to education, the Togolese government pays particular attention to promoting equality between girls and boys in education. What we are doing does not just guarantee access to schools, but makes sure that girls can stay in the school system. In this respect, in 2022, we repealed a particular provision which excluded girls from school if they were pregnant. This is a real step forward. Promoting access to education. The state is committed to combating discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy and wants to ensure care for the girls concerned. Sexual and hygiene education is included in educational programmes. Girls are given information on menstrual hygiene. and the Ministry for Education organized awareness raising training on such practices in order to promote healthy practices and to ensure that the school environment is favorable to girls. Girls are given support in their schooling. They are granted scholarships to make sure that they can have access to higher education. The government has also taken specific provisions to ensure that girls that live in disadvantaged households can continue their schooling. There are provisions on school buildings, on teacher assignments, There is support provided for families in the form of cash transfers to make sure that families can continue to send their children to school. We have plans, for example, to improve the quality of basic education. and there is a particular emphasis on pupils from vulnerable areas in Panjal, in Tangben, in Teranton and amongst other regions. The aim is to make sure that there is equal provision or improved provision throughout the country. And we're particularly thinking about early secondary school education for girls. Girls are encouraged to study sciences. There are scholarships and assistance provided for this so that they can reach the higher levels of education. When it comes to inclusion, the state has put in place provisions ensuring that pupils and girls with disabilities can continue their studies. We have training centers. and have recently recruited teachers and trained specialised teachers to provide support for such pupils in their schooling. The Government has also put in place another strategy to provide support for pregnant girls, ensuring that they can continue their schooling, providing remedial lessons and improving their resilience, ensuring they can continue their studies. My apologies, says the speaker. So we want girls to continue their schooling, and we have put provisions in place to ensure this. And in 2025, foreign language


CEDAW · Chair [2:40:00]:

Well, perhaps you can come back to this question, take your time so you can find the right place in your documents. Well, yes, you may take your time because there will be follow-up questions and you can address those at the same time. I can already see two requests for the floor for follow-up questions on Article 10. So we'll give you some time so you can find your place in your papers and let me give the floor to Ms. De Silva de Alves for a follow-up question. And the country rapporteur, Ms. Ticheva, as well as a further committee member have the floor.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [2:40:41]:

Thank you, Madam Chair and your excellencies. I appreciate that Togo has joined other African Union countries in revising its historically rich curricula, especially on political theory and history, to teach the political history of the transatlantic slave trade. My question to you today is regarding educational tools and pedagogical tools on human rights education, including the CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol, as well as, Your Excellency, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. As you well know, three months ago in this year, the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled on Togo on Article 23 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. I'm not going to go back to the prior articles, but my question is one on academic independence and the teaching, the pedagogical approaches and the teaching of political and constitutional theories, because the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruling brought up new issues political theory and constitutional theory. And my question to you is, how does academic independence engage with these thorny issues of political and constitutional challenges by the African court? Even though the ruling is not legally binding, it provides important insights into political theory and constitutional theory. and the ways in which Togo's compliance with the ECOWAS judicial ruling needs also to be part of the educational curricula. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [2:42:38]:

Mrs. De Silva de Alwis, Mrs. De Meyere Vermeulen, you have the floor, please.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [2:42:43]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have two questions. Thank you to the delegation for your answer. My first question is, does the sexuality education cover other topics beyond menstrual hygiene? Pursuant to General Comments 24 and 36, States parties should provide age-appropriate, evidence-based, scientifically accurate, mandatory curricula at all levels of education, covering comprehensive information on sexual and reproductive health. and rights, responsible sexual behavior, gender equality, consent and bodily autonomy, prevention of early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and violence. And my second question is, could the State Party clarify the measures it takes to ensure that refugee and internally displaced girls affected by the Sahel crisis can continue their education? Thank you, Madam Chair.


CEDAW · Chair [2:43:42]:

Thank you, Mrs. Dechmeier. I want to give the floor now to Mrs. Tischeva, please.


CEDAW · Country Rapporteur [2:43:47]:

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. To follow on the questions of my colleagues, I would be interested to know, does the State Party have statistics on the enrollment and the ratio of boys and girls after 15 years of age of of the students, because 15 years is until the obligatory age. So what does it happen at the second level of secondary school? We don't have data about that. You said there is relative equality or aiming at equality at the first stage, but what about the second stage where we think, and obviously, girls disappear. These are, you can say, dropout, but then it's not anymore obligatory. So here, and the connection between early marriages and child marriages, and of course teenage pregnancies. Because if you have data, you will see clearly the connection and what measures to take. Do you maintain data about this second level of the education, which I think is something that's crucial for girls. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [2:45:09]:

Thank you, Mrs. Tishiba. I give back the floor to the delegation for their answers to these follow-up questions.


Togo · Ambassador, Permanent Representative [2:45:21]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. My thanks also to the distinguished experts for their questions. I would have liked my delegation to finish the answer to Mr. Silva, but I haven't really understood the link between the question you were asking and discrimination. It may be because I listened to you without interpretation, but perhaps you could be more specific about the link between what you said and discrimination. It would mean we could answer you more appropriately.


CEDAW · Committee Expert [2:46:00]:

Yes, thank you. Thank you, Ambassador. I didn't want to go into the details of the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruling on Togo on Article 23 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. where the key finding by the court was that the constitutional amendments passed by the parliament would not be valid given the fact that the parliament's legal mandate had already expired and would therefore invalidate the reforms' democratic legitimacy. The connection to that is the ways in which the constitutional ruling by the ECOWAS Court of Justice would also impact women human rights defenders, as well as the ways in which, under Article 10, the political theory and constitutional theory and academic independence, which are also part of the anti-gender discrimination framework, would continue to address some of these political changes domestically. Again, my question is not about the legal validity of the reforms in Togo, but the ways in which these constitutional and political changes will be taught in academic institutions, and the ways in which the ECOWAS Court of Justice rulings will be taught in academic institutions, along with human rights frameworks, including the CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [2:47:47]:

Thank you, Mrs. da Silva. Albers.


Togo · Ambassador, Permanent Representative [2:48:04]:

My thanks to Mr. Silba for having rephrased your question. I confess that I really do find it difficult to see a link between your question and issues of concern to us, issues of discrimination. But I'll give the floor to my colleague so that she can complete her answer on education.


Speaker 115 [2:48:32]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. As regards to sexual education and hygiene education, let me tell you that, over and beyond menstrual hygiene information, We also have information and awareness-raising on family planning, on combating early pregnancy and pregnancy in school, and on combating sexually transmitted infections. When it comes to accessing education, from disadvantaged areas, such as for refugees? Well, there are areas where we have refugee children and other disadvantaged children. and we need to ensure that they can access schools. We have been looking at school buildings and training for teachers to make sure that children in those areas can also access school. On school enrolment for girls above the age of 15, as you have already heard, compulsory schooling is completed at age 15, but education is ensured at both levels of secondary education, level 1 and level 2, and even university education. Support is provided to pupils to make sure that they can go as far as possible in their schooling. For pregnant girls, or girls who become pregnant during their schooling, we provide support. During the 2024 and 2025 school years, 341 girls registered as pregnant. One hundred and seventy-one of them continued their schooling, and 81 of them were able to progress to the next level, whereas the rest abandoned their schooling. But we want to provide support for the families and for the girls themselves so that they can learn about caring for their children while they continue to follow their educational curricula. Thank you.


Togo · Ambassador, Permanent Representative [2:51:26]:

Thank you, Madam Chair. Perhaps if we can have a few minutes more, I just want to turn to my colleague to address the question from Ms. Da Silva, which relates to the protection of women human rights defenders, I believe.


Speaker 117 [2:51:46]:

Thank you very much, Your Excellency, Ambassador. With respect to protection for women human rights defenders, and in fact, human rights defenders as a whole, That is a question that the Government has been addressing. We have a new organic law on the National Commission on Human Rights, which was adopted in 2021. One of the novelties of that law is that it ensures that the commission is responsible for the protection of defenders. so they also provide them with training. So that is now the remit of the commission. We've spoken here about the adoption of a new constitution, which includes some innovative elements. It has broadened the scope of application to activities online, for example, and So we have new formulations on this in the new constitution. There are training activities that are organized as part of all of this. Thank you.


CEDAW · Chair [2:53:15]:

Well, it's nearly 1 p.m. so our meeting is drawing to a close. We can break so that you can have lunch and we will continue our work. We will meet again at 3 p.m. to address articles 11 and following. I thank you very much for your contribution and for the replies that you've been providing. Let me ask the Secretariat whether there's any announcement to be made for the working group, so we don't get a two-hour break, we have less than that. But over to the secretariat. Thank you.


UN Secretariat · Secretariat [2:54:02]:

Scheduled from 13:45 to 14:45 in room S1 in the SAFI shop building.


CEDAW · Chair [2:54:09]:

Thank you.

Little bit more familiar with the rooms, so it's less dramatic. So I wish you a nice lunch break and a briefing of our NGOs.

We'll meet again at 3 p.m. The meeting stands adjourned, and the Chair kindly thanks the interpreters.