Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Cabo Verde on Parity Law, Raise Questions on Tackling Gender Stereotypes and the Situation of Women in the Informal Sector
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today considered the tenth periodic report of Cabo Verde, with Committee Experts commending the State party on implementing the parity law and significantly increasing women’s representation in Parliament, while raising questions on tackling gender stereotypes in the country and how women in the informal sector were being protected.
Nada Moustafa Fathi Draz, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, commended the State party for its gains following the implementation of the 2019 parity law, which mandated a minimum of 40 per cent representation for each sex on collegiate candidate lists. Notably, women secured 47.2 per cent of National Assembly seats in the May 2026 elections, including the election of the first female President of the National Assembly, and achieved 52.9 per cent representation in Municipal Assemblies, alongside holding four of the seven judicial positions on the Supreme Court of Justice
Another Committee Expert said Cabo Verde had undertaken initiatives promoting positive masculinity, responsible fatherhood and shared family responsibilities, alongside gender-equality education and awareness campaigns. Nevertheless, traditional gender roles continued to contribute to inequalities. What kind of mechanisms existed for assessing the longer-term impact of initiatives undertaken, particularly on changing discriminatory attitudes and gender stereotypes and also targeting men and boys? What measures were being taken to challenge gender stereotypes in education, the media and advertising?
One Expert said Cabo Verde’s labour market remained gender-segregated, with women predominantly employed in domestic work, health, education, commerce, accommodation and food services, while men were concentrated in construction, transport and other male-dominated sectors. How would the State party further strengthen the transition of women from informal to formal employment? What progress had been made in finalising and adopting the regulatory framework for domestic work?
Introducing the report, Adélsia de Jusus Mendes Almeida, Minister of Family, Inclusion, Social Development and Labour of Cabo Verde and head of the delegation, said Cabo Verde was proud of the progress achieved in advancing gender equality, while recognising that important inequalities remained. As a small island developing State facing insularity, climate vulnerability and limited resources, Cabo Verde remained committed to inclusive and results-oriented public policies. Gender equality was a cross-cutting priority of Government policy and of the Cabo Verdean Institute for Gender Equality and Equity, the national mechanism responsible for gender policies. Significant progress had been made in gender-responsive budgeting, with gender mainstreaming becoming a formal principle of the State budget following legal reforms in 2019.
Responding to questions, the delegation said Cabo Verde was one of the few countries in the sub region which had specific organizations working on promoting positive masculinity, including the White Tie Association. Progress had been made, including the establishment of parental leave, which allowed fathers to take a certain number of days off from work to spend time with their newborn children. The National Media Authority had the competence to monitor all the news produced and focused on how women were portrayed in Cabo Verdean media.
The delegation said a study had been conducted after the pandemic on domestic workers. The social security system was currently formal and institutionalised, and the Government was working to make it more flexible. A national programme had been developed to speed up transition from the informal to the formal economy, which had formalised over 33,000 workers. Between 2022 and 2025, a project had been implemented for empowering vulnerable women, and a platform had been developed for domestic workers to enable them to be in a better position to receive a retirement pension.
In closing remarks, Ms. de Jusus Mendes Almeida thanked the Committee Experts for their open spirit during the dialogue. Cabo Verde was looking forward to the recommendations and would make every effort to implement them to ensure the rights of women and girls were fully protected in the country.
In her closing remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chairperson, thanked Cabo Verde for the constructive dialogue which had provided the Committee with further information on the situation of women in the country.
The delegation of Cabo Verde was made up of representatives from the Ministry of Family, Inclusion, Social Development and Labour; the National Assembly; the Cabo Verdean Institute for Gender Equality and Equity; a Communications Advisor; and the Permanent Mission of Cabo Verde to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee’s ninety-third session is being held from 5 to 30 October. All documents relating to the Committee’s work can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.
The Committee will next meet at 5 p.m. on Friday, 30 October to close its ninety-third session.
Report
The Committee has before it the tenth periodic report of Cabo Verde (CEDAW/C/CPV/10).
Presentation of Report
ADÉLSIA DE JUSUS MENDES ALMEIDA, Minister of Family, Inclusion, Social Development and Labour of Cabo Verde and head of the delegation, said Cabo Verde was proud of the progress achieved in advancing gender equality, while recognising that important inequalities remained. As a small island developing State facing insularity, climate vulnerability and limited resources, Cabo Verde remained committed to inclusive and results-oriented public policies. This commitment was grounded in the Constitution, the Convention, the Beijing Platform for Action, the 2030 Agenda and the Agenda 2063, as well as national strategies for gender equality, poverty eradication and decent work.
Gender equality was a cross-cutting priority of Government policy and of the Cabo Verdean Institute for Gender Equality and Equity, the national mechanism responsible for gender policies. Significant progress had been made in gender-responsive budgeting, with gender mainstreaming becoming a formal principle of the State budget following legal reforms in 2019. By 2025, all 1,265 projects and budget units were assessed using gender markers, improving transparency and accountability in public spending.
Combatting gender-based violence remained a major priority. Between 2023 and 2026, 380 professionals, including police officers and magistrates, received specialised training. Cabo Verde had also established victim support centres, a shelter, and a Victim Assistance Fund to strengthen prevention, protection and access to justice.
Women's political participation had reached historic levels. Following the 2026 parliamentary elections, women held 47.2 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, the highest level ever recorded. For the first time, a woman presided over Parliament, and women made up 60 per cent of the Parliamentary Bureau. Women also had over 50 per cent representation at the municipal levels. A project was being implemented by the Gender Institute to strengthen the leadership of women and minority groups and encourage political parties to include more diverse candidates.
Women played a fundamental role in the economy, yet continued to face barriers in accessing finance, stable employment, social protection, technology and markets. According to the 2023 census, women headed 65.6 per cent of the country's informal production units. While around 3,700 women participated in vocational training in 2024, representing 74 per cent of beneficiaries, their post-training employment rate remained about half that of men. Cabo Verde was therefore focusing on job creation, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion and stronger labour protections.
A major challenge was the unequal distribution of unpaid care work. According to 2024 data, 88.4 per cent of women performed unpaid work, compared with 67.9 per cent of men. The economic value of unpaid work was estimated at nearly 9.6 per cent of gross national product. To address this imbalance, the Government was expanding childcare, preschool services, home assistance and day-care centres, as well as extending school hours, while promoting shared responsibility among families, communities, employers and the State.
Between 2023 and 2026, over 1,000 members of the Armed Forces received training on equality, women's rights and non-discrimination. In November 2025, a regional meeting was hosted on women, peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel.
While these achievements were significant, challenges remained. The next policy cycle would focus on measurable results, including increasing women's representation in executive leadership, improving the transition from training to employment, expanding social protection, improving access to health services, preventing violence and re-victimisation, and strengthening data systems to monitor progress. Cabo Verde remained committed to transforming rights into opportunities, programmes into results, and international commitments into tangible change.
Questions by Committee Experts
NADA MOUSTAFA FATHI DRAZ, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, commended the State party’s continued engagement with the Committee and its efforts to promote gender equality. Since the last concluding observations, the State party had adopted several policies, strategies, national plans and legislative measures for the promotion of women. Significant advancements had been made in the areas of education, employment, political participation, social protection, children protection and sexual and reproductive health. There were several areas which required the State’s attention, including addressing gaps in its legal framework to ensure compliance with the Convention, combatting gender base violence, and promoting women’s economic empowerment, among others.
A Committee Expert said it was regretful that there was no comprehensive definition of discrimination in the State party which would ensure the protection of women and girls. The Committee applauded the State party’s efforts to ensure access to justice, particularly in far flung areas. What progress had been made in adopting the anti-discrimination bill? Was there a timeframe for it becoming a law? What measures would the State party take to ensure that women facing intersecting forms of discrimination could obtain access to justice, including tackling accessibility and cultural barriers? What would be done to repeal discriminatory laws and ensure international human rights treaties were respected?
The Committee welcomed the progress made by Cabo Verde in strengthening training and awareness-raising on gender equality, women's rights and violence prevention for the Armed Forces. The State party should be commended for hosting the annual meeting of the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel, and for conducting a study on gender and climate change to 2025.
NADA MOUSTAFA FATHI DRAZ, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked for information about legal aid in the State party and its availability to vulnerable women.
A Committee Expert congratulated Cabo Verde for its participation in the FIFA World Cup. How did the State intend to address resource gaps and ensure the Institute for Gender Equality could effectively carry out its mandate? What progress had been made to bring the National Commission for Human Rights and Citizenship into full compliance with the Paris Principles? What had been the outcomes of the fifth national equality plan, including regarding gender equality education and awareness raising? How had these measures reached women across different communities?
The State party was commended for approving the parity law which mandated electoral lists to include at least 40 per cent of women, which had resulted in an increase in the number of women in Parliament to 42.7 per cent, as well as the election of the first woman speaker in parliament. Could data be provided to show the impact of the targeted positive discrimination measures? What data was available to ensure substantive equality for all women and girls, including those with disabilities, those in rural areas, refugees and migrants? What measures were taken to systematically integrate temporary special measures into programmes and budgets?
Another Committee Expert acknowledged the measures Cabo Verde had taken to promote gender equality and combat gender-based violence, including the fifth national gender equality plan 2022–2026, the gender-based violence law of 2011, and the introduction of paternity leave in both the public and private sectors in 2023.
Cabo Verde had undertaken initiatives promoting positive masculinity, responsible fatherhood and shared family responsibilities, alongside gender-equality education and awareness campaigns. Nevertheless, traditional gender roles continued to contribute to inequalities. What kind of mechanisms existed for assessing the longer-term impact of initiatives undertaken, particularly on changing discriminatory attitudes and gender stereotypes and also targeting men and boys? What measures were being taken to challenge gender stereotypes in education, the media and advertising? How was gender representation in the media and advertising monitored, and what results had been achieved? Was data being collected on the prevalence of cyberbullying and other gender-specific cyber offences affecting women and girls? What measures were being taken to strengthen reporting, investigation and protection for victims, including through cooperation with digital platforms?
Female genital mutilation was not a traditional practice in Cabo Verde. However, information received indicated isolated cases among migrant communities.
Had the planned study on gender, migration and harmful practices, including female genital mutilation, been completed? If so, what were its findings?
Cabo Verde had strengthened its response to gender-based violence. How was the State party ensuring that Victim Support Centres, shelters and the hotline were adequately resourced and accessible to all women, including those in rural and remote areas, migrant women and women with disabilities? How was the impact of the Victim Support Fund being evaluated? How was the State party addressing the stigma and discriminatory attitudes that discouraged women from reporting gender-based violence? How would the State strengthen data on gender-based violence and ensure it was publicly accessible? What was the status and implementation of the national plan on the prevention and combat of sexual violence against children and adolescents?
Another Expert said despite the adoption of the national strategy to combat trafficking and the establishment of the National Observatory, statistical outcomes remained alarmingly sparse. For the second consecutive year, zero traffickers were convicted and only one single victim was identified. How did the State party intend to strengthen investigation, enforcement and prosecution efforts, reporting and complaint mechanisms, and the identification of trafficking victims? What funding had been allocated to the second national action plan to combat human trafficking.
How would Carbo Verde ensure that trafficking victims had access to adequate shelter, support services and information about their rights and available legal assistance? How was it ensured that women involved in or at risk of prostitution had access to measures aimed at preventing entry into prostitution? Was there a specific exit strategy for women wishing to leave prostitution? What measures had been taken to prevent and address the sexual exploitation of women and girls, and to investigate and punish perpetrators? What measures had been taken to prevent and address the forced prostitution and sexual exploitation of migrant women? How were cybersecurity and artificial intelligence frameworks being directly implemented into domestic law enforcement protocols?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the anti-discrimination bill was before Parliament and it was hoped that it would be a law by 2028. The country had made progress in addressing violence but there was a challenge when it came to vulnerable women. The Government had included special attention on building a country for everyone. The aim was to provide training through the civil service on effective communication for persons with hearing and sight impairments. There were some instruments for combatting violence which had been produced in accessible formats for this group, including braille versions. In 2027, the State party would begin consultations with civil society to draw up the first national action plan on women, peace and security.
The national plan for gender equity and equality had been drawn up and a project entitled “our rights” had been launched, focusing on recognising the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in Cabo Verde.
An event would be held in the capital on training and capacity building with stakeholders and focal points on the women, peace and security agenda.
Legal aid was provided by the Bar Association, as well as other associations to ensure legal aid could be provided free of charge to all victims of gender-based violence. This assistance was provided whether the victims were legal residents of Cabo Verde or not and could be accessed through shelters. Support could also be provided through victim support offices in police stations. The State was aiming to collect data through the judicial system which could be used to shape public policies.
Cabo Verde appreciated all the support at the FIFA World Cup which had highlighted the country’s resilience. The Institute for Gender Equality coordinated all actions on gender equality and was fully operational and functional. A committee made up of non-governmental organization representatives monitored the implementation of the parity policy. Specialised teams worked with rural women to combat poverty and reduce discrimination. Since 2008, the State had been undergoing land demarcation. Land registration was being undertaken, particularly on the islands. Schools were provided for rural communities, and if the school was too far away, then free transport was provided so the girl could go to school. Education was free up to university level.
There were still pending challenges relating to the inclusion of girls with disabilities. A programme had been drawn up for assisted employment. The national gender equality plan was in its last phase. There was guaranteed financing for 2022 to 2026. Cabo Verde had not yet assessed the results from the last plan, but this assessment would be conducted this year.
Several laws were favourable for persons with disabilities, but unfortunately the public employment law had not been properly implemented; the State was working to ensure that this would happen.
Cabo Verde was one of the few countries in the sub region which had specific organizations working on promoting positive masculinity, including the White Tie Association. Progress had been made, including the establishment of parental leave, which allowed fathers to take a certain number of days off from work to spend time with their newborn children. Data was made available through the National Statistics Office, the entity responsible for producing data.
A fund had been established to support gender-based violence cases, as well as provide shelters, staff and legal aid. Online harassment was an emerging issue for the country. The National Media Authority had the competence to monitor all the news produced and focused on how women were portrayed in Cabo Verdean media. There was a law on harassment on social media. It was important to step up monitoring and pressure in this area.
Female genital mutilation was not a widespread cultural practice in the country, but due to migrants coming from countries where this practice occurred, the State had seen some cases. In 2025, the first legal conviction had been handed down for this practice, showing that this harmful practice was not tolerated by Cabo Verde. Funding had been received to help strengthen mechanisms at the grassroots level.
Free hotlines operating 24 hours a day were available to report cases of violence. The tourism industry brought risks of trafficking and exploitation in tourist areas. A plan was in place to address this, and legal and medical support was provided to victims, as well as shelters. Work had been done on awareness raising to provide information to migrants regarding trafficking. Shelters had been set up in the capital to help migrant women, facilitating return to their countries of origin if necessary.
The State planned to amend the parity and gender-based violence laws, and it was likely the amendments would introduce political violence within these laws. Cabo Verde’s legal framework did not criminalise prostitution alone. It was only where there was exploitation when this was considered a crime. Women were provided with economic, psychological and legal support to enable them to exit prostitution.
The State was currently updating the Gender Observatory and would include the data examined by the Observatory, including integrating issues pertaining to climate change.
Through the gender institutes In universities, specific training had been provided on gender equality to raise awareness about changes in the views on gender. Vocational training courses included gender and there was a partnership to provide training on gender to police officers and health professionals who worked with victims. A study had identified female genital mutilation as an emerging issue, which many health professionals in Cabo Verde were not used to dealing with.
A programme had been developed which provided girls with a safe space after school. Awareness raising activities carried out contained a module dedicated to disseminating the Convention. Cabo Verde’s shelters were segregated, with adults and children and adolescents residing in different spaces. Fully equipped teams were available to support victims. The State had also taken in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons who had been persecuted in other countries and fled to Cabo Verde. There were no specific shelters for trafficking victims, but they had been taken into appropriate structures. There was now a legal framework which protected against trafficking. Work was being carried out on a legal framework to regulate migration flows.
The Gender Institute had data available in its annual report, including complaints addressed through the hotline. Data was available on gender-based violence and female genital mutilation.
Questions by Committee Experts
NADA MOUSTAFA FATHI DRAZ, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, commended the State party for its gains following the implementation of the 2019 parity law, which mandated a minimum of 40 per cent representation for each sex on collegiate candidate lists. Notably, women secured 47.2 per cent of National Assembly seats in the May 2026 elections, including the election of the first female President of the National Assembly, and achieved 52.9 per cent representation in Municipal Assemblies, alongside holding four of the seven judicial positions on the Supreme Court of Justice.
Did the State party intend to make parity binding to reverse the sharp regression which had been seen in the National Cabinet? Was there an explanation for this regression? What specific measures was the State party implementing to ensure the meaningful political participation of women from disadvantaged groups? What mechanisms were being institutionalised to guarantee the equal representation and leadership of women, especially rural women, in local and national climate governance and disaster risk reduction bodies? What targeted measures was the State party implementing to foster a safe, inclusive political environment, including ensuring safe digital spaces free from gender-based online violence, cyber-harassment and abuse, and to dismantle stereotypes that hindered women's political leadership?
Could the State party provide updated, disaggregated data on the representation of women in the foreign service? What specific policies, temporary special measures or capacity-building initiatives were currently in place to promote women’s equal opportunities to represent the State party at the international level and to participate fully in the work of international organizations?
Another Committee Expert asked whether current legal safeguards covered situations where children could be at risk of statelessness? What measures did the State party intend to take to ensure effective legislative protection, so that no child in its territory was left stateless? How many cases of potential statelessness had been resolved and how many remained pending? Did the State party plan to develop a formal mechanism for recognising cases of statelessness? The Committee welcomed the high rates of birth registration achieved in the State party. How was Cabo Verde ensuring that children born to migrants or refugees could establish nationality when applicable?
A Committee Expert noted the State party's significant achievements in education, including the 2018 amendment to the basic law on the education system which made schooling free up to the twelfth grade, and the social support plan for the education and training of adolescents and young people for 2023–2026, which aimed to ensure that girls did not drop out of school because of pregnancy. How many pregnant students and adolescent mothers had returned to school and completed secondary education? Did the State party collect dropout data disaggregated by sex, age, location and pregnancy status?
Had sexual and reproductive health and rights education been introduced, at which levels, and had teachers been trained to deliver it? What was the status of the textbook review to eliminate gender stereotypes? Girls outperformed boys in secondary education but made up only about 38 per cent of students in technical education. What temporary special measures were applied to attract girls into science, technology, engineering and mathematics? In 2019, many students considered schools unsafe, and more than half of the victims of school violence were girls. Was there a confidential mechanism for reporting sexual harassment and abuse, including by teachers? How many complaints had been received, and what were the outcomes? How was the ban on corporal punishment enforced in practice? What was being done to ensure inclusive education for girls with disabilities and access to education for migrant girls?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Parliament had been making changes; work was being carried out to train minority groups and encourage their participation in politics and decision-making posts. With a Parliament led by women, steps would be taken to address shortcomings and ensure a greater representation of women in the National Cabinet. The parity law did not cover certain posts involving public confidence; this was decided by the Government. Over 44 per cent of diplomats were currently women and more than 50 per cent of judges in the Supreme Court were women. The rights to education, health or housing were guaranteed to anybody in Cabo Verde, whether they were stateless or a foreign citizen.
Stateless persons could be elected to municipalities. The issue of providing nationality to children born in Cabo Verde had been discussed in Parliament and was being broadly discussed in society. These children had access to a range of services, including scholarships for studying.
The right to asylum was recognised for stateless persons and those facing persecution. A law from 1999 established the legal framework for refugees and asylum seekers in Cabo Verde. A legal arsenal existed on statelessness, including the nationality act, referring to situations in which Cabo Verden nationality could be granted. There were specific procedures for providing nationality to a stateless person. A law had been adopted on protecting refugee children and adolescents which provided greater protection for them. There were also exemptions from fees and levies for stateless persons and refugees arriving at airports. Another law foresaw the issuance of a travel document for foreign refugees and stateless persons when they did not have their own travel documents. Children could be enrolled in schools and young adults in university, whether or not they had the necessary documents.
The parity law contained regulations on legislative posts and local office. The law managed parity on elected posts, but there were no rules on appointed posts. Members of the Government were chosen on the basis of trust, meaning the number of women appointed depended on the will of the Government and the affinity of those making the appointments. The parity law had only recently been adopted, and there was more which needed to be done. There were now 34 female members of Parliament.
Cabo Verde had a legal framework prohibiting the expulsion of pregnant girls. The schools needed to provide the necessary teaching materials to pregnant girls and ensure they did not fall behind in their education. Sexual and reproductive health care education was provided and was fairly robust. Staff were trained to deal with girls’ sexual reproductive and health needs. After girls had given birth, they were provided with classroom support and psychological support if required. Funding was provided for creches to enable them to take on children from adolescents or women in vulnerable situations. The Government paid the creche fees so the woman could continue with school or work. Food was also provided at school.
An educational reform focused on removing gender stereotypes had been undertaken. All references in school textbooks which could foster gender stereotypes had been removed. Cabo Verdean girls outperformed Cabo Verdean boys at all levels of education. Girls’ performance at schools also had an impact on vocational training; more girls moved on to universities due to higher grades, hence why there were less girls taking on vocational courses. The State had certain stereotypes, including that vocational training was not attributed to have the same prestige as a university education. The State was aiming to have more
female school students take up engineering courses and other non-traditional subject areas at universities.
The educational support programme included training measures for teachers, including to avoid repetition of gender stereotypes within education. Violence at school typically occurred among teenagers, and mainly between boys, but girls could be the victims of violence. All teachers were mandated to report situations of violence through appropriate channels, which included in person, over the phone and in writing to the Ministry of Education, or at Police Stations.
The full inclusion of girls with disabilities in the educational sector was a challenge that the State needed to overcome. Organizations worked specifically with girls with disabilities and were fully funded by the State. It was vital to ensure that there were ancillaries within the classroom and to ensure that girls and boys with disabilities were fully included within the education sector.
The delegation said the State did not have comprehensive data on the number of pregnant teenage girls who left school, but rather the data came in school by school. According to the data, 98 per cent of pregnant teenagers left school for a period of time and then returned later. There had been a significant drop in the number of teenage girls falling pregnant.
Questions by the Delegation
A Committee Expert said Cabo Verde’s labour market remained gender-segregated, with women predominantly employed in domestic work, health, education, commerce, accommodation and food services, while men were concentrated in construction, transport and other male-dominated sectors.
How would the State party further strengthen the transition of women from informal to formal employment? What measures were being taken to address the structural barriers affecting women’s economic autonomy, including the gender pay gap, addressing the regional disparities, and unequal unpaid care responsibilities? What were the results so far of the 2025 strategy for the development and institutionalisation of the national care system?
Cabo Verde had developed legislation on protection from sexual harassment in the workplace; how many complaints were brought forward and how many decisions on sexual harassment were issued by courts over the last three years? How was it ensured that migrant women workers could safely report gender-based violence in the workplace and was there legal aid and support for their access to justice? Could Cabo Verde provide a concrete timeline for the ratification of key international treaties relating to work and the labour market?
Another Committee Expert congratulated Cabo Verde on positive steps made in health, including a reduction in maternal mortality, being declared free of malaria, and decentralising services for testing and treating HIV, among other achievements. What had been the major challenges faced by the State party when it came to accessing healthcare for women and girls? According to domestic law, abortion was allowed up until the twelfth week of pregnancy in public hospitals, but rape and incest were not considered as grounds for decriminalising abortion. What was Cabo Verde doing to improve the access of women and girls to abortion and post abortion services? What was being done to reduce the number of backstreet abortions? Would the State consider decriminalising further, including in cases of a rape or child sex abuse? Were there women in detention due to abortions?
Cases of sexual aggression had increased by 23 per cent between 2012 and 2024, and there had been an increase of sexual abuse against young girls. Around 37 per cent of teenagers had already had a child or were pregnant, compared to 12 per cent of girls who had reached universities. Was the State taking measures to combatting child pregnancy in education? Women with disabilities faced barriers to accessing health services, particularly reproductive health services. What was being done to overcome these difficulties? The Committee had heard complaints of forced sterilisation of women with disabilities, particularly psychosocial disabilities. What was Cabo Verde doing to combat this harmful practice? How would the State tackle the stigma of women with HIV and mental health problems?
A Committee Expert said poverty in Cabo Verde remained feminised, as women represented 66 per cent of the poor. What concrete targets and macroeconomic policy measures were in place for translating the measurement and valuation of women’s work into concrete macroeconomic policies, budget allocations, and investments across sectors and in care services? How were the impacts measured and monitored? What measures were envisaged to raise the proportion of women receiving cash maternity benefits beyond the current level? What progress had been made in finalising and adopting the regulatory framework for domestic work? What plans existed for extending comprehensive social security coverage?
Could the State party provide disaggregated data on the number of women beneficiaries of the microcredit programmes? What innovative strategies were earmarked for expanding access to bank loans, mortgages, credit guarantees and other forms of financial credit to facilitate the closing of gender gaps? Had a gender impact been undertaken on the State’s housing and taxation policy?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said 47 per cent of those working were in the informal economy, and the majority of them were men. Women were in a less secure position, working in less lucrative trades which did not provide access to social services. For cultural reasons, many women used profits from their businesses for their families, rather than reinvesting the profits in their business. The State had carers who provided services to families, enabling women to enter the labour market. Cabo Verde was creating the statute of the informal carer to ensure that people who undertook care work, often unremunerated, could access social services and obtain an income to pay into their retirement pensions.
A study had been conducted after the pandemic on domestic workers. The transition from the informal to the formal economy was a strategy for combatting poverty. The social security system was currently formal and institutionalised, and the Government was working to make it more flexible. Social insurance was being developed for the primary sector, where many informal workers held positions in farming and fisheries. Due to natural disasters, many people in this sector had lost their livelihoods, and the State was working to ensure this did not occur again. Two years ago, Cabo Verde created the young women’s bank to ensure loans for those in farming and fisheries, who found it difficult to get a loan from the traditional banking sector. Cabo Verde had signed several international Conventions with many that were before Parliament, waiting to be ratified.
A national programme had been developed to speed up transition from the informal to the formal economy, which had formalised over 33,000 workers. Between 2022 and 2025, a project had been implemented for empowering vulnerable women, and a platform had been developed for domestic workers to enable them to be in a better position to receive a retirement pension.
Cabo Verde was a small country which meant submitting complaints could be difficult. The complaints mechanism in the country needed to be improved to ensure progress.
Sexual and reproductive services were available at local and regional hospitals. Multidisciplinary teams could go out to the field and visit hard-to-reach areas. There was a huge diaspora whose members were very well qualified, and they had organised programmes working with the Health Ministry. They had sent specialists across many fields to Cabo Verde to plug some of the gaps. There were agreements with countries that had specialists, including those willing to travel to more remote areas.
Pregnancy support was provided in the public health system, and these issues were dealt with confidentially. The major illnesses affecting the population currently were cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which marked an epidemiological shift. This meant the country needed new resources. The State budget would invest heavily in health to respond to these new leading causes of mortality. Over 90 per cent of pregnant women had been able to receive an HIV or syphilis test, which had led to significant reductions in mother-to-child transmission. Forty-five women were detained in prison, but the State could not identify any who were there due to having an abortion. It was important for abortions to be conducted safely, in line with the law and with the woman’s health as a priority.
Poverty was indeed feminised in Cabo Verde. A special young women’s bank had been created and provided loans to 1,428 women. All economic policies in the country had a strong gender component. The national strategy to combat extreme poverty was mainly focused on women, covering identification, training and integration into the labour market. The kindergarten subsidy programme allowed women to have help with paying for childcare services. The tourism industry was dominated by women and many received State support to set up their own tourism businesses. Gender issues were being mainstreamed into tourism. Women had always played a relevant role in the blue economy in the fishing industry, particularly in processing the fish and selling it after the catch.
The national housing plan included a strong gender component. There was no gender responsive taxation law yet, which was something the State party would need to work on.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said the Committee commended Cabo Verde’s efforts to tackle structural poverty, which particularly affected women in rural areas, including through the national strategy for the eradication of extreme poverty and the programme for the promotion of rural socio-economic opportunities.
However, women still accounted for the majority of the population living in extreme poverty and represented 85 per cent of households classified as being in the most vulnerable category.
What measures was the State party taking to address the structural barriers faced by rural women and women living on remote islands, such as unequal access to land, water, productive resources and income, decision-making processes and essential public services? What measures were being taken to strengthen women’s participation in climate-related decision-making, particularly for women from rural areas? What measures were being taken to collect gender-disaggregated data on climate vulnerability, resilience and adaptation programmes? How was it ensured that rural women had a voice when it came to climate change?
How did the State party plan to establish a functional asylum system to identify refugee women and girls in need of protection and ensure their safety? What measures was Cabo Verde taking to ensure migrant women and girls had access to healthcare, education and employment? Were there any Government mechanisms in place to provide adequate support to female genital mutilation survivors? What measures did the State party plan to ensure equal access for women and girls with disabilities to education, employment and gender-based violence services?
Another Committee Expert asked for the timeline for amending the Civil Code and the Civil Registry Code to set 18 as the minimum age of marriage without any exception, and to recognise only de facto unions that began between adults? What measures was the State party taking to prevent early unions, and what data disaggregated by island did it have on them? Did the State party plan to study the prevalence and consequences of de facto polygamy, including in migrant communities, and to adopt a specific campaign to combat it? What protection did women in these unions have regarding property, inheritance and maintenance? What protection did women who had lived for years in an unrecognised de facto union have when they separated or were widowed, regarding housing, property, inheritance and maintenance? How was domestic and care work valued in the division of property?
How many women with disabilities had received legal aid. Could the data be disaggregated by island and disability? How would the State party guarantee this service on all islands, with the necessary accommodations for women with disabilities? What measures would Cabo Verde take to ensure that victims of domestic violence obtained effective protection, support services and a timely judicial decision on all islands?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there was inequality when it came to land ownership; rural women farmed the most land but owned the least land. The land registration programme was currently being implemented and it had a strong gender component in favour of women. The State party had been working on programmes to bring water closer to rural women, including building dams and desalinisation processes. Cabo Verde had a national plan for creating resilience to climate change. The country had invested significant resources in bringing water closer to people. Programmes had been created to reduce the rates of taxation paid when people were purchasing new farming technology. Additionally, the purchase of renewable energy equipment was exempt from taxation.
Asylum seekers were fully covered by social security, and had access to health services, education and a whole range of social benefits, on an equal basis with Cabo Verdean nationals. A study had been conducted on climate change and gender which highlighted the challenges faced by rural women, as the land they farmed was less fertile than that farmed by men. Awareness raising activities had been conducted on climate change and gender to raise awareness of the exacerbation of existing inequalities for rural communities. The Gender Observatory would now incorporate the gender and climate change component. Cabo Verde was also working on a participatory forum on climate change which would also likely include a gender dimension.
There was a discrepancy between the Civil Code, which permitted marriage before the 18, and international conventions. The State party was working with the United Nations Children’s Fund to bring the Civil Code in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A de facto union could be registered under the Civil Code. There was no formal polygamy in Cabo Verde; however, it was not entirely condemned by society. Women were left vulnerable by this practice as they had no legal recognition and could spend their whole life with a man who had a legal union with someone else, and then when he died, they were not protected. Polygamous unions were not recognised in Cabo Verde, but the person could go to court in the case of death of a spouse and request a division of the assets.
There were challenges in access to justice, particularly in rural areas. In general terms, things had improved, particularly waiting times for victims and the range of services available to them.
The climate governance strategy had been developed in a participatory manner, with a specific methodology to involve women through community activities and consultations carried out with women.
Closing Statements
ADÉLSIA DE JUSUS MENDES ALMEIDA, Minister of Family, Inclusion, Social Development and Labour of Cabo Verde and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee Experts for their open spirit during the dialogue. Cabo Verde was looking forward to the recommendations and would make every effort to implement them to ensure the rights of women and girls were fully protected in the country.
NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chairperson, thanked Cabo Verde for the constructive dialogue which had provided the Committee with further information on the situation of women in the country.
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CEDAW26.023E