Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Togo’s Novissi Programme, Raise Questions on Services for Women in the Savanes Region and the Criminalisation of Prostitution

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the combined eighth to tenth periodic reports of Togo on the State’s efforts to comply with the Convention on the Elimination on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Committee Experts commended Togo on its Novissi programme, a cash transfer programme used during the pandemic which provided higher payouts to women, while raising questions on the services available to women in the Savanes and other rural regions, and the criminalisation of prostitution.

A Committee Expert said the Committee commended the Novissi programme as an excellent use of temporary special measures during the Covid-19 pandemic and encouraged the State party to apply similar measures to achieve substantive equality.  Another Expert positively noted that the programme deliberately provided higher payouts to women than to men, recognising their foundational role in supporting household health, nutrition and childcare. 

One Committee Expert said many women in the Savanes, Kara and Centrale regions were unaware of the mechanisms available or faced obstacles to using them.  Were there plans to extend specialised services, safe shelters and transitional accommodation to all regions, and ensure that the staff of such centres were trained to care for women with disabilities and refugee women? Given there were few refuges, would there be a swift issuing of protection orders, enabling women to remain safely in the home while the men were removed?  Did women in the Savanes region have access to sexual and reproductive health information? 

Another Expert said article 91 of Togo’s Penal Code criminalised women in prostitution, which punished the women, not those who exploited them.  Would Togo amend article 91 to decriminalise women in prostitution, as the Committee had requested?  How many women had been prosecuted under this article?  What measures existed to reduce demand?  Were there exit programmes, with real income alternatives, for women who wanted to leave prostitution? 

Introducing the report, Afo Ousmane Salifou, Ambassador of Togo to Switzerland and Permanent Representative of Togo to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and head of the delegation, said Togo's first priority was to strengthen the legal foundations of equality and protect women against all forms of discrimination and violence. The Constitution of 6 May 2024 reaffirmed equality before the law and the principle of non-discrimination, particularly on the grounds of sex.  Reforms to the Personal and Family Code, the Criminal Code, the Labour Code and the Social Security Code had further strengthened women's rights. 

Responding to questions, the delegation said Togo had holistic centres in the Savanes region which provided care.  The Government had launched a programme for strengthening resilience for women in the Savanes region.  Many women were provided with economic support and access to basic social services.  Another project increased food security and reestablished social services considering the security problems.  The Government had undertaken economic developments which were inclusive, aimed at reducing suffering in the rural communities through development. 

The delegation said article 91 of the Penal Code did not prohibit prostitution.  In Togolese law, prostitution did not constitute a crime, but the new Penal Code did prosecute such crimes, with sentences of up to 50 years in prison and a hefty fine.  These sentences aimed to discourage any person from benefitting from prostitution. The new Code stated that those who worked as prostitutes needed to have health checks to ensure they were not transmitting HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases.  This cost needed to be borne by the pimp, or the person who was prostituting the women.  Women were never criminalised for being prostitutes; it was those who took advantage of the women who were punished. 

In closing remarks, Mr. Salifou thanked the Committee for the rich exchange and constructive dialogue.  Togo would pay significant attention to the Committee’s concluding observations, which would guide future actions in protecting the rights of women and girls. 

In her closing remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation of Togo for the dialogue, which had allowed the Committee to better understand the challenges and difficulties faced in implementing the Convention, as well as progress achieved.

The delegation of Togo was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; the Ministry of Solidarity, Gender, Family and Child Protection; the Commission of Human Rights; the National Commission for Combatting Human Trafficking in Togo; the Ministry of Civil Service, Labour and Social Dialogue; the Ministry of Public Health, Universal Health Coverage and Insurance; the Ministry of National Education; and the Permanent Mission of Togo 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 10 a.m. on Thursday, 15 October, to begin its consideration of the eighth periodic report of the Republic of Angola (CEDAW/C/AGO/8).

Report

The Committee has before it the combined eighth to tenth periodic reports of Togo (CEDAW/C/TGO/8-10).

Presentation of Report

AFO OUSMANE SALIFOU, Ambassador of Togo to Switzerland and Permanent Representative of Togo to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and head of the delegation, said Togo ratified the Convention without reservations in 1983, and ever since had continued its efforts to advance the rights of women and girls.  Togo's first priority was to strengthen the legal foundations of equality and protect women against all forms of discrimination and violence.  The Constitution of 6 May 2024 reaffirmed equality before the law and the principle of non-discrimination, particularly on the grounds of sex.  Reforms to the Personal and Family Code, the Criminal Code, the Labour Code and the Social Security Code had further strengthened women's rights.  The Personal and Family Code reinforced equality between spouses, established the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 for both women and men, and recognised spouses' respective contributions, including domestic work, when dividing property following the dissolution of a marriage.

Labour and social security legislation strengthened maternity protection and the rights of women workers, while addressing discrimination, harassment and workplace violence.  The Criminal Code penalised several forms of gender-based violence, including domestic and sexual violence and sexual harassment.  The 2022 law on sexual harassment and the protection of learners also strengthened safeguards for girls and women in educational and vocational training institutions. 

Furthermore, the 2018 Land and State Property Code enshrined equality in access to land, an essential factor in women's economic empowerment, particularly in rural areas. Beyond legislation, the Government was improving access to justice and support services through justice centres, listening and support centres, integrated services for victims of gender-based violence and toll-free helplines.  In public and political life, electoral reforms and measures promoting women's candidacies had contributed to greater female representation in national and regional institutions. 

In education, measures such as the reduction or elimination of certain school fees, the distribution of school kits, school canteens and scholarships aimed to improve girls' access to education and help them remain in school.  Between 2020 and 2025, school canteen programmes covered 1,390 educational establishments and benefited 229,410 pupils, including 111,795 girls. In public universities, the proportion of female students had increased from around 38 per cent in 2023 to around 40 per cent in 2024.  A minimum quota of 30 per cent was also allocated for female students receiving scholarships to study abroad. 

Women's economic empowerment was another key priority.  Inclusive finance mechanisms, entrepreneurship support programmes and initiatives facilitating access to land, skills and markets helped women generate income, manage productive resources and contribute to national wealth creation. The national strategy for women's entrepreneurship, developed in 2025, sought to strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation and women's economic resilience.  Particular attention was given to rural women, whose contribution to food security and the national economy was essential. According to the World Bank's women, business and the law 2026 report, Togo ranked as the second-best economy in Africa in terms of equality of economic rights between women and men. 

The Government continued to improve maternal and child healthcare through maternity support measures, the WEZOU programme, stronger health services and preventive initiatives. Comprehensive support mechanisms had been established to combat gender-based violence, and the protocol adopted in 2024 sought to improve coordination among the relevant stakeholders.  Nevertheless, the Government recognised the need to strengthen public awareness and ensure that victims could access services and report violence safely.  The security situation in northern Togo, particularly in the Savanes region, had also increased the vulnerability of certain communities.  Displacement, economic insecurity and disruptions to essential services could disproportionately affect women and children.  Through the emergency programme for the Savanes region, the Government continued to integrate protection and resilience measures while taking account of the specific needs of affected women and girls.

Despite these achievements, significant challenges remained, including sociocultural norms and gender stereotypes, which continued to restrict the effective exercise of women's rights, particularly regarding inheritance, access to resources and the prevention of domestic violence.  The Government intended to address these challenges by strengthening the effective implementation of legislation, improving access to justice and enhancing coordination in the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, as well as further integrating gender equality into public policy planning and evaluation, and improving the monitoring of results and strengthening cooperation with local authorities, civil society organizations, traditional chiefs and religious leaders. 

The Togolese Government remained committed to ensuring that the principles and obligations of the Convention translated into tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls.

KWAO OHINI SANVEE, President of the National Human Rights Commission, said the adoption of the new Constitution, the revised Code of Persons and the Family, and amendments to the Criminal Code strengthening protection for violence against women, and the prohibition of discrimination, violence and harassment in the workplace were fundamental watersheds for the State of Togo.  Several mechanisms contributed to ensuring women had access to financing and supported their economic activities.  Legislation recognised that women and men had the same rights when it came to the purchase, use and inheritance of land.  School attendance rates had increased over the past few years and there was virtually parity at the primary level.  Finally, the 2026 law ratifying the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa was an important step forward for the better protection of the rights of women and girls with disabilities.

Despite this progress, discrimination still persisted against women and girls, mainly in the family setting, education, access to economic resources and political participation, among other areas.  In the family context, some discriminatory customary practices were still applied, despite the primacy of the law over custom.  Household poverty, discriminatory socio-cultural norms, domestic burdens, gender-based violence and territorial disparities were all obstacles to girls' access to school, their retention in the education system and the completion of their school career.  Additionally, child marriage and early pregnancy could lead to school interruption or dropout.  The Commission encouraged the Government to continue the constructive dialogue with the Committee and the other treaty bodies. 

Questions by Committee Experts

GENOVEVA TISHEVA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, commended Togo as a country with a high potential of young people and a high potential of Togolese women and girls, who deserved significant resources and investments in the realisation of the rights and empowerment of women.  The new Constitution affirmed the equality of all citizens before the law and the ban of any discrimination on a broad range of grounds, and the Committee also noted the legislative reforms from 2022 of the Penal Code, the Code on Persons and Family, the Labour Code, and the Social Insurance Code which brought about important developments.  However, there was insufficient implementation of the Constitution and adopted legislation and no special anti-discrimination legislation had been adopted. 

How would the State party guarantee the respect of the rule of law, safeguard democracy and ensure the protection of human rights defenders?  When would the State party adopt special anti-discrimination legislation?  When would it ensure the adoption of provisions against polygamy and guarantees for non- discrimination based on sexual orientation and sexual identity.  How would Togo 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?  What was the timeline for the State party to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on individual communications? 

Another Expert noted the need to harmonise all laws with the Constitution and international law to ensure equality between women and men.  For example, despite the law on legal aid and the existence of a programme, it was regretfully not operational yet, and the Committee was concerned that women continued to face stigma, social pressure and fear of reprisals, all of which restricted their access to justice.  What steps would the State party take to raise the profile of the Convention, particularly in rural and remote areas?  When would the legal aid legislation be enforced?  How were education and training on the Convention integrated into the training of judges and prosecutors?  Were there any court decisions invoking the Convention? 

What steps was the State taking to address the socio-cultural barriers, as well as the fear of reprisals, that women may face when seeking justice?  What measures would be taken to guarantee access to justice and remedies for women with disabilities, other than the provision of sign language? What measures were being taken to ensure dignified shelter and access to sexual and reproductive health services for refugee and displaced women and girls in the Savannah region, in accordance with international humanitarian law? 

Another Committee Expert asked if Togo had tried any cases of gender persecution as a crime against humanity in its domestic courts?  Had any cases of universal jurisdiction in gender persecution been tried?  It was hoped that the State would consider the drafting of a new national action plan on women, peace and security.  How were Constitutional guarantees being applied to all female detainees, including female politicians in pretrial detention? Civic space, including youth engagement, was a national strength. 

Togo was emerging as a pioneer in artificial intelligence governance in Africa, leveraging data-driven governance and protecting digital sovereignty.  The State had international recognition during the pandemic for using artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify and deliver emergency cash transfers to the most vulnerable citizens.  The programme deliberately provided higher payouts to women than to men, recognising their foundational role in supporting household health, nutrition and childcare.  Given the expanding artificial intelligence divide, how would Togo close the digital gender gap?

Togo was one of the co-creation hubs for KEMI ChatBot, an artificial intelligence-powered WhatsApp tool designed alongside violence survivors across West Africa.  It provided support to individuals facing technology-facilitated gender-based violence.  How would the State ensure the data protection of women?  How did Togo balance the risk to vulnerable women in terms of data privacy, and the Government’s access to this data? 

Another Expert said the Committee commended the Novissi programme as an excellent use of temporary special measures during the Covid-19 pandemic, and encouraged the State party to apply similar measures to achieve substantive equality.  How would the State party raise areas of temporary special measures and develop a strategy to adopt and implement these measures in all areas of the Convention where women were underrepresented or disadvantaged, with time-bound targets and monitoring mechanisms? 

The Committee was particularly concerned about women’s overrepresentation in the informal sector, high unemployment among women, and their limited property ownership and access to financial services and financing.  What temporary special measures with time-bound targets and benchmarks would the State party take to strengthen women’s economic empowerment, especially for women with disabilities, rural women and women from other marginalised groups?  What measures would be taken to address religious, traditional and cultural practices that hindered women’s economic participation? 

The Committee welcomed the new strategy on literacy and non-formal education (2024–2028).  However, gender disparities in literacy rates persisted, and according to the Committee’s information, only 0.1 per cent of the education budget was allocated to literacy initiatives.  What temporary special measures, including gender-targeted budget allocations, did the State party envision to close the literacy gap? 

The Committee commended the State party for requiring gender parity on candidate lists in its Electoral Code, introducing financial incentives for parties electing women, and reducing application fees for women candidates.  Yet women remained underrepresented in elected offices and decision-making positions.  What additional temporary special measures would be taken to ensure gender parity 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?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Togo had a legal framework which defined and sanctioned discrimination against women. The definition was in line with that provided by the Convention.  The strengthening of the Togolese framework was based on the Constitution, which guaranteed the equality of all citizens before the law.  Togo had adopted legislative texts to strengthen the protection of women and combat discrimination.  Under law, either spouse could notify the authorities if there was a forced marriage.  Customs could only be used if they were respectful of the Constitution.  Sexual relations between spouses needed to be free and consensual under the Criminal Code, and a law contained further provisions on discrimination against women, which stated any discrimination against women was punished with a six-month to two-year imprisonment, with a financial penalty applied. 

A law on land registry, adopted in 2008, ensured equality between men and women when it came to land ownership. 

Another law stated that half of the electoral quota should be reserved to encourage women’s participation in political life and improve their representation in Parliament. Additionally, equal treatment of public officials, in terms of careers and retirement, were enshrined under the law. 

The State had a National Commission to Combat Trafficking in Persons, which had become fully operational in 2022. Additional measures, including hotlines, had been taken to combat trafficking against women and girls, as well as a hotline to combat violence at school.  There was also a strategy to assist migrant women. 

Government action was not just restricted to legislative reforms; it also aimed to bring about social change through awareness raising in communities and building close partnership with religious leaders, whose roles remained key when it came to changing attitudes and customs.  A declaration had been created, which reflected the chieftains’ willingness to abandon harmful practices towards women and girls. 

Togo continued efforts to bring judicial services to citizens, particularly women and those in vulnerable situations. Created in 2018, legal advice services offered mediation services, advice and assisted with daily litigation measures.  Around 24 of these centres were currently operating and an additional four were being launched.  These mechanisms contributed to assisting with dispute mechanisms at the community level. 

Under the new Criminal Code, decisions had been handed down on gender-based violence; however, there were no specific cases on discrimination.  The Convention could not be directly invoked in Togo’s courts.  This was done through the State’s laws which needed to be in step with the Convention.  The administration was currently considering the Optional Protocol on individual communications for ratification. 

Many women in the Savanes, Kara and Centrale regions were unaware of the mechanisms available or faced obstacles to using them.  The Committee was 

particularly concerned about the absence of shelters or transitional accommodation, forcing women to remain with their aggressors or depend on third parties in conditions of risk and exploitation.  Were there plans to extend specialised services, safe shelters and transitional accommodation to all regions, and ensure that the staff of such centres were trained to care for women with disabilities and refugee women?  Given there were few refuges, would there be a swift issuing of protection orders, enabling women to remain safely in the home while the men were removed?  Did women in the Savanes region have access to sexual and reproductive health information? 

What independent procedures were in place to investigate allegations of sexual violence and other ill-treatment committed by public officials?  What reparations could survivors of gender-based violence access, and what was the procedure to obtain them?  Was there any provision for the creation of a unified national data system, with the number of complaints, investigations, prosecutions, convictions, protection measures, reparations and access to services?  When would the next national survey on gender-based violence be conducted?

Another Committee Expert welcomed the creation of the National Commission against Trafficking in Persons, its first national action plan in 2023, and the new cooperation with Gabon and Nigeria.  However, structures did not guarantee results.  Was there a budget line for the National Commission and for the action plan? The Committee had information that no trafficking convictions were reported for two years in a row.  What were the numbers for the last five years on investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sentences?  What had been done about corruption and the complicity of officials?  How many women and girls were identified as victims last year?  Were there shelters for adult women, and not only for children? Did victims receive legal aid, health care, psychosocial support and compensation? 

 Article 91 of the Penal Code criminalised women in prostitution, which punished the women, not those who exploited them.  Would Togo amend article 91 to decriminalise women in prostitution, as the Committee requested?  How many women had been prosecuted under this article?  What measures existed to reduce demand?  Were there exit programmes, with real income alternatives, for women who wanted to leave prostitution?  How was the anti-trafficking plan linked to girls' education, to work for rural women, and to birth registration?  Would Togo ratify International Labour Organization Convention 189 on domestic workers?  Women in prostitution should be seen as rights holders, not as offenders. 

A Committee Expert welcomed Togo’s considerable efforts to promote women’s full political and public participation, including the additional 50 per cent reduction in the cost for women candidates participating in municipal elections, the 24.6 per cent 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. However, the Committee had several concerns about women’s representation in Togo, including that only 0.06 per cent of women served as traditional chiefs, while men held 99.9 per cent of these positions. 

What was the State’s timeline for the adoption of the draft laws establishing quotas in elected and administrative positions?  What measures had been implemented to ensure women had equal access to all spheres of decision making at the highest level, including on private and public sector boards? Could data be provided on the representation of women in key decision-making positions across all sectors? What measures had been taken to strengthen the participation, protection and strategic positioning of women in civil society?  What specific measures had been taken to improve the participation of women and girls in all levels of decision making?  Could the State outline protections implemented for women in politics, journalists, civil society members, and human rights defenders, from all forms of violence, including cyber violence? 

Another Expert said the Committee appreciated that Togo had implemented the Committee’s recommendation to ratify the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons of 1954 and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness of 1961.  What concrete steps had the Government taken to fully incorporate the Conventions into its national legal and policy framework?  Reliable information provided that Togolese women did not have the same legal right to confer nationality to their foreign spouses?  Was this accurate, and if so, what steps was 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?  What concrete steps was the State party taking to eliminate practical and structural barriers that undermined women and girls’ equal access to essential civil registration documents?  

Another Expert said the Committee commended the education partnership pact and the revision of the 2020–2030 education sector plan.  It was also aware of the challenges that the State party faced, including the security crisis in the Sahel.  What measures would the State party take to ensure that refugee and internally displaced girls could access and continue their education?  How would the State party ensure the effective mobilisation of the budget allocated to the education partnership pact? 

What measures would the State party take to remove all barriers to girls’ education, including further alleviating education costs and allowing girls without a birth certificate to enrol? What measures were envisaged to identify and alleviate the causes of gender disparities in school enrolment and completion?  The Committee welcomed 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 continued to cause girls to drop out of education, especially in rural areas and low-income households. Was comprehensive sexuality education mandatory at all levels of education, and what topics did it cover? What steps had 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 applauded the repeal of the 1978 circular which mandated the expulsion of pregnant girls and young mothers from school.  What remedial and re-entry programmes were offered for pregnant girls and young mothers? Would the State party publish region-specific data on the effectiveness of these programmes?  The Committee noted 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.  What measures would be taken to expand on existing efforts to ensure access to education for girls with disabilities, with clear objectives and timelines and region-specific monitoring data?  Could the State party report on its implementation of the inclusive education strategy, including the allocation of sufficient resources and its integration of a gender perspective? 

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Togo had holistic centres in the Savanes region which provided care.  A study on gender-based violence had been carried out in 2010 and the State would try to update this study.  If someone committed harassment in the workplace, the penalty was doubled if they were in a position of authority over the victim.  Togo was a host country, as well as one of origin for victims of trafficking.  The State had been working with partners to combat this scourge.  A programme had been launched with the United Nations Development Programme covering Togo and Gabon, following from an agreement started in 2018.  A protect programme had also been implemented to work with countries on the Gulf of Guinea. The ratification of International Labour Organization Convention 189 was currently underway, with the State holding discussions with employer and trade union partners. 

Togo did not have shelters for victims of gender-based violence, but used family units to allow women to leave a home where they were experiencing violence.  The State believed gender-based violence was a social problem, and did not see any changes happening in the short term, but was trying to highlight awareness.  Religious leaders organised community dialogues and through these dialogues, were able to detect cases early and organise interventions and treatment. One non-governmental organization was working to put a shelter in the Savanes region, which was appreciated by the State. 

If a public official exercised violence against a citizen, they would be punished, and their sanctions would be harsher.  The National Commission against Trafficking in Persons included data in its annual report and the delegation could provide this information to the Committee. 

Article 91 of the Penal Code did not prohibit prostitution.  In Togolese law, prostitution did not constitute a crime, but the new Penal Code did prosecute such crimes, with sentences of up to 50 years in prison and a hefty fine.  These sentences aimed to discourage any person from benefitting from prostitution. The new Code stated that those who worked as prostitutes needed to have health checks to ensure they were not transmitting HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases.  This cost needed to be borne by the pimp, or the person who was prostituting the women.  Women were never criminalised for being prostitutes; it was those who took advantage of the women who were punished. 

The Government had launched a programme for strengthening resilience for women in the Savanes region.  Many women were provided with economic support and access to basic social services.  Another project increased food security and reestablished social services considering the security problems.  The Government had undertaken economic developments which were inclusive, aimed at reducing suffering in the rural communities through development. There had been 1,900 requests for documentation which were met.

The implementation of programmes had helped to increase the participation of Togolese women in United Nations peacekeeping operations from 10 to 24 per cent.  Togolese women had also taken on frontline posts in community operations, including in the presidency of the Economic Community of West African States.  Several universities also had women directors. 

In May 2024, Togo adopted the new Constitution of the fifth republic, which marked important progress in consecrating egality between men and women in the transmission of nationality to their children.  The Constitution set forth that nationality would be conferred if a father and mother was Togolese, without establishing a gender distinction between the two parents. This was a foundation of the prevention of gender discrimination in matters of equality between fathers and mothers in the transmission of nationality, and was a fundamental pillar in preventing nationality discrimination.   

As of 2022, birth certificates were issued free of charge.  Cantonal and village offices aimed to bring services closer to the population and facilitate birth registration.  Specific measures had been taken to remedy the absence of identification documents for those who had not been registered.  Between 2025 and 2026, an operation had been launched with technical and financial parters, allowing many women without identification to regularise their documents. 

In Togo, accessing diplomatic representation needed to be based on skill and merit.  The full implementation of this principle meant considering recruitment, training and promotion which should in no way block the professional career of women.  There were no women ambassadors and none who were in a position to take this on currently, but the State was aware of the situation and was paying close attention to it. 

Togo was focused on ensuring girls could stay in the school system, and in 2022 had repealed a circular which prevented girls from attending school while pregnant.  Sexual and hygiene education was included in educational programmes and girls were provided with education on menstrual hygiene. Provisions had been taken to ensure girls from disadvantaged households could continue their schooling, including cash transfers provided to families.  Girls were encouraged to study sciences, with scholarships and assistance provided in this regard.  The State had implemented provisions to ensure pupils and girls with disabilities could continue their studies.  The State had recently recruited specialised teachers to provide support for students with disabilities in their schooling, and ensured they were appropriately trained. A plan had been put in place for pregnant girls to enable them to continue their schooling. 

Beyond menstrual hygiene information, education covered information on family planning, early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.  The State aimed to ensure that refugee children and those in remote areas could access school.  Compulsory schooling was completed at age 15 in Togo, but support was provided to ensure pupils could go as far as possible in their education.  The State provided support for girls who became pregnant at school.  Between 2024 to 2025, 341 girls registered as pregnant, with 171 continuing their schooling and 81 continuing to the next level. 

A new organic law on the National Commission of Human Rights, adopted in 2021, ensured that the Commission was responsible for the protection of human rights defenders.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert highlighted some positive developments taken by Togo in the area of labour, including a broad range of legislation adopted to combat sexual harassment, the national action plan to combat the worst forms of child labour, and initiatives to strengthen protection mechanisms for women and girls in domestic work.  However, there were several issues, including the lack of an intersectional approach to data collection, sexual harassment in employment and the gender pay gaps.  Women were only entitled to three months of maternity leave and only if they had worked for one year beforehand; the State party was called on to amend this to 18 weeks. Fathers were only entitled to two days of leave when the child was born.  Additionally, unacceptable forms of child labour persisted, particularly in domestic service.

Was there a system for collecting data on the gender pay gap, access to the labour market, and sexual harassment in the workplace, and when would it be available?  Did the State party plan to adopt a comprehensive prohibition of discrimination in employment, including a clear definition and explicit prohibition of sexual harassment, with sanctions and remedies for victims?  What measures were in place to address stereotypes in career choice and to encourage women and girls to enter non-traditional fields and increase their participation in the formal labour market? Did Togo intend to ratify International Labour Organization Conventions nos. 156, 183, 189 and 190?  What measures did the State party foresee to advance gender equality in care responsibilities?

GENOVEVA TISHEVA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said Togo had enacted a national health development plan (2023-2027), which incorporated the reduction of maternal, neonatal and infant mortality and the prevention of early pregnancies. However, early pregnancy and HIV transmission, particularly from mother to child, remained key issues.  What measures had the State party undertaken to include the most vulnerable groups of women in programmes for maternity protection?  What efforts had been made to reduce the high maternal and infant mortality rates? What was being done to combat the higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, among women and girls compared with men and boys?  Since 2007, abortion had been illegal in all circumstances, except in cases of rape, incest and foetal impairment.  When would the State party remove restrictions on and fully decriminalise and legalise access to abortion?

Another Expert said malaria remained one of the top causes of death within the State party.  How was the State promoting the use of antimalaria products?  How was the Government working with other stakeholders, including the private sector, to address the health of women and girls in the State party? 

A Committee Expert said there had been great progress in reducing the rate of female genital mutilation; did adult women who had been subjected to female genital mutilation in childhood receive any special medical care? 

Another Committee Expert commended the 50 per cent increase in minimum guaranteed interprofessional and agricultural wages from January 2023 without gender distinction, among other achievements.  However, the majority of Togolese women working in agriculture, domestic services and the informal economy remained outside safety nets and social buffers. Less than 10 per cent of women owned land within the State party. 

What concrete steps would be taken to review the Social Security Code to ensure women fully enjoyed existing provisions and extend all protection measures to vulnerable women? Had a time-use survey been conducted to facilitate impact tracking of women’s unpaid care work?  How would the State party significantly scale up women’s access to credit, land, technology and markets, particularly for rural women? Were there any clear targets to accelerate social protection and access to finance?  What kind of reforms would take place within the financial sector which would allow women to succeed?  Were independent gender audits on management of the illicit flows proceeds law 2026-001, international development assistance and technical aid funds conducted regularly, with reports published?  What concrete steps was the State party taking to promote women’s and girls’ equal participation in sports?

Another Expert said the climate crisis with droughts and extremely high temperatures had exacerbated food and water scarcity, with increased risks of dehydration, heat stroke and sexual assault, impacting girls’ educational access, child marriage, and loss of homes, livelihoods and land, especially in the Savanas region.  Were there any plans to develop a specific national strategy on women and climate change, with effective representation of women in national climate governance bodies and negotiation processes and with measures and indicators with budgets dedicated to rural and ethnic minority women and girls? How would Togo ensure that women were involved in leadership and decision-making in all social and economic interventions and in efforts at peace building?  What programmes existed for boys and men who had left armed groups? What initiatives were in place for promoting positive masculinity?

How had the legal pluralism of civil and customary law systems affected inheritance and women’s actual access to land in rural communities, and how was this being addressed?  The Committee understood that many women human rights defenders and minors had been detained or faced abuse for acts such as peaceful protests, publishing criticisms online or feeding protestors, including a former Minister of the Armed Forces.  Could the State party advise on the progress of her case and her health condition?

Several prison facilities were in a state of disrepair, and in many prisons, women, girls and young mothers shared the same cells and were often the victims of sexual violence.  How could the State party ensure that women and girls deprived of their liberty had safe conditions adapted to their specific needs, including health, menstrual hygiene and appropriate separation of different categories of women, including between women and men in police facilities? 

What mechanisms existed to ensure the full participation of women and girls with disabilities, including in rural areas? Was there a national strategy on disability, and was it implemented in rural communities? 

Another Expert said that marriage under the age of 18 could be permitted in Togo in certain circumstances. The State party was urged to take strong steps to eliminate the law allowing early marriage in the country. What concrete steps was the State party taking to repeal all discriminatory provisions in the State party relating to family law?  What was Togo doing to ensure progressive laws on family life were fully enforced and felt by women in their daily lives?  How was Togo ensuring that women in cohabiting relationships were protected, and that cohabitation could be legally recognised?   

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said there had been a broadening in scope of universal health coverage, and mutual societies extended cover to all sectors of the population.  The Labour Code stipulated equal pay for all workers, whether they were men or women.  The Labour Code prohibited violence and sexual harassment at the workplace. There was a 14-week maternity leave period for women.  The State took note of the Committee’s recommendation to extend maternity leave. Public servants had three days of paternity leave allowed.  A register existed which outlined the types of jobs which were dangerous and not permitted to be undertaken by children.  It was possible that discrepancies in salaries occurred in some companies, but until this was brought forward to the authorities, the State assumed wages were the same.  Togo did not want corporations to pay men and women different salaries. 

Togo had strengthened the legislative framework and programming in relation to healthcare.  Gender equality and human rights were enshrined in the reproductive health law.  The Government was continuing efforts to improve the health of the population. Since 2016, there had been a decrease in the number of people who did not have access to health care.  Community officers played a key role in ensuring there was access to preventive care and treatment, particularly in rural areas. 

Care was subsidised for some key treatments, including obstetric fistula operations and the provision of antiretroviral drugs.  A programme on maternal and child health, operational since 2021, ensured pregnant women had better access to health services.  More than 630,000 women had benefitted from this service, with over 300,000 assisted births and 3.2 million treatments provided.  This illustrated the importance the Government placed when providing care for pregnant women and new mothers.

The Government paid particular attention to prevention and to stopping stigmatisation when it came to treating HIV.  The Human Rights Observatory followed up on cases of stigmatisation and abuse and helped to provide care.  At the community level, there were oversight units under the guidance of the traditional leaders, as a means of breaking taboos and doing away with stereotypes. 

Community officers urged local people to follow medical guidelines, including in relation to malaria.  Togo had virtually eliminated the practice of female genital mutilation.  The majority of women who had undergone this practice suffered from obstetric fistula, and when they came to health centres, they received care that was free of charge. 

The Togolese Government believed economic empowerment for women was an essential lever for reducing equalities. The State had employed mechanisms to increase women’s access to credit, including through the National Fund for Inclusive Finance, which had allowed for microcredits to be distributed to more than two million beneficiaries.  Togo continued to deploy universal medical insurance to expand coverage and reduce disparity.  The Government was aware that women’s representation required a fight against discriminatory practices.  The social security sector was recently modified to expand daily maternity coverage.

The State had a women’s entrepreneurial initiative which was adopted in 2025, and included measures to support women’s cooperatives.  In the new Code of the Family, there was a provision which allowed for the recognition of the non-renumerated work of women.  Law 2026-001 targeted anti-money laundering and there were specific cases which had been tried under this law. 

Togo had appointed 177 community workers tasked with training individuals on positive masculinity.  The Government was aware of obstacles facing women’s access to land and infrastructure; at least 40 per cent of land in rural areas was reserved for women agriculturists.  An economic empowerment initiative for rural women had been implemented since 2022, enabling women to train and have access to material support in order to improve their revenue generating activities. This project would be evaluated to determine what worked and what did not. 

The management of any judicial proceedings was conducted with the full review of the rights of women. Women were held separately in detention from men.  Prison staff were female in places of detention for women.  Regarding the case referred to by the Expert, proceedings were underway, so it was not appropriate for comment, but the rights of men and women were being respected. 

There was educational material relating to women and girls with disabilities.  Around 200 girls in the primary sector had received support relating to their vision, including via the provision of braille. 

Togo considered combatting early marriage as a key consideration.  Legislation had developed over time to provide better protection of girls.  The Family Code specifically prohibited marriage under the age of 18.  Any marriage from the age of 16 had to be considered as an absolute exception to the rule, and did not constitute precedence. Having the exception meant the State had to be extra vigilant.  Marriage was never authorised below the age of 16.  The State aimed to reduce the number of early marriages and ensure each girl had the opportunity to continue her education.  The Family Code had defined the applicable marriage regime, with the relevant article recognising monogamy and polygamy. 

Under the new Family Code, women could inherit from their parents.  In cases of divorce and death, real estate could be inherited from a woman by her husband.  The time period of 300 days for a woman to remarry no longer applied.  The exemption of marrying before 16 was not currently repealed.  However, it was very rare for this to occur.  Togo was aware of the Committee’s recommendations and would ensure their obligations were fulfilled.  Currently a man could take a second wife if the woman was infertile, but the same did not apply to women if their husband was infertile. 

Closing Statements

AFO OUSMANE SALIFOU, Ambassador of Togo to Switzerland and Permanent Representative of Togo to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the rich exchange and constructive dialogue.  Togo would pay significant attention to the Committee’s concluding observations, which would guide future actions in protecting the rights of women and girls. Togo remained determined to promote equality between men and women and to strengthen the protection of women and girls. 

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation of Togo for the dialogue.  The State party was encouraged to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention.  The dialogue had allowed the Committee to better understand the challenges and difficulties faced in implementing the Convention, as well as progress achieved. 

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CEDAW26.021E