Gender Equality in Chad

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Chad
flag_Chad.png
Flag of Chad
Population (in Mil.) 11.53
Gross Domestic Product (In USD Billions - WB) 10.58
Sex Ratio (m/f) 0.92
Life Expectancy Ratio (f/m) 1.053
Fertility Rate 5.05
Income Ratio (f/m) 0.7
Literacy Ratio (f/m) 0.48
Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (f/m) 0.14
Women in Parliament (in %) 6.5
INDICES
Human Development Index 183/169
Social Institutions and Gender Index 80/86
Gender Inequality Index - /138
Gender Equity Index 150/157
Women’s Economic Opportunity Index 111/113
Global Gender Gap Index 133/134
More information on variables

Contents

Social Institutions

The country of Chad became independent from French rule in 1960. Following independence, Chad endured three decades of civil warfare until 1990. Since 1998, there has been ongoing instability and conflict despite several peace agreements between the government and rebel groups.[1] The population in Chad is characterised by a distinct division between ethnic groups who inhabit the north and those who live in the south. The north is home to the Arab, Peul and Hausa ethnic groups, who are Muslims representing half the population. In the south, the dominant groups include Animists, who make up 39 % of the population, and Christians, who make up 11 %.[2] The World Bank classifies Chad as a low income country.[3] The status of women in Chad has been significantly affected by decades of conflict, leaving women vulnerable to serious levels of violence and poverty. Furthermore, the position of women is also undermined by discriminatory practices that entrench women’s unequal status in the home and public life. A key challenge for achieving gender equality in Chad is the persistence of attitudes that accept such discriminatory practices.

The constitution in Chad guarantees gender equality. Chad ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1990.[4]

The World Economic Forum categorises Chad as a low income country. In 2011, the Human Development Index for Chad was 0.328, placing Chad at 183 out of 187 countries with data.[5] The Gender-related Development Index for Chad is 0.735, placing Chad at 145 out of 146 countries with data.[6] The World Economic Forum ranked Chad at 134 out of 135 countries in its Global Gender Gap Report. On the Index, Chad received a score of 0.5334, where 0 represents inequality and 1 represents equality.[7]

Discriminatory Family Code

The Civil Code of Chad sets the minimum age of marriage at 15 for girls and 18 for boys.[8] However, there is a conflict between the Civil Code, the Penal Code and customary laws on the minimum age of marriage. Article 277 of the Penal Code stipulates that “the consummation of a customary marriage before a girl has reached the age of 13 is similar to rape and shall be punished as such.” Thus the Penal Code permits customary marriages at earlier ages, even when girls have not reached the age of 13, under the condition that it is not consummated.[9] It should be noted that the government is currently considering a draft code on the person and family which sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 for boys and 17 for girls.[10] The Centre for Reproductive Rights reports that most marriages in Chad are customary and thus do not adhere to the minimum age set out in the Civil Code.[11] Based on 2004 data, the United Nations reports that 45 % of 15-19 year olds were married, divorced or widowed.[12]This represents a small decline in the practice since 1997 when UNICEF reported that 47 % of 15-19 year olds were married, divorced or widowed.[13] Adolescent pregnancy is also common in Chad, with 193 births per 1000 women aged 15-19.[14] Forced marriage is also reported to be a problem in Chad. In 2005, the United Nations Special Human Rights Expert on Chad highlighted that 30 % of women reported being forced to marry against their will. [15] The law in Chad positions polygamy as the assumed marital preference by requiring spouses to opt out of polygamous marriage. If the couple opts out of polygamy and the husband breaches this decision, the marriage may be dissolved at the wife’s request.[16]

A 2004 Demographic Health Survey found that 29 % of married women were in polygamous marriages. The survey found that the incidence of polygamous marriages was similar to 1996, indicating no change in the practice of polygamous marriages between 1996 and 2004.[17]

There is a lack of clarity on women’s status with respect to parental authority, however the government reported in 2011 that it was considering a draft code which will raise the status and role of women in terms of authority over the family by stressing that “the married couple assume together the same responsibilities during the marriage and in family relations.”[18] This implies that current law does not provide women with equal rights with respect to parental authority during marriage. With respect to divorce, the court must pronounce a divorce, which may be either fault-based or through mutual consent. If the divorce is pronounced as the husband’s fault, the wife obtains custody of the children and is entitled to alimony payments.[19] However, the Centre for Reproductive Rights reports that despite these legal protections, women are often vulnerable after divorce as rights are not exercised or guaranteed in practice due to the lower social status of women.[20]

Women in Chad face discrimination in the area of inheritance rights, particularly as succession is primarily governed by customary and Sharia law. Under customary law, women do not inherit from deceased husbands at all. Under Sharia law, a widow will only inherit one quarter of the property. Girls generally inherit only one half of the share inherited by boys.[21]

Restricted Physical Integrity

According to the US Department of State, rape is prohibited by law, punishable by hard labour. There is no law prohibiting marital rape.[22]There is no specific law prohibiting domestic violence against women, however assault and battery is prohibited under the Penal Code. There is no law that prohibits sexual harassment.[23]

There has been concern about the level of gender-based violence in Chad, particularly in internally displaced persons sites, refugee camps and surrounding villages.[24] For instance, Human Rights Watch has documented numerous instances of gender-based violence within camps for refugees and displaced persons, with women complaining of physical abuse by male residents of the camps, including male family members.[25]

According to a recent survey by UNFPA, women continue to suffer from numerous forms of gender‐based violence. The survey found that 62 % of women suffer from psychological violence, 27 % from physical violence, and 19 % from sexual violence.[26] A key problem in Chad is the under-reporting of gender-based violence and the culture of impunity. The US Department of State reports that although police often arrested and detained perpetrators, rape cases were not usually investigated and in most cases suspects were released.[27] With respect to domestic violence, socio-cultural norms that place value on the authority of husbands also prevent women from reporting domestic violence.[28]

Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been prohibited in Chad since 2002 and the government has embarked on a campaign to eradicate the practice.[29]The prevalence of FGM varies depending on ethnic group, region, religion, education and standard of living.[30] Girls commonly undergo FGM between the ages of 5 and 14.[31] Based on 2004 data, the World Health Organisation estimates that 45 % of women aged 15-49 in Chad had undergone FGM.[32] UNICEF reports, based on the same 2004 survey, that 21 % of women aged 15 to 49 reported having at least one daughter who had undergone FGM.[33] This suggests that the acceptance of the practice may be declining down generations.

Having control over the timing and spacing of children is an important aspect of women’s physical integrity. In Chad, abortion is treated as a criminal act. It is allowed only in a very limited number of cases, primarily for therapeutic reasons to save the woman’s life or to prevent foetal impairment.[34] The Penal Code punishes the practice of abortion harshly.[35] The use of contraceptives in Chad is very low with only 3 % of married women using contraceptives in 2004. The same survey found that 21 of women had an unmet need for family planning. A challenge to increasing women’s reproductive choice in Chad is resistance towards family planning. The 2004 survey found that 41 % of women believe that it is unacceptable to have messages about family planning on the radio or television.[36]

Son Bias

Gender disaggregated data on rates of infant mortality and early childhood nutrition are not available for Chad. According to UNICEF’s data, child labour is slightly more common amongst boys than girls, with 51 % of 5-14 year old girls engaged in child labour, compared to 54 % of boys. However, there is a large gap between the primary school enrolment rates of boys and girls, indicating the preferential treatment of sons in access to education. According to UNICEF, based on 2008 data, 72 % of boys are enrolled in primary school, compared to 50 % of girls.[37] The male/female sex ratio for the total population in 2012 is 0.93.[38] There is no evidence to suggest that Chad is a country of concern in relation to missing women.

Restricted Resources and Entitlements

Although the law on land ownership does not explicitly discriminate against women, discriminatory practices in relation to inheritance pose significant barriers to women’s land ownership. In 2011, the government reported that social and cultural norms prevent women from accessing land and women are further disadvantaged due to their poor economic status.[39]

With respect to property other than land, the law does not discriminate against women, but discriminatory inheritance practices disadvantage women. However, the Centre for Reproductive Rights reports that it is easier for women to acquire property in cities, compared to rural areas, depending on their financial capacity.[40]

With respect to access to credit, the Centre for Reproductive Rights reports that there are no specific laws that govern women’s access to credit. However, the social and economic position of women places barriers to obtaining bank loans. As women do not generally own land or property they are unable to offer collateral for loan applications.[41]

Restricted Civil Liberties

In principle, women have freedom of movement, but in some regions they must be accompanied by a man even for everyday tasks such as shopping. If a woman’s husband is away, she will ask one of her sons to accompany her.

Women’s freedom of movement in Chad is also infringed by the threat of violence, including sexual violence. The US Department of State reported in 2009 that women were commonly subjected to sexual violence from state actors in International Displaced Persons sites and refugee camps. Further, in some areas there are restrictions on whether women and girls can enter sites where an initiation ceremony is to take place. Under customary law, a violation of this restriction is punishable by death.[42] In some parts of the country, there have been reports that women behaving “contrary to Islam” may have been constrained in specific quarters inside Koranic schools.[43]

Although the constitution provides for freedom of press and freedom association, the US Department of State reports that both these rights are not respected by the government.[44] There is no data on whether the infringement of these rights has a particular impact on women. The participation of women in public life in Chad is very low, leading the United Nations Human Rights Committee to recommend that the government makes further efforts in this area.[45] According to the World Economic Forum in 2010, women hold only 5 % of parliamentary positions and 7 % of ministerial positions.[46] Women in Chad are also restricted in their right to employment. The law in Chad restricts the number of hours women can work and also excludes them from several occupations.[47] However, women do have a right to paid maternity leave of 14 weeks, to be paid at 50 % of wages.[48]

References

  1. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (2010) The World Fact Book: Chad, available at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cd.html, accessed 21 October 2010.
  2. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (2010) The World Fact Book: Chad, available at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cd.html, accessed 21 October 2010.
  3. ↑ World Bank (n.d.)
  4. ↑ Article 14, Constitution of the Republic of Chad
  5. ↑ United Nations Development Programme (2011) Human Development Report 2011, available at http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Complete.pdf, accessed 29 February 2012.p.130
  6. ↑ United Nations Development Programme (2011) Human Development Report 2011, available at http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Complete.pdf, accessed 29 February 2012.p.142
  7. ↑ World Economic Forum (2010) Global Gender Gap Report 2010, Available at http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gendergap/report2010.pdf, accessed 20 October 2010.p.11
  8. ↑ United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2009) Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Combined initial and second and third periodic reports under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant,
  9. ↑ Centre for Reproductive Rights (2003) Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives: Chad, available at http://crr.civicactions.net/sites/default/files/documents/chad.pdf, accessed 31 October 2010. p.106
  10. ↑ United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (2007a) Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 44 of the Convention, Concluding Observations: Chad, CRC/C/TCD/CO/2, Geneva. p.6
  11. ↑ Centre for Reproductive Rights (2003) Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives: Chad, available at http://crr.civicactions.net/sites/default/files/documents/chad.pdf, accessed 31 October 2010. p.106
  12. ↑ United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2008) World Marriage Data 2008, available at http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/WMD2008/Main.html, accessed 10 October 2010.
  13. ↑ UNICEF (2005a) Early Marriage: A Harmful Traditional Practice, available at http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Early_Marriage_12.lo.pdf, accessed 29 October 2010.p.36
  14. ↑ World Economic Forum (2010) Global Gender Gap Report 2010, Available at http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gendergap/report2010.pdf, accessed 20 October 2010.p.100
  15. ↑ United Nations Economic and Social Council (2005) p.13
  16. ↑ Centre for Reproductive Rights (2003) Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives: Chad, available at http://crr.civicactions.net/sites/default/files/documents/chad.pdf, accessed 31 October 2010. p.103
  17. ↑ Demographic Health Survey (2005) Chad: Standard DHS, 2004 – online data, available at http://www.statcompiler.com/index.cfm, accessed 31 October 2010.
  18. ↑ Committee On The Elimination Of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) (2011) Consideration Of Reports Submitted By States Parties Under Article 18 Of The Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women: Combined Initial To Fourthp.71
  19. ↑ Centre for Reproductive Rights (2003) Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives: Chad, available at http://crr.civicactions.net/sites/default/files/documents/chad.pdf, accessed 31 October 2010. p.103
  20. ↑ Centre for Reproductive Rights (2003) Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives: Chad, available at http://crr.civicactions.net/sites/default/files/documents/chad.pdf, accessed 31 October 2010. p.103
  21. ↑ United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (2007b) Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 44 of the Convention, Second periodic reports of States Parties due in 1997: Chad, CRC/C/TCD/2, Geneva.p.19
  22. ↑ US Department of State (2010) Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Chad, available at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135945.htm, accessed 30 October 2010
  23. ↑ United Nations Economic and Social Council (2003) Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective, Violence Against Women, Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamp.37
  24. ↑ United Nations General Assembly (2009b) Human Rights Council, Working Group on Universal Periodic Review, Compilation Prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, In Accordance with Paragraph 15(b) of the Annex to Human Rights Councilp.7
  25. ↑ United Nations General Assembly (2009c) Human Rights Council, Working Group on Universal Periodic Review, Summary Prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, In Accordance with Paragraph 15(c) of the Annex to Human Rights Council Resp.5
  26. ↑ UNFPA (2010) Chad: Consolidated Humanitarian Appeals Process 2010, available at http://www.unfpa.org/emergencies/appeals/2010/docs/chad_2010.pdf, accessed 31 October 2010.
  27. ↑ US Department of State (2010) Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Chad, available at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135945.htm, accessed 30 October 2010.
  28. ↑ US Department of State (2010) Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Chad, available at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135945.htm, accessed 30 October 2010.
  29. ↑ United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (2007a) Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 44 of the Convention, Concluding Observations: Chad, CRC/C/TCD/CO/2, Geneva. p.13
  30. ↑ UNICEF (2005b) Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Statistical Exploration, available at http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/FGM-C_final_10_October.pdf, accessed 31 October 2010
  31. ↑ United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (2007b) Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 44 of the Convention, Second periodic reports of States Parties due in 1997: Chad, CRC/C/TCD/2, Geneva.p.37
  32. ↑ World Health Organisation (n.d.) Female genital mutilation and other harmful practices: Prevalence of FGM, available at http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/prevalence/en/index.html, accessed 31 October 2010
  33. ↑ UNICEF (2009) State Of The World’s Children – Online Data, Available At http://www.unicef.org/sowc09/statistics/statistics.php, accessed 22 october 2010
  34. ↑ United Nations Population Division (2007) World Abortion Policies 2007, Available at http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/2007_Abortion_Policies_Chart/2007_WallChart.pdf, accessed 13 October 2010.
  35. ↑ Centre for Reproductive Rights (2003) Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives: Chad, available at http://crr.civicactions.net/sites/default/files/documents/chad.pdf, accessed 31 October 2010. p.100
  36. ↑ Demographic Health Survey (2005) Chad: Standard DHS, 2004 – online data, available at http://www.statcompiler.com/index.cfm, accessed 31 October 2010.
  37. ↑ UNICEF (2009) State Of The World’s Children – Online Data, Available At http://www.unicef.org/sowc09/statistics/statistics.php, accessed 22 October 2010
  38. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (2012) The World Fact Book: Sex Ratio, available at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2018.html, accessed 29 February 2012
  39. ↑ Committee On The Elimination Of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) (2011) Consideration Of Reports Submitted By States Parties Under Article 18 Of The Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women: Combined Initial To Fourthp.64
  40. ↑ Centre For Reproductive Rights (2003) Laws And Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives: Chad, Available At Http://Crr.Civicactions.Net/Sites/Default/Files/Documents/Chad.Pdf, Accessed 31 October 2010. P. 103
  41. ↑ Centre For Reproductive Rights (2003) Laws And Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives: Chad, Available At Http://Crr.Civicactions.Net/Sites/Default/Files/Documents/Chad.Pdf, Accessed 31 October 2010. P.104
  42. ↑ US Department Of State (2010) Country Reports On Human Rights Practices: Chad, Available At Http://Www.State.Gov/G/Drl/Rls/Hrrpt/2009/Af/135945.Htm, Accessed 30 October 2010.
  43. ↑ United Nations General Assembly (2009b) Human Rights Council, Working Group on Universal Periodic Review, Compilation Prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, In Accordance with Paragraph 15(b) of the Annex to Human Rights Council p.8
  44. ↑ US Department of State (2010) Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Chad, available at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135945.htm, accessed 30 October 2010.
  45. ↑ United Nations Human Rights Committee (2009) Consideration of Reports Submitted by State Parties Under Article 40 of the Covenant, Concluding Observations of the Human Right Committee Chad, CCPR/C/TCD/CO/1, Geneva.
  46. ↑ World Economic Forum (2010) Global Gender Gap Report 2010, Available at http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gendergap/report2010.pdf, accessed 20 October 2010.p.100
  47. ↑ United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2009) Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Combined initial and second and third periodic reports under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant, p.9
  48. ↑ World Economic Forum (2010) Global Gender Gap Report 2010, Available at http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gendergap/report2010.pdf, accessed 20 October 2010.p.100


Africa for Women's Rights Campaign

Key Facts:

Women’s rights protection instruments ratified by Chad:
Africa4womensrights.png

The Campaign

On 8 March 2009 the "Africa for Women's Rights" Campaign was launched at the initiative of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in collaboration with fove non-governmental regional organisations: the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies(ACDHRS), Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) and Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA). These organisations make up the Steering Committee responsible for the coordination of the Campaign.

The Campaign aims to put an end to discrimination and violence against women in Africa, calling on states to ratify international and regional instruments protecting women's rights, to repeal all discriminatory laws, to adopt laws protecting the rights of women and to take all necessary measures to wensure their effective implementation.

Country Focus: Chad

Although Chad ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1995 it has not ratified either the Optional Protocol to CEDAW or the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol).

The Coalition of the Campaign is particularly concerned by: the persistence of discriminatory legislation; discrimination within the family; violence against women ; violations of women’s inheritance rights; and limited access of women to education, employment, decision-making positions, health and justice.

Read more

Sources


The Women, Business and the Law

Where are laws equal for men and women?  

The Women, Business and the Law report presents indicators based on laws and regulations affecting women's prospects as entrepreneurs and employees. Several of these indicators draw on the Gender Law Library, a collection of over 2,000 legal provisions impacting women's economic status. This report does not seek to judge or rank countries, but to provide information to inform discussions about women’s economic rights. Women, Business and the Law provides data covering 6 areas: accessing institutions,using property, getting a job, providing incentives to work, building credit, and going to court. Read more about the methodology.

For detailed information on Chad, please visit the Women, Business and
the Law Chad page.

Sources


Progress Assessment of MDG 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

Millennium Development Goal #3 is divided into three sub-categories, each of them focusing on different areas: education, employment wage and political power.

Ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education

The ratios of girls to boys in primary education evolved from 0.44 in 1998 to 0.7 in 2009 [1]. Official Chadian projections deem favorable the prospect of gender parity at the the primary level school enrollment, while considering it for the secondary and tertiary levels, unlikely [2]

Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector

Women represent less than 20% of non-agricultural paid workers. UNDP/Chad estimates that the share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector will continue to be disappointing if no serious government initiatives were taken before 2015 [3].

Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament

10.5 of the national parliament seats were held by women in 2007 [4]. A conflicting estimate by UNDP Chad put this percentage at 6 for the national Parliament, while women detained 16% of ministerial portfolios[5].

References

  1. ↑ PNUD. Tchad.Le PNUD au Tchad
  2. ↑ PNUD. Tchad.OMD 3: Promouvoir l'égalité des sexes et l'autonomisation des femmes
  3. ↑ PNUD. Tchad.OMD 3: Promouvoir l'égalité des sexes et l'autonomisation des femmes
  4. ↑ MDG Track Monitor. Chad
  5. ↑ PNUD. Tchad.OMD 3: Promouvoir l'égalité des sexes et l'autonomisation des femmes
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