Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 1964)

Articles 1 to 3 of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s statement, in its report, reaffirming the priority it gives to protecting human rights, including through the establishment of the National Commission for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Committee also notes: (1) the report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, dated 22 August 2022, and submitted to the Human Rights Council, which recalls that the continued hostilities by armed groups are a serious threat to security and peace. They create an environment of terror conducive to violations of human rights and international humanitarian law (A/HRC/51/59, 22 August 2022, para. 91; and (2) The statement of the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights delivered before the Council on 28 March 2024 indicating that the human rights situation continued to be of deep concern and recalling that gender-based discrimination and exclusion from public and political life remained deeply entrenched in society, with the country ranking 188th out of 191 in terms of gender equality. In this regard, the Committee recalls that the objective of the Convention, in particular as concerns equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, cannot be achieved in a general context of such violations. Considering that the situation described above has a grave impact on implementation of the Convention, the Committee urges the Government: (i) to take the necessary measures to promote equality of opportunity and treatment without distinction based on race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin, by amending or abrogating laws which have a discriminatory impact; and (ii) to continue to take measures to create the necessary conditions to restore the rule of law and give effect to the provisions of the Convention.

Article 1(a) and (b). Protection of workers from discrimination. Legislation. The Committee notes with interest the establishment of the National Commission for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Act No. 17.015 of April 2017) and of the National Equality Observatory (Act No. 16.004 of 24 November 2016 and Decree No. 24.046 of 23 February 2024). However, it notes from the information available on its website, that the National Commission for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms has so far only published two reports. Finally, it notes that the Government once again refers to the draft revised Labour Code, indicating that the draft takes the Committee’s previous comments into account. Recalling that in October 2023 the Office provided technical assistance for the elaboration of a draft Labour Code, the Committee requests the Government: (i) to ensure that the new draft Labour Code contains provisions explicitly prohibiting all forms of discrimination based on at least all the grounds listed in the Convention (race, colour, sex, political opinion, religion, national extraction and social origin) and on any other grounds of discrimination that it considers useful to add, in all aspects of employment, including recruitment; and (ii) to consider including provisions guaranteeing victims’ protection against retaliation by providing for appropriate sanctions. Additionally, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on: (i) all progress made towards the adoption of the new Labour Code; (ii) the implementation of Act No. 16.004 of 2016 establishing equality between men and women in the public and private sectors (in particular regarding the quota of 35 per cent of appointed and elected posts for women); and (iii) the activities of the National Commission for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and of the National Equality Observatory (number of meetings, reports drafted, decisions taken or recommendations issued, etc.).

Articles 2 and 3. National policy of equality of opportunity and treatment. In the absence of information on this point in the Government’s report, and taking account both of the difficult situation pertaining in the country and of the context of persistent violence, particularly against women, the Committee again requests the Government to adopt measures contributing to a national policy for the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation (without distinction on the basis of sex, religion, ethnic origin or any of the other grounds set out in the Convention). Please provide information in this regard.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.