Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports
Central African Republic
Minimal Advancement – Efforts Made but Continued Practice that Delayed Advancement
In 2022, the Central African Republic made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government passed and ratified a Trafficking in Persons Law, which creates a prosecutorial framework specifically for trafficking offenses, and establishes broad protections and services for trafficking victims, regardless of their immigration status. In addition, the government issued a circular to help prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. The government also established a National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Children, which includes a specific focus on preventing children from being recruited and used in conflict. However, despite new initiatives to address child labor, the Central African Republic is assessed as having made only minimal advancement because it continued to implement practices that delay advancement to eliminate child labor. Government security forces used children in support roles at isolated checkpoints during the reporting period in violation of national law. The government also coordinated with an armed group that recruited and used children in armed conflict, and some children accused of aiding armed groups were detained, although the government eventually released them in December. Children in the Central African Republic are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use in armed conflict, and forced labor in diamond mining. Children also engage in child labor in agriculture and domestic work. The government did not publish complete data on its civil and criminal child labor law enforcement efforts in 2022, and enforcement agencies are understaffed and underfunded. Lastly, the Central African Republic lacks both a coordinating body and policies that address all relevant forms of child labor.
Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in the Central African Republic. Data on some of these indicators are not available from the sources used in this report.
| Children | Age | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Working (% and population) | 5 to 14 | 30.8 (Unavailable) |
| Attending School (%) | 5 to 14 | 68.1 |
| Combining Work and School (%) | 7 to 14 | 39.7 |
| Primary Completion Rate (%) | 54.7 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2017, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2023. (1)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 (MICS 6), 2018–2019. (2)
Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.
| Sector/Industry | Activity |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Working in agriculture, including handling fertilizers and pesticide† (3,4) |
| Working in forestry, including carrying tools (5) | |
| Fishing (3,4) | |
| Industry | Diamond and gold mining,† quarrying† (3-7) |
| Working in sawmills,† including sharpening sawblades (5) | |
| Construction (5) | |
| Services | Domestic work (3,8) |
| Street work, including vending, portage, loading and unloading vehicles (3-7,9) | |
| Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ | Recruitment of children by state security forces for use in armed conflict as combatants and in support roles, and by non-state armed groups for use in armed conflict, including as combatants, cooks, porters, informants, domestic workers, and for sexual exploitation (3,4,10-12) |
| Forced labor in domestic work, agriculture, vending, and mining, including in artisanal diamond and gold mines (3,4,10) | |
| Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as the result of trafficking (3-6,10) |
† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.
Children in the Central African Republic (CAR) are subjected to recruitment and use by state and non-state armed groups. (4,11,12) In 2019, the government and 14 armed groups signed the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR), which called for the immediate cessation of recruitment of child soldiers by all parties involved in the conflict. (13,14) However, an attempt by six of those armed groups to overthrow the government following the December 2020 elections stalled implementation of the APPR. (3,5,8,9,15) During the reporting period, anti-Balaka-affiliated armed groups and ex-Séléka factions—including Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation; Popular Front for the Central African Renaissance; Union of Patriots for Change; and the Lord’s Resistance Army—recruited and used children as combatants, informants, messengers, cooks, and porters. (4,10,12) The United Nations verified a total of 134 children were recruited and used during the reporting period by all parties in the conflict, including the pro-government Kremlin-backed Wagner Group forces, the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), and several other armed groups. While these other armed groups committed a majority of the verified violations, government and pro-government forces were found to be responsible for 46 violations, including using children to cook, operate checkpoints, and run errands. (4,5,12)
Armed groups and criminal elements, including some pastoralist groups, subjected children to forced domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation. (9,10,16) In some instances, relatives or family friends exploited children to generate additional income. (3,9) Girls may be trafficked into forced domestic work. In maisons de joie, girls as young as age 13 are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. Maisons de joie are typically private residences at which alcohol and food are served to middle and upper-class customers. (3,6,10) Furthermore, children in rural areas are forced to work in diamond and gold mines, often for long hours and without protective equipment. Children working in mines are sometimes exploited by armed groups and are often exposed to harmful substances, including hazardous chemicals such as silver nitrate and mercury, and may suffer from injuries and waterborne diseases. (3-5,8,10)
Fewer than 60 percent of children in the Central African Republic complete their primary school education, and only 6 percent graduate from secondary school. (17) Violence and insecurity exacerbate barriers to education access, particularly for girls. (3,11,18,19) Although state security forces have extended their presence through most of the national territory since 2021, schooling is disrupted and schools often closed outside the capital by frequent clashes between CAR’s warring parties. (4,5) Other barriers to education include displacement due to conflict, and the occupation of some school buildings by armed groups, including the Kremlin-backed Wagner forces. (4,12) Children also continue to experience difficulties accessing education due to school fees, shortages of basic infrastructure, an absence of teachers, security concerns, and destruction or looting of school materials and buildings by armed groups. (4,10,11,20,21) Due to insecurity, conflict, and limited resources, the government has failed to fully implement a provision of the 2020 Child Protection Code (CPE) to provide free birth registration for all children, and many municipal governments continue to levy fees on birth registration and other vital records. (4,22) Moreover, reporting suggests that members of CAR's minority Muslim population and people with names perceived to be Muslim faced discrimination and higher fees when trying to obtain new or replacement identification documents, leaving Muslim children more likely to be undocumented and unable to enroll in school. (4,5) Nevertheless, the Ministry of Education has attempted to improve access to education by waiving school entrance exam fees for children affected by conflict, and expanding programs to provide birth registration, as identification is required for school enrollment. (4,23)
The Central African Republic has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).
| Convention | Ratification |
| ILO C. 138, Minimum Age | ✓ |
| ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor | ✓ |
| UN CRC | ✓ |
| UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict | ✓ |
| UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography | ✓ |
| Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons | ✓ |
The government's laws and regulations are in line with relevant international standards (Table 4).
| Standard | Meets International Standards | Age | Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age for Work | Yes | 16 | Articles 389–394 of the Labor Code; Article 61 of the Child Protection Code (22,24) |
| Minimum Age for Hazardous Work | Yes | 18 | Article 263 of the Labor Code; Articles 63–66 of the Child Protection Code (22,24) |
| Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children | Yes | Article 261 of the Labor Code; Article 190 of the Mining Code; Order on Hazardous Child Labor (24-26) | |
| Prohibition of Forced Labor | Yes | Articles 7 and 393 of the Labor Code; Articles 63 and 173 of the Child Protection Code (22,24) | |
| Prohibition of Child Trafficking | Yes | Article 151 of the Penal Code, Articles 3, 5–10, 15, and 44 of Law on Combatting Human Trafficking (27,28) | |
| Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children | Yes | Articles 262, 263, and 393 of the Labor Code; Articles 90–92 and 111 of the Penal Code; Articles 63 and 67 of the Child Protection Code (22,24,27) | |
| Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities | Yes | Articles 262, 263, and 393 of the Labor Code; Articles 63 and 173 of the Child Protection Code (22,24) | |
| Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment | Yes | 18 | Decree N° 85.432, Declaration to the UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict (29) |
| Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military | Yes* | Articles 262 and 393 of the Labor Code; Article 75 of the Child Protection Code (22,24) | |
| Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups | Yes | Articles 262 and 393 of the Labor Code; Articles 75 and 179 of the Child Protection Code (22,24) | |
| Compulsory Education Age | Yes | 16 | Article 9 of the Constitution; Articles 37 and 49 of the Child Protection Code (22,30) |
| Free Public Education | Yes | Article 9 of the Constitution; Articles 49 and 54 of the Child Protection Code (22,30) |
* Country has no conscription (5)
In September 2022, the President ratified a Trafficking in Persons Law, which was passed by the National Assembly in August of the same year. The law provides a prosecutorial framework with punitive action for violations of the law by individuals and entities, broad protections for trafficking victims to ensure they are not prosecuted themselves, regardless of their immigration status, and additional protections and services for child survivors. (4,28,31,32) In an effort to eliminate the use of children in support roles by armed groups, the Ministry of Defense issued a circular banning children from military facilities, and warning officers of sanctions for violations. (5,31,33,34)
The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws.
| Organization/Agency | Role & Activities |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Labor (MOL) | Monitors and enforces laws related to child labor through its General Directorate of Labor and Social Welfare, and the seven regional labor directorates. (3,24) |
| Ministry of Justice (MOJ) | Oversees Juvenile Court, established under the 2020 Child Protection Code (CPE) to field all cases involving the health, safety, morals, and education of children. Maintains sole jurisdiction over criminal cases involving juvenile plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, and victims of crime, including former child soldiers. (22) Oversees a special police unit for children, which is responsible for monitoring children's safety and welfare in large cities, and industrial or mining areas. (22,30) This unit is also responsible for recording criminal offenses against children. The judges are responsible for working with the police, the Child Protection Unit, the Children's Prosecutor, and social workers to refer child victims and monitor compliance with diversion measures. (22,24) |
| Mixed Unit for Rapid Intervention and Repression of Sexual Violence to Women and Children (UMIRR) | Aims to put a stop to sexual violence against women and children, including child trafficking. Interagency law enforcement unit that includes representatives from the Ministry of Social Affairs; MOJ; the Ministry of Public Security; law enforcement (gendarmerie and police); and social workers. (3,4,16,23,35) Operates a 24-hour hotline to report cases of violence against women, and provides social services to survivors of human trafficking. (3,4,35) Operates in Bangui, the capital city, and Bouar, a town in the northwestern part of the country. (31,35) Falls under the joint authority of MOJ and the Ministry of Public Security, and is part of a state organization supporting investigations into conflict-related sexual violence. (16,36,37) |
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2022, labor law enforcement agencies in the Central African Republic took actions to address child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including insufficient resource allocation.
| Overview of Labor Law Enforcement | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Inspectorate Funding | $1,727 (3) | Unknown (4) |
| Number of Labor Inspectors | 167 (3) | 167 (4) |
| Mechanism to Assess Civil Penalties | Yes (24) | Yes (24) |
| Training for Labor Inspectors Provided | Yes (3) | Yes (4) |
| Number of Labor Inspections Conducted at Worksite | 10 (3) | Unknown (4) |
| Number of Child Labor Violations Found | Unknown (3) | Unknown (4) |
| Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed | Unknown (3) | Unknown (4) |
| Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected | Unknown (3) | Unknown (4) |
| Routine Inspections Conducted | Yes (3) | No (4) |
| Routine Inspections Targeted | Yes (3) | N/A (4) |
| Unannounced Inspections Permitted | Yes (24) | Yes (24) |
| Unannounced Inspections Conducted | Yes (3) | Unknown (4) |
| Complaint Mechanism Exists | Yes (3) | Yes (4) |
| Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services | Yes (3) | Yes (4) |
The government did not provide information on its labor law enforcement efforts, including labor inspectorate funding, number and type of inspections, number of violations found, penalties imposed and collected. However, reporting suggests that the number of inspections conducted during the reporting period was insufficient. (4) Insecurity, as well as inadequate financial and material resources, including transportation and fuel, office facilities and supplies, and technology, hindered the government's efforts to conduct inspections and address child labor. (3,4,23,38) In addition, inspectors may be provided transportation by employers, which threatens the impartiality and independence of inspections. (38)
Moreover, the passage of Decree No. 12.177 in 2012 effectively removed regional labor directorates from the general directorate's chain of command, resulting in regional directorates no longer being required to submit periodic reports on inspection activities, as required under ILO C. 81. (39) In addition, labor inspectors do not always issue formal penalties or sanctions. Instead, the conciliation of labor disputes makes up a significant part of inspectors' work. (9,24,38) The Ministry of Labor (MOL) works with other ministries and UNICEF to provide assistance to survivors of child labor, including its worst forms. However, due to a lack of resources, NGOs and UN bodies, such as the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) and UNICEF, provide most of the social services available to survivors. (4,40,41)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2022, criminal law enforcement agencies in the Central African Republic took actions to address child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of criminal enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including detaining children who were subjected to the worst forms of child labor.
| Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Training for Criminal Investigators Provided | Yes (3) | Yes (4) |
| Number of Investigations | Unknown (3) | Unknown (4,5) |
| Number of Prosecutions Initiated | 1 (3) | Unknown (4,5) |
| Number of Convictions | 1 (3) | Unknown (4) |
| Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor | No (3) | Unknown (4) |
| Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services | Yes (3) | Yes (4) |
The government did not provide information on its criminal law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report, including the number of investigations, number of prosecutions, number of convictions, and penalties imposed. (4) During the reporting period, officers in the Mixed Unit for Rapid Intervention and Repression of Sexual Violence to Women and Children (UMIRR) received training on new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to identify trafficking cases and refer survivors to assistance services. In August 2022, Focal Point for Child Protection delivered a trafficking in persons training series at three military installations. (31) Among training participants were customs officers and migration and border security agents. One session was also attended by senior members of the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group in CAR. (5,31) The government also held training sessions on child trafficking and child labor in conflict zones for senior law enforcement and security forces. During the reporting period, UMIRR responded to several cases of human rights violations involving children, which were reported as a result of calls to its 24-hour hotline. (4) In November 2022, UMIRR also collaborated with Wagner forces and the International Committee of the Red Cross to repatriate a group of Cameroonian migrant children in CAR, who had been kidnapped by an armed group and forced to work at a rebel camp. (5,31,42)
During the reporting period, some children accused of aiding armed groups were detained in facilities for incarcerated adults. (4,5) In December of 2022 all remaining children who had been detained for aiding armed groups were released following a presidential clemency decree. (4,5,12,31,43) Reporting suggests that the released children were accused of working for armed groups at checkpoints, securing mining sites, running errands, and as child soldiers. The government worked with UNICEF to reintegrate the children by providing access to community care centers and foster homes or returning the children to their families. (4,31) While the government has a referral mechanism for authorities and social services to refer children found to be subjected to the worst forms of child labor, due to resource constraints, NGOs and UN agencies were the primary actors involved in monitoring and managing such cases. Government authority and enforcement capacity remains constrained in remote areas of the country. (4)
The government has established a key mechanism to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8). However, gaps exist that hinder the effective coordination of efforts to address child labor, including a lack of coordinating mechanisms that address all worst forms of child labor.
| Coordinating Body | Role & Activities |
|---|---|
| National Interministerial Committee to Combat Human Trafficking | Coordinates drafting and implementation of the Central African Republic's National Trafficking in Persons Strategy and the National Action Plan to Address Trafficking, acting as an interministerial working group under the authority of the President. Includes a Coordination Office led by the President and includes representatives from key ministries, including MOL. (28,31,32) Promoted the adoption of the 2022 Human Trafficking Law, encouraged MOJ officials to pursue trafficking in persons prosecutions, organized trainings and public awareness campaigns. During the reporting period, the National Committee met twice monthly, and the Coordination Office members met twice weekly. (31) |
While the government has established a key mechanism that addresses human trafficking, these efforts do not extend to other worst forms of child labor and other sectors, such as mining, agriculture, and domestic work, in which child labor is prevalent. (3,44)
The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including a lack of coverage of all forms of child labor.
| Policy | Description & Activities |
|---|---|
| Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR) | Peace agreement signed by 14 armed groups and the Transitional Government in February 2019. Includes provisions to end the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, and to facilitate the separation of children from their ranks. (14,40,41) Armed groups listed by the UN for grave violations against children have signed Action Plans to implement these commitments. (45-47) Action Plans cover the four areas for which the groups are listed, including: (1) recruitment and use of children; (2) killing and maiming; (3) rape and other forms of sexual violence; and (4) attacks on schools and hospitals. (45-47) The Central African Patriotic Movement has appointed four commanders to serve as child protection focal points in areas under its control. (40,45) However, MINUSCA reported that armed groups continued to recruit child soldiers during the reporting period. (4,12,34,48) Research was unable to determine what activities were undertaken as part of this policy during the reporting year, or to identify published results of these activities. |
| Child Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Policy | Based on the 2015 Bangui Forum, aims to facilitate initiatives to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate child soldiers, in cooperation with UN agencies, other ministries, and armed groups. (9) Through its National Strategy for Community-Based Reintegration of Children Formerly Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups, provides temporary care to children separated from armed groups, and establishes Community Child Protection Networks. (9,49,50) With the assistance of UNICEF and other partner organizations, the Office of the Presidency also works to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate children used in armed conflict back into community life, through the Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, and Rehabilitation coordinating body. (35) During the reporting period, the government worked with NGOs to provide community reintegration support and established a vocational training center in Ouaka Prefecture for conflict-affected children. (4,12,31) |
| National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Children† | Adopted in April 2022, establishes provisions to counter child trafficking, with a specific focus on preventing children from being recruited and used in conflict. (4,51,52) Includes awareness-raising programs for both the public and military forces, specialized training for FACA members, and a communication channel for officials to share information about the use of children in armed conflict and draw attention to potentially problematic situations. Provides for assistance to children previously associated with armed forces and their families to prevent revictimization, including through economic and education opportunities. (5,52) |
† Policy was approved during the reporting period. (5,52)
‡ The government had other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor. (4)
In 2022, the government established a Multi‐Year National Action Plan to Combat Gender‐Based Sexual Violence/Conflict‐Related Sexual Violence, which includes initiatives to raise awareness about child labor among regional leadership. (4) During the reporting period, violence hindered the ability of the government to implement existing policies throughout its territory. (4,31) Research found no evidence of a policy on other forms of child labor, such as in the mining, agriculture, or domestic work sectors.
In 2022, the government funded and participated in programs that may contribute to eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including the inadequacy of programs to address the problem in all sectors.
| Program | Description & Activities |
|---|---|
| UNICEF Programs | Coordinate the removal of children from forced labor situations, in partnership with NGOs, and provide necessary social services for their rehabilitation, enrollment in schools or vocational training programs, and placement in stable homes. Provide basic education and vocational skills training to children who are most at risk for child labor exploitation and armed group recruitment. (4,9,53) Support shelters that provide immediate care, food, and psychosocial support to vulnerable children and former child soldiers, including through the Shelters for Unaccompanied Children program. (4,54) During the reporting period, worked with the government to provide community reintegration support to children released from armed groups, and undertook a fact-finding survey, in conjunction with NGOs, to collect information on child labor throughout the country to inform future assistance programs. (4,53) In July 2022, established an annual work plan with the government focusing on actions related to the protection of children, including addressing the worst forms of child labor and social protections. (32) |
| War Child, Reintegration Support for Victims of Child Labor Exploitation | Conducts community-based reintegration programs for survivors of the worst forms of child labor, reaching 689 children during the reporting period. (4) Mobilizes community-based child protection committees, and provides mental health services to children affected by armed conflict. (55) |
| Birth Registration Campaign† | Aims to provide birth registration to children in the Central African Republic in accordance with the Child Protection Code. During the reporting year, local authorities, with support from UNICEF, used "mobile courts" at several prefectures to issue the documentation necessary for school attendance. (3,4) The campaigns reached 11,173 children during the reporting period. (4,53) |
For information about USDOL’s projects to address child labor around the world, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/ilab-project-page-search
† Program is partially funded by the Government of the Central African Republic.
While the government conducted several outreach efforts during the reporting period to educate local leaders and families about the dangers of child labor and the importance of attending school, research indicated that a lack of sufficient resources significantly hindered its ability to support programmatic efforts to address child labor. (3,4) Coordination with non-government actors to support children used in armed conflict and the scope of programs is insufficient to fully address the extent of the problem, including the reintegration of children who were recruited for use in armed conflict. (11,23,56)
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in the Central African Republic (Table 11).
| Area | Suggested Action | Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement | Ensure that the labor inspectorate has sufficient financial and material resources, including transportation, office facilities and supplies, and computers, to enforce child labor laws, in particular in urban centers. | 2009 – 2022 |
| Ensure that inspectors use their own transportation rather than accepting transportation from employers to ensure impartiality of inspections. | 2022 | |
| Publish complete labor law enforcement data, including labor inspectorate funding, number and type of inspections conducted, number of child labor violations found, number of violations for which penalties were imposed, and number for which penalties were collected. | 2021 – 2022 | |
| Publish complete criminal law enforcement data, including the number of investigations, number of prosecutions, number of convictions, and penalties imposed. | 2014 – 2022 | |
| Ensure that regional labor inspection offices are under the supervision and control of a central authority, and that regional directorates submit periodic reports on inspection activities. | 2018 – 2022 | |
| Ensure that the government conducts an adequate number of labor inspections, including unannounced inspections. | 2021 – 2022 | |
| Ensure that formal penalties or sanctions are imposed for child labor law violations, rather than conciliation, as appropriate. | 2018 – 2022 | |
| Ensure that referral mechanisms for children found in child labor situations are well-funded and fully operational. | 2019 – 2022 | |
| Ensure that children used in armed conflict are not detained, including in facilities for incarcerated adults, and continue to be granted access to social services providers and humanitarian assistance. | 2016 – 2022 | |
| Ensure that judicial and criminal law enforcement officials receive sufficient funding and training and ensure that citizens can report violations and access formal judicial processes throughout the country. | 2016 – 2022 | |
| Coordination | Establish a coordinating mechanism that addresses all forms of child labor, including in mining, agriculture, and domestic work. | 2019 – 2022 |
| Government Policies | Adopt a policy that addresses all relevant worst forms of child labor, including in mining, agriculture, and domestic work. | 2014 – 2022 |
| Ensure that signatories to the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation uphold their commitments, cease the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, and publish efforts to implement the agreement on an annual basis. | 2020 – 2022 | |
| Social Programs | Improve access to education for all children, regardless of IDP status or religious affiliation, by eliminating school-related fees; making additional efforts to provide all children with birth registration; ensuring that religious minorities are not denied access to education; improving basic educational infrastructure throughout the country, including buildings and adequate furniture, sanitary facilities, teachers, and supplies; and ensuring that schools are safe spaces and free from armed groups. | 2009 – 2022 |
| Expand programs to assist former child soldiers and children associated with armed groups, support their reintegration into society, and improve coordination among relevant actors. | 2013 – 2022 | |
| Allocate sufficient resources and implement programs to address the worst forms of child labor, including commercial sexual exploitation and child labor in mining, throughout the country. | 2009 – 2022 |
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 15, 2023. For more information, please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
http://data.uis.unesco.org/ - ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 (MICS 6), 2018–2019. Analysis received March 2023. Please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
- U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. January 28, 2022.
- U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. February 3, 2023.
- USDOS official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 15, 2023.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report - 2021: Central African Republic. Washington, D.C., July 1, 2021.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-trafficking-in-persons-report/central-african-republic/ - Murphy Barès, Jeff. Plus d'un enfant sur deux sont obligés de travailler en RCA. DW. June 12, 2020.
https://www.dw.com/fr/plus-dun-enfant-sur-deux-sont-obligés-de-travailler-en-centrafrique/a-53783225 - U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. January 14, 2020.
- U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. January 29, 2021.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report - 2022: Central African Republic. Washington, D.C., July 19, 2022.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-trafficking-in-persons-report/central-african-republic/ - ILO. Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2022. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 2000). Published: 2023.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4317928,103381 - UN General Assembly. Children and Armed Conflict: Report of the Secretary-General. June 5, 2023: A/77/895-S/2023/363.
https://undocs.org/en/A/77/895 - Associated Press, via The New York Times. Central African Republic Armed Groups Reach Peace Deal. February 2, 2019.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/02/world/africa/central-african-republic-peace-deal.html - UN Security Council. Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (S/2019/145). February 15, 2019.
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/S_2019_145_E.pdf - France24. Rebel attacks kill dozens in Central African Republic. November 30, 2021.
https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20211130-rebel-attacks-kill-dozens-in-central-african-republic - U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. February 20, 2020.
- UNICEF. Crisis in the Central African Republic. November 2018.
https://www.unicef.org/media/47466/file/UNICEF_Child_Alert_CAR_2018_EN.pdf - UNICEF. Central African Republic Humanitarian Situation Report: 01 January to 31 December 2021. 2021.
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https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/central-african-republic-surge-violence-and-displacement-threatens-thousands - UNICEF. CAR Humanitarian Action For Children Appeal: 2020. February 26, 2020.
https://www.unicef.org/media/77951/file/2020-HAC-CAR-revised-2.26.pdf - U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2018: Central African Republic. Washington, D.C., March 13, 2019.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/central-african-republic/ - Government of the Central African Republic. Loi Portant Code de Protection de l'Enfant en Republique Centrafricaine. Enacted: 2020. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. February 20, 2018.
- Government of the Central African Republic. Loi Nº 09-004 Code du Travail de la République Centrafricaine. Enacted: 2009.
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/SERIAL/81226/100656/F718299053/Code travail.pdf - Government of the Central African Republic. Loi N° 9-005 Portant Code Minier de la République Centrafricaine. Enacted: April 29, 2009.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=fr&p_isn=83176&p_classification=22.02 - Government of the Central African Republic. Arrêté fixant les conditions d'emploi des jeunes travailleurs ainsi que la nature des travaux et les catégories d'entreprises interdits aux jeunes gens et l'âge limite auxquels s'applique l'interdiction. May 21, 1986.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_isn=38554&p_country=CAF&p_count=90&p_classification=04.01&p_classcount=1 - Government of the Central African Republic. Loi N° 10.001 Code Penal de la République Centrafricaine. Enacted: 2010.
https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/fr/text/195086 - Central African Republic - Presidency of the Republic. Loi 22.015 Relative a la Lutte Contre la Traite de Personnes en Republique Centrafricaine. Enacted: September 28, 2022. Source on file.
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https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/Notification.xsp?action=openDocument&documentId=FFCBAD5457FC230DC12577AD003E9C8B - Government of the Central African Republic. Constitution de la République Centrafricaine. Enacted: March 30, 2016.
https://www.sangonet.com/afriqg/PAFF/Dic/actuC/ActuC24/constitution-de-la-RCA-30mars2016-JO-ed-speciale.pdf - U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. February 10, 2023.
- ILO. Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 2000). Published: 2023.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4317925,103381 - Government of the Central African Republic. Circulaire No. 108/MDNRA/DIRCAB/SP. Issued: April 16, 2022. Source on file.
- UN Security Council. Report of the Secretary-General, Central African Republic, S/2022/491. June 16, 2022.
https://minusca.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/s_2022_491_en.pdf - U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. February 18, 2022.
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https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/central-african-republic - UN Peacekeeping. CAR Special Criminal Court (SCC) now fully operational. June 9, 2021.
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/car-special-criminal-court-scc-now-fully-operational - ILO. Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2022. Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Central African Republic. Published: 2023.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:13100:0::NO::P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_LANG_CODE:4325913,es - ILO. Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022. Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 1964). Published: 2023.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4325913,103381 - UN Security Council. Protecting Boys and Girls in Shrinking Humanitarian Space—UN Security Council Open Arria Meeting. February 21, 2019.
https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/protecting-boys-and-girls-in-shrinking-humanitarian-space-un-security-council-open-arria-meeting/ - UN Security Council SC/13854. Success of Central African Republic Peace Agreement Dependent on Parties Ending Violence, Engaging in Dialogue, Special Representative Tells Security Council. 2019.
https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/sc13854.doc.htm - U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. December 9, 2022.
- Government of the Central African Republic. Décret No. 22.501 accordant une grâce présidentielle générale aux mineurs en conflit avec la loi à l'occasion de la journée internationale des enfants. Issued: November 28, 2022. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. March 15, 2021.
- UN Security Council. Action Plan to Protect Children Signed in the Central African Republic. New York, June 14, 2018.
https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/action-plan-to-protect-children-signed-in-the-central-african-republic/ - UN Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. New Action Plan to Protect Children Signed in the Central African Republic. September 3, 2019.
https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/new-action-plan-to-protect-children-signed-in-the-central-african-republic/ - UN Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. Central African Republic: Signature of a New Action Plan to Protect Children. July 5, 2019.
https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/central-african-republic-signature-of-a-new-action-plan-to-protect-children/ - UN Security Council. Report of the Secretary-General, Central African Republic, S/2022/762. October 13, 2022.
https://minusca.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/rapport_sg_english.pdf - U.S. Embassy- Bangui official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. March 5, 2020.
- Government of the Central African Republic. Stratégie Nationale pour la Réinsertion à Base Communautaire des Enfants ex-Associés aux Forces et Groupes Armés en République Centrafricaine (RCA). January 2016. Source on file.
- UN Human Rights Council. Human rights situation in the Central African Republic. Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, Yao Agbetse. September 10, 2021.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc4881-human-rights-situation-central-african-republic-report - Government of the Central African Republic. Plan d'action spécifique à la lutte contre la traite des enfants en République Centrafricaine. April 15, 2022. Source on file.
- UNICEF. Central African Republic Humanitarian Situation Report, Jan-Dec 2022. February 2023.
https://www.unicef.org/documents/central-african-republic-humanitarian-sitrep-january-december-2022 - U.S. Embassy- Bangui official. E-mail communication with USDOL official. June 3, 2022.
- War Child. Where We Work: Central African Republic. Accessed February 23, 2023.
https://www.warchild.org.uk/our-work/where-we-work/central-african-republic - U.S. Embassy- Bangui. Reporting. February 20, 2019.
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