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

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 1960)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. 1. Forced labour imposed in the context of armed conflict. The Committee previously asked the Government to continue its efforts to ensure that nobody is subjected to forced labour, including sexual slavery, by the armed forces or armed groups, and to improve the effectiveness of the remedies available to victims and bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

The Government indicates in its report that, with regard to cases of sexual slavery, it created through Decree No. 15.007 of 8 January 2015 a joint rapid response unit to suppress sexual violence against women and children (UMIR), which has been operational since 2017 with the primary task of helping to reduced gender-based violence. It also indicates that civil society organizations are engaged in awareness-raising but are also acting as links in the criminal justice chain with regard to the protection of women and children who are victims of violence.

The Committee notes that the Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), in a March 2025 report on the serious human rights violations committed by Wagner Ti Azandé and Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé between 1 and 7 October 2024 in Dembia and Rafaï in Mbomou prefecture, cited several cases of forced labour and sexual slavery. Moreover, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in its concluding observations of 20 February 2024, expressed concern at the persistence of gender-based violence against women allegedly perpetrated by state and non-state actors, including sexual exploitation, trafficking, sexual slavery and forced recruitment (CEDAW/C/CAF/CO/6). Furthermore, the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, in her report of 15 May 2024 on her visit to the Central African Republic, cited cases of trafficking in persons, particularly women and children, for sexual exploitation and sexual slavery, allegedly perpetrated by mercenaries, armed groups and the signatories to the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (A/HRC/56/60/Add.2).

With regard to the mechanisms in place in the country, the Committee notes the indications of the UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, in his report of 11 September 2023, that: (i) the mandate of the Special Criminal Court was renewed in January 2023 for a further five years; (ii) the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission lacks financial and technical resources; and (iii) the joint rapid response unit to suppress sexual violence against women and children (UMIR) received support to improve its investigation, victim care, alert and intervention services but is facing administrative, operational and financial obstacles, which limit action against impunity in cases of conflict- and gender-related sexual violence (A/HRC/54/77).

The Committee notes with deepconcern this information describing the persistence of forced labour and sexual slavery in the context of armed conflict. While noting the complexity of the situation in the country and the presence of armed groups in the territory, the Committee urges the Government to intensify its efforts to combat and put an end to the use of forced labour, sexual exploitation and sexual slavery perpetrated by state and non-state actors in the context of conflict, especially against women. The Committee also urges the Government to continue taking steps to combat impunity, ensuring that the competent bodies have the necessary resources to complete investigations and bring the perpetrators of such acts to justice, and to provide information on the results achieved. Lastly, the Committee urges the Government to continue taking steps to ensure that victims are fully protected and obtain reparation.

2. Trafficking in persons. With regard to the measures taken to combat trafficking in persons and protect victims, the Government indicates that the joint rapid response unit to suppress sexual violence against women and children (UMIR) has also been tasked since 2020 with identifying and protecting trafficking victims, as well as participating in the prosecution of the perpetrators of trafficking. The Government specifies that in 2022 UMIR adopted guidelines for identifying, protecting and assisting victims of trafficking. In addition, the Government established a National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons in order to coordinate prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership actions in the fight against trafficking in persons. This committee produces periodic activity reports, with the support of international organizations.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in the context of the application of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182), according to which the road map of strategic priorities for achieving target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country includes the following priorities: (i) strengthening the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, in particular by involving the social partners and civil society; and (ii) establishing local committees responsible especially for combating trafficking in persons.

Furthermore, the Committee notes that, according to the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, women and girls are particularly vulnerable to trafficking for sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and forced labour in agriculture, mining and street vending. The report also highlights the fact that over 3 million people (more than half the country’s population), including 12,000 refugees and 580,000 internally displaced persons, are in need of humanitarian assistance. The Government adopted the Act against Trafficking in Persons in 2022 (Act No. 22.015) and a National plan of action to combat trafficking for 2022–23. However, the Special Rapporteur indicates that there is a lack of awareness of the above-mentioned Act and of the UMIR guidelines on trafficking victims, particularly among police officers and prosecutors, and that the capacities of justice sector actors are limited (A/HRC/56/60/Add. 2).

The Committee asks the Government to continue taking measures to strengthen the knowledge and capacities of law enforcement agencies in order to improve identification of cases of trafficking in persons for both labour and sexual exploitation, to ensure the protection of victims and to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted and punished effectively. The Committee also requests the Government to provide a copy of the 2022 Act against Trafficking in Persons and information on its application in practice, as well as the content of the current National plan of action to combat trafficking. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons and of UMIR aimed at preventing trafficking in persons and protecting victims, indicating measures aimed more specifically at women, refugees and displaced persons.

Article 25. Application of effective criminal penalties. With regard to the absence of criminal penalties for the imposition of forced labour (except for trafficking in persons – section 151 of the Penal Code) in the national legislation, the Government indicates that effective criminal penalties for the perpetrators of all forms of forced labour are provided for in the draft revised Labour Code. The Committee notes that, according to the Facebook page of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Social Protection and Vocational Training, the draft revised Labour Code was adopted by the National Assembly on 15 May 2025. The Committee trusts that the draft revised Labour Code or any criminal legislation will contain provisions establishing criminal penalties that constitute an adequate deterrent for the perpetrators of all forms of forced labour, in accordance with Article 25 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to send a copy of the revised Labour Code.

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