At the Forefront: Why Women and Girls Are Key to Development

Bangui, September 30, 2025 – The Central African Republic (CAR) stands at a crossroads in its development. With the launch of the National Development Plan, the Investment Round Table in Casablanca and the recent ratification of the Maputo Protocol, the country has sent a strong signal: the advancement of women’s rights and opportunities is no longer optional — it is the foundation of sustainable progress.

A Historic Step: Ratification of the Maputo Protocol

The Central African Republic officially ratified the Maputo Protocol, becoming the 46th member state of the African Union to do so. President Prof. Faustin Archange Touadéra hailed the decision as “a historic step for gender equality and a commitment to the rights and dignity of women and girls.” He stressed: “Equality is not just a goal, it is the foundation of progress.”

Adopted in 2003, the Maputo Protocol remains the African Union’s most important legal instrument for promoting and protecting women’s rights. Its ratification by the CAR gives fresh momentum to national reforms aimed at empowerment, protection, and equality.

Women as a Force for Development

At the sidelines of the Investment Round Table in Casablanca, Dr. Marthe Augustine Kirimat, Minister for the Promotion of Gender, Protection of Women, Family and Children, emphasized the demographic and economic imperative that derives:
“Women in our country make up more than half of the population – 50 percent. The development of the CAR cannot succeed if women are not empowered, strengthened, and protected. I came here with two important projects: one on the construction of gender-sensitive infrastructure, and another on the fight against violence against women.”

She further outlined her priorities for the next four years: increasing women’s representation in parliament and local institutions toward the 35 percent quota and reinforcing women’s economic empowerment to drive human capital development.

In addition, the World Bank has also highlighted that the education of girls is a decisive factor in this context. Many girls in CAR drop out of school early due to poverty, insecurity, or early marriage. Addressing these barriers is key to unlocking women’s potential and ensuring their participation in economic and political life. Improving access to education for girls is therefore not just a social goal but an economic necessity. The World Bank stresses that educated girls are more likely to delay marriage, enter the labor market, and contribute to healthier families and stronger communities. More information on this can be found here.

Deficits and Priorities in the National Development Plan

In the National Development Plan, women are portrayed as key actors in politics, the economy, and society. Gender equality is established as a cross-cutting task, supported by a dedicated gender equality policy, a national strategy to strengthen the economic role of women and girls, the 2016 parity law, and the creation of a National Observatory for Parity by decree of 23 February 2024.

Despite the legal parity quota of 35 percent, women currently account for only 12% of members of parliament, 17.5% of government officials, and 11% of local executive leaders. To address this, the development plan emphasizes capacity building, women’s networks, and systematic inclusion in decision-making processes — down to the organization of elections. The legal framework for women, youth, and vulnerable groups is also being expanded.

The protection of women and girls is another urgent priority which is why the Ministry of Gender Promotion, Women’s Protection, Family and Children under the lead of Minister Dr. Marthe Augustine Kirimat is launching a specific project against violence against women and girls.

Economically, women form the backbone of the informal economy, accounting for more than 80% of rural activity and small trade. The National Development Plan therefor aims to actively incorporate women and girls into the economic sphere, in the capital of Bangui but particularly in local regions.

Equality as Economic Strategy

The National Development Plan as well as current data show: gender equality is not a side agenda but an economic strategy. It connects women’s empowerment directly with national growth, employment, and human capital. By 2028, the goal is that women, youth, and vulnerable groups will enjoy shock-resistant social protection and be safeguarded against violence, exploitation, and discrimination.

The combination of the National Development Plan’s ambitions, the flagship projects led by Minister Dr. Kirimat and her Ministry, and the ratification of the Maputo Protocol represent a turning point for women’s rights in the CAR. Success will depend on financing, institutional capacity, and the ability to translate commitments into visible improvements in women’s lives – to finally grant women the role they deserve as active shapers of the nation’s future.