The African Peace Center (Centre Africain de la Paix) with the support of FIAN International has submitted a parallel report on Chad to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
According to the report, the arrival of Perenco in 2022 has resulted in widespread human rights abuse. Perenco acquired land in the area with the support of the authorities and without respecting the community’s customary land rights. Women in the community were not consulted in decision regarding access to and control of the land. They were also excluded from land compensation discussions.
Additionally, the activities of Perenco, including dumping toxic waste, destroyed agricultural land. The area saw an upsurge in illnesses, particularly respiratory and skin diseases. The contamination of water and soil affects women in the area, who are responsible for collecting water and preparing meals. Furthermore, food shortages have aggravated malnutrition among children and pregnant women. Young girls are often forced to drop out of school and enter early marriages.
In its concluding observations, CEDAW noted with concern that discriminatory patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes restrict access for rural women to decision-making, as well as ownership, control and use of land.
It also noted the lack of equal participation of women in decision-making on water resource management and rural development plans. The committee recommended Chad to integrate and mainstream a gender perspective into all agricultural and rural development strategies and plans and enable rural women to act and be visible as stakeholders, decision-makers and beneficiaries.
In addition, it said that Chad should dismantle patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotypes that impede equal access to land for rural women and promote their access to education, health services and adequate water and sanitation.
Read the full Chad CEDAW parallel report here.
For more information, please contact Valentin Hategekimana hategekimana@fian.org