{"id":2545,"date":"2011-11-06T18:00:30","date_gmt":"2011-11-07T01:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/humanium.org\/en\/?page_id=2545"},"modified":"2025-12-06T07:46:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T07:46:35","slug":"togo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/togo\/","title":{"rendered":"Children of Togo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Realizing Children&#8217;s Rights in Togo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565014295.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565014295.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565014295-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_574394698.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_574394698.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_574394698-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Despite progress in certain areas, children\u2019s rights remain precarious in Togo, in particular as a result of the extreme poverty across the country. Improvements must be made by the Togolese authorities to the areas of education, protection and health. The deep inequalities that exist between boys and girls also represent a major challenge. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d4039596.078698384!2d-1.4179775591090245!3d8.603867186166273!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x1023e1c113185419%3A0xfaae5b301ad19360!2sTogo!5e0!3m2!1sen!2shr!4v1596356970150!5m2!1sen!2shr\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" aria-hidden=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Population:<\/strong> 8.6 million<strong><br>Pop. ages 0-14:<\/strong> 41.3 %<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Life expectancy:<\/strong> 60.5&nbsp;years<strong><br>Under-5 mortality rate:<\/strong>&nbsp;70 \u2030<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Togo at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Togo (officially, the Togolese Republic) is one of the smallest countries in continental Africa. The country\u2019s neighbours are Ghana, Benin and Burkina Faso, and it borders the Gulf of Guinea. In 2020, Togo\u2019s population is estimated to be 8.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Political situation<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The country was a German protectorate (between 1884 and 1914), then was colonised by the French and British, before gaining its independence in 1960. The country\u2019s political situation was then marked by instability, followed by authoritarian rule by several heads of state&nbsp;(Panara, 2020). The results and transparency of Togo\u2019s elections are regularly contested by the international community and the opposition (Amnesty International, 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2017, large-scale protests broke out to denounce the lack of change in national leadership and to demand the resignation of the president, Faure Gnassingb\u00e9. Many were killed during these protests, including minors (Amnesty International, 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Social situation<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2015, 55.1% of the Togolese population lived below the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/poor-children\/\">poverty<\/a> line, which was an improvement on 2006, when the figure was 61.7%. Women are at greater risk than men, as they continue to be under-represented in positions of responsibility and have access to fewer economic opportunities&nbsp;(Banque Mondiale, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The human capital index is 0.41, compared to a global average of 0.57&nbsp;(Banque Mondiale, 2018). This index measures the level of capital a child is likely to acquire by the time they turn 18, with an index of 1 corresponding to an optimum situation in terms of health and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a>. However, the net enrolment rate in primary school was 93.8% in 2018, one of the highest rates in the West African sub-region&nbsp;(Togo First, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Status of Children\u2019s Rights <\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn1\"><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Togo has ratified several international conventions on children\u2019s rights, including ILO Convention 138 on the minimum age for admission to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-labour\/\">work<\/a>, and the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption &nbsp;(UNICEF, 2011).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36203\" style=\"width:385px;height:256px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612598895-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In 2007, the parliament of Togo adopted the Children\u2019s Code, which sets out the various legal provisions governing the protection of children\u2019s rights. The text includes a number of principles set out by appropriately qualified judicial bodies, such as non-discrimination, the right to life, and the principle of children&#8217;s best interests.&nbsp; However, the application of this text remains a major challenge for the country, despite communication and awareness-raising efforts&nbsp;(UNICEF, 2011).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>International observers also believe that the current legislation does not provide optimum protection to Togolese children. The legal framework must be reinforced, in particular with regard to forced labour, domestic servitude, and modern slavery&nbsp;(ONU, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Addressing the Needs of Children<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights-2\/health\/\">The right to health<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The neonatal mortality rate (the proportion of live-born children who die between the first and twenty-eighth day of life) is tragically high in Togo: 34% in the Plateaux region, and 27% nationally. The reason is that healthcare services are difficult to access, there are many child diseases in circulation, and there are nutritional deficiencies that threaten children\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights-2\/health\/\">health<\/a>&nbsp;(Plan International, 2015).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2010, Togo has made significant progress in its efforts to fight the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/children-and-aids\/\">AIDS virus<\/a>, in particular by reducing new infections and deaths. The virus\u2019s prevalence rate fell from 4% in 2000 to 2.3% in 2018 as a result&nbsp;(Togo Officiel, 2019). In 2005, the country also passed a law designed to protect people living with HIV\/AIDS from discrimination and stigmatisation&nbsp;(OIT, n.d.). However, as a result of a general lack of screening facilities and equipment, mother-to-child infection remains a reality. In 2018, 12,000 children aged between 0 and 14 were already carriers of HIV&nbsp;(UNICEF, 2019). In Togo, these children have free access to antiretroviral treatment&nbsp;(Atakouma, 2007).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of the lack of medical facilities and equipment in Togo, many mild illnesses can lead to death in young children, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, and measles. Lack of awareness among populations is also a factor in such situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">The right to education<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a high level of disparity between boys and girls in terms of access to education. 39% of girls of school-attending age are not in education, compared to 15% of boys&nbsp;(UNICEF, n.d.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main causes of children not being in education are parents\u2019 aversion to school and economic reasons, particularly for children from very poor families in rural areas. Given the strong correlation between education level and the transition to working life, it is very difficult for these young people to find a stable job that is adequately paid (ILO, 2017). Despite this, the situation has improved recently since school has become free. The massive contribution from NGOs in the form of equipment and assistance is helping to bring about this improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36204\" style=\"width:394px;height:262px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-830x552.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-480x319.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_565180912-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Along with Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania and Sierra Leone, Togo continues to have policies and decrees whose aim is to exclude pregnant girls from the educational system. Although the country has declared to the United Nations that it no longer applies this law, nothing has been put in place to repeal or replace it&nbsp;(Human Rights Watch, 2018). Access to education remains extremely limited, mainly to those from well-off backgrounds. And even in these cases, the information that the children receive is often not age-appropriate&nbsp;(UNICEF, 2011).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/identity\/\">The right to identity<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year worldwide, over 50 million births are not registered, according to UNICEF figures. However, the right to identity is a fundamental right that allows an individual to benefit from all of their rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Togo is particularly affected by this problem: 31% of children who live in rural areas do not have a birth certificate. Administrative procedures for registering births are complex and expensive, which can discourage certain parents who are unaware of the importance of the process. Prefectures in some regions sometimes do not even have a registration office&nbsp;(UNICEF Togo, 2019).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Culturally, birth registration has not long been considered a priority. Due to the high rate of infant mortality that the country has experienced in the past, many parents have preferred to wait for their child to be older before registering them with the authorities, thus exceeding the legal limit, which is 45 days in Togo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Children who are not registered with the authorities do not have an official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/identity\/\">identity<\/a>&nbsp;or a nationality. They are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/stateless-invisible\/\">invisible<\/a> in the eyes of the law and of society, and as a result cannot access a wide range of services. A large number of children, particularly girls, cannot attend school or take their end-of-primary exams&nbsp;(UNICEF Togo, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Risk factors <\/strong><strong>\u2192<\/strong><strong> Country-specific challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/poor-children\/\">Poverty<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Togo is one of the world\u2019s poorest countries. In 2015, over half (55.1%) of inhabitants lived below the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/poor-children\/\">poverty line<\/a>. The country is not equally affected across its regions: the national poverty rate is 69% in rural areas. There is also inequality between households: those led by a woman are generally poorer than those led by a man (57.5% compared to 55%)&nbsp;(Banque Mondiale, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36205\" style=\"width:401px;height:267px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-830x552.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-480x319.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_249616246-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Togo\u2019s gross domestic product (GDP) is also extremely low \u2013 $5.36 billion in 2018. The average monthly income per inhabitant is $45 in Togo, compared to an average of $156 for Africa as a continent and $858 worldwide. Extreme poverty has serious consequences on children\u2019s lives. Their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights-2\/health\/\">health<\/a> is significantly impacted by malnutrition, dietary deficiencies and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-labour\/\">child labour<\/a> (UNICEF, 2017). Due to a lack of resources, many children are effectively forced to work instead of going to school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/disabled-children\/\">Disabled children<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2000, Togo ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, whose aim is to \u201cpromote, protect and ensure\u201d the dignity, human rights, fundamental freedoms and equality before the law of children with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/disabled-children\/\">disabilities<\/a>. Certain traditional practices involving killing children born with birth defects are severely punished by law&nbsp;(ONU, 2016).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Togo, it is estimated that nearly 620,000 people live with a disability.&nbsp;Some parents choose to keep their children away from others because of negative perceptions of disabilities. This results in disabled children being excluded from social activities and education, which in turn can lead to them being marginalised as adults&nbsp;(Handicap International, n.d.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/genital-mutilation\/\">Genital mutilation<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The practice of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/genital-mutilation\/\">female genital mutilation<\/a>&nbsp;was officially banned in Togo in 1998, and since that date has been considered assault&nbsp;(ONU, 2016). In 2017, 95% of women said that the practice should be ended. In that year, 1% of girls aged 15 to 19 had previously been victims of genital mutilation \u2013 however, this figure rose to 5% among women between 45 and 49&nbsp;(UNICEF, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While a number of indicators show constant improvement, the practice continues to exist in certain regions and is frequently accompanied by medical problems (bleeding, infections, etc.). The psychological consequences of these acts are also extremely painful&nbsp;(UNICEF, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">Abuse<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Togo\u2019s laws, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">violence<\/a> against a child aged under 15 is considered an aggravating factor against the culprit. However, no legal provisions cover violence against children within the family or at school. Incest, for example, is not punished by law&nbsp;(ONU, 2016).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Corporal punishment in schools has been banned since 2000. However, cases of school-related <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/girls-rights\/\">gender-based violence<\/a> (SRGBV) remain widespread, although there is no data on figures, and few cases are reported. Cases of sexual abuse, blackmail and rape within schools sometimes affect girls younger than 12. Sexual relationships between students and teachers are also widespread and are used as a means of pressure for good grades or payment of school fees (Plan International, 2018). These practices, which are sometimes accepted by parents, nonetheless have serious consequences for children: they may lose their desire to work, and can also develop profound psychological trauma&nbsp;(Abou Ez, 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-labour\/\">Child labour<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The UN special rapporteur on modern forms of slavery expressed her concerns regarding the fate of Togolese children who are subject to forced labour or are victims of domestic servitude or other forms of modern slavery. Her recommendations focused in particular on Togo\u2019s legislative framework, which should be strengthened so that these practices are considered offences. Preventative measures should also be put in place to give children the best possible protection&nbsp;(Amnesty International, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-marriage\/\">Child marriage<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36207\" style=\"width:371px;height:245px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-830x552.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-480x319.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shutterstock_612847463-1-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In 2017, a quarter of Togolese girls were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-marriage\/\">married before the age of 18<\/a>. However, the legal minimum age for marriage is 18 for women and 20 for men, and forced marriages are forbidden by law. The prevalence of early marriage varies by region: in rural areas, the practice is much more common than in urban environments, although it is difficult to determine the precise figure as a result of low registration rates. Early marriage is also closely linked to low levels of parental general education and to household poverty&nbsp;(Ofpra, 2016).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Early marriages also result in early sexual activity among girls, which can lead to unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmissible diseases, and sexual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">violence<\/a>. Early marriage also leads to girls becoming economically dependent, as they very often leave school and as such are deprived of an income of their own (Ofpra, 2016).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Togo, another practice involves marrying a widow to one of her late husband\u2019s brothers. If the woman refuses, she can be forced out of her home, have her children taken from her, and lose all succession rights to her late husband\u2019s property. This form of forced marriage, known as \u2018levirate marriage\u2019, often takes place following an early marriage. Girls who married at a very young age often do not know anyone aside from their family and their husband, and as such have few alternatives in the event they are widowed. However, the practice of levirate marriage is gradually disappearing. (Ofpra, 2016)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Women who are victims of forced marriage very rarely report it, in particular due to the effective absence of access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/juvenile-law\/\">justice for children<\/a>, a lack of legal knowledge, and poverty (Ofpra, 2016).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Written by Laureen Garcin<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Translated by Garen Gent-Randall<\/em><\/strong><strong><em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Last updated on 26 June 2020<\/em><\/strong><strong><em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bibliography:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.francetvinfo.fr\/monde\/afrique\/togo\/le-droit-de-cuissage-a-lecole-un-fleau-en-afrique-de-louest_3053815.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Abou Ez, E. (2018, Novembre 16). <em>Le \u00abdroit de cuissage\u00bb \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9cole, un fl\u00e9au en Afrique de l\u2019Ouest<\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur France TV Info<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/fr\/latest\/news\/2018\/12\/togo-spiraling-violence-and-repressive-cybersecurity-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amnesty International. (2018, D\u00e9cembre 13). <em>Togo. Escalade de la violence et adoption de la loi sur la cybers\u00e9curit\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019approche d\u2019\u00e9lections l\u00e9gislatives contest\u00e9es <\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Amnesty International.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.be\/infos\/rapports-annuels\/rapport-annuel-2019\/afrique-rapport-annuel-2019\/article\/togo-rapport-annuel-2019\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amnesty International. (2020, Avril 8). <em>TOGO | RAPPORT ANNUEL 2019 .<\/em> R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Amnesty International.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0929693X07002102#:~:text=Depuis%202004%20au%20Togo%2C%20des,de%20ces%20enfants%20sous%20ARV.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Atakouma, D. Y. (2007, Octobre). <em>Traitement antir\u00e9troviral des enfants infect\u00e9s par le VIH\/sida \u00e0 Lom\u00e9 (Togo) : premiers r\u00e9sultats<\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur ScienceDirect.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/donnees.banquemondiale.org\/pays\/togo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Banque Mondiale. (2018, Octobre). <em>Togo<\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Banque Mondiale.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.banquemondiale.org\/fr\/country\/togo\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Banque Mondiale. (2019, Octobre 10). <em>Togo &#8211; Vue d&#8217;ensemble<\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Banque Mondiale<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.handicapinternational.be\/fr\/pays\/togo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Handicap International. (n.d.). <em>Togo.<\/em> R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Handicap International<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/fr\/report\/2018\/06\/14\/ne-marginaliser-aucune-fille-en-afrique\/discrimination-dans-leducation-contre-les#_ftn69\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Human Rights Watch. (2018, Juin 14). <em>Ne marginaliser aucune fille en Afrique<\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Human Rights Watch<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ofpra.gouv.fr\/sites\/default\/files\/atoms\/files\/21._didr_togo_les_mariages_forces_ofpra_11102016.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ofpra. (2016, Octobre 11). <em>Togo : Les mariages forc\u00e9s.<\/em> R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Refworld<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilo.org\/dyn\/natlex\/natlex4.detail?p_lang=fr&amp;p_isn=73310&amp;p_country=TGO&amp;p_classification=05\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OIT. (n.d.). <em>Togo &gt; \u00c9galit\u00e9 de chances et de traitement<\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Organisation Internationale du Travail.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/Documents\/HRBodies\/CRC\/StudyViolenceChildren\/Responses\/Togo.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ONU. (2016, Octobre). <em>The United Nations Study on Violence against Children .<\/em> R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/fr\/story\/2019\/06\/1044751\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ONU. (2019, Juin 1). <em>Le Togo doit redoubler d\u2019efforts pour mettre fin aux pires formes de travail des enfants (experte)<\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur ONU Info.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lepoint.fr\/afrique\/togo-une-histoire-mouvementee-27-04-2020-2373004_3826.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Panara, M. (2020, Avril 27). <em>Togo : une histoire mouvement\u00e9e <\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Le Point Afrique.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Plan International. (2015). <em>Togo : Sant\u00e9 maternelle et infantile et planning familial<\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Plan International.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.togofirst.com\/fr\/education\/2309-3961-des-chiffres-en-hausse-dans-le-secteur-educatif-togolais#:~:text=(Togo%20First)%20-%20Au%20Togo,11%25%20sur%20la%20p\u00e9riode%20consid\u00e9r\u00e9e.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Togo First. (2019, Septembre 23). <em>Des chiffres en hausse dans le secteur \u00e9ducatif togolais <\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Togo First<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.republiquetogolaise.com\/sante\/1110-3650-l-onusida-salue-les-progres-remarquables-du-togo-dans-la-lutte-contre-le-vih\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Togo Officiel. (2019, Octobre 11). <em>L\u2019ONUSIDA salue les \u2018progr\u00e8s remarquables\u2019 du Togo dans la lutte contre le VIH <\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur R\u00e9publique Togolaise<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.refworld.org\/pdfid\/57e534ff4.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UNICEF. (2011). <em>Rapport de l\u2019UNICEF Togo pour l\u2019\u00e9valuation p\u00e9riodique universelle.<\/em> R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur Refworld<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">UNICEF. (2017). <em>UNICEF Annual Report 2017.<\/em> UNICEF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">UNICEF. (2019). <em>La Situation des enfants dans le monde 2019. Enfants, nourriture et nutrition : Bien grandir dans un monde en mutation.<\/em> New-York: UNICEF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/data.unicef.org\/resources\/fgm-country-profiles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UNICEF. (2020, Mai). <em>Female Genital Mutilation Country Profiles .<\/em> R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur UNICEF<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/french\/infobycountry\/togo_1046.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UNICEF. (n.d.). <em>Togo<\/em>. R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur UNICEF<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/wca\/fr\/recits\/pour-chaque-enfant-une-identit\u00e9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UNICEF Togo. (2019, D\u00e9cembre 31). <em>Pour chaque enfant, une identit\u00e9 .<\/em> R\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9 sur UNICEF<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"#_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> This article by no means purports to give a full or representative account of children\u2019s rights in Togo; indeed, one of the many challenges is the scant updated information on Togolese children, much of which is unreliable, not representative, outdated or simply non-existent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Realizing Children&#8217;s Rights in Togo Despite progress in certain areas, children\u2019s rights remain precarious in Togo, in particular as a result of the extreme poverty across the country. Improvements must be made by the Togolese authorities to the areas of education, protection and health. The deep inequalities that exist between boys and girls also represent [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2545","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Children of Togo - Humanium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Despite progress in certain areas, children\u2019s rights remain precarious in Togo, in particular as a result of the extreme poverty across the country.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/togo\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Children of Togo - 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