JOINT STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT The EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+) assessment of the Republic of Cabo Verde covering the period 2020-2022 Accompanying the document Joint Report to the European Parliament and the Council on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences covering the period 2020-2022
Date: 2023-11-21
Institutions: Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, European Commission
Subjects: Cabo Verde, EU market, common commercial policy, development aid, generalised preferences, governance, human rights, international convention, sustainable development, tariff preference

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY Brussels, 21.11.2023  SWD(2023) 365 final  JOINT STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  The EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+) assessment of the Republic of Cabo Verde covering the period 2020-2022 Accompanying the document Joint Report to the European Parliament and the Council on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences covering the period 2020-2022 {JOIN(2023) 34 final} - {SWD(2023) 359 final} - {SWD(2023) 360 final} - {SWD(2023) 361 final} - {SWD(2023) 362 final} - {SWD(2023) 363 final} - {SWD(2023) 364 final} - {SWD(2023) 366 final} - {SWD(2023) 367 final} - {SWD(2023) 368 final}  
 
 
REPUBLIC OF CABO VERDE 

1.  SUMMARY ASSESSMENT 

The  COVID-19  pandemic  hit  the  Republic  of  Cabo  Verde  (Cabo  Verde)  severely.  The 
small  archipelagic  country  is  highly  dependent  on  the  tourism  sector,  and  in  2020  the 
pandemic led to the worst drop in GDP in its history. The crisis reversed the substantial 
progress achieved on important economic and social development indicators and severely 
impacted  the  country’s  public  finances,  placing  Cabo  Verde  among  the  most  indebted 
countries in the world.  

During  the  pandemic,  Cabo  Verde  ensured  a  successful  health  policy  and  vaccination 
campaign.  It  also  designed  and  timely  implemented  efficient  measures  to  preserve  the 
country’s  economic  and  social  fabric,  which  were  adopted  in  close  cooperation  with 
international partners.  

Despite  the  difficult  context,  Cabo  Verde  maintained  the  effective  implementation  of 
international  conventions  and  good  rates  in  human  rights  and  corruption  perception 
indexes.  Elections  (local,  parliamentary,  and  presidential)  between  October  2020  and 
October 2021 fully complied with international standards, including on transparency and 
peaceful acceptance of results.  

1.1.  Priorities and Monitoring 

In the course of 2020-2022, the monitoring focused on several priority areas: gender-based 
violence; rights of the child and child labour; trafficking in persons; situation of migrants; 
judiciary reform and prison conditions; conservation of ocean and marine resources, and 
fight against illicit trade, namely drug trafficking. 

1.2.  Human Rights 

During  the  reporting  period,  Cabo  Verde  maintained  a  good  record  on  the  effective 
implementation of the core human rights conventions. Efforts have been made, notably on 
gender  equality  and  gender-based  violence,  children’s’  rights,  non-discrimination, 
trafficking in persons, regularisation and integration of migrants, prison conditions, legal 
reforms,  and  reinforcement  of  judiciary  capacities.  The  country  ranks  high  in  terms  of 
gender  equality,  non-discrimination,  and  tolerance  towards  the  LGBTIQ  community. 
However,  a  draft  law  on  non-discrimination,  including  against  LGBTIQ  persons, 
continued to await discussion in Parliament. Sexual violence and sexual  exploitation of 
children, as well as child labour remain a challenge, and have deteriorated in a situation 
with dire economic circumstances. A Second National Plan to Prevent and Combat Sexual 
Violence Against Children and Adolescents for 2022-2024 was adopted in 2022.  

In September 2022, the Government withdrew, due to insufficient support in Parliament, 
a  draft  law  aimed  at  the  merger  of  the  National  Commission  on  Human  Rights  and 
Citizenship (CNDHC) and the Ombudsman Office. A new President of the CNDHC was 
appointed  in  February  2023  and  will  have  to  resume  the  debate  on  the  statute  of  the 

Page | 1 

 
 
 
Commission to reinforce its independence vis-à-vis the Ministry of Justice and align it with 
the Paris Principles.  

Cabo  Verde  is  expected  to  present  its  candidacy  to  the  United  Nations  Human  Rights 
Council (UNHRC) for the period 2025 to 2027 and will be subjected to a fourth Universal 
Periodic Review at the UNHRC in 2023. In both these instances, the CNDHC will play a 
determinant role.  

1.3.  Labour Rights 

Cabo Verde has strong labour laws. However, problems remain in their implementation in 
several sensitive areas. 

Despite positive developments in  terms of prevention, cases of child labour continue to 
occur.  Criminalisation  and  effective  prosecution  of  persons  responsible  for  the  sexual 
exploitation of minors should also be highlighted.  

The Government timely implemented measures, in consultation with social and economic 
stakeholders, to protect employment and workers during the pandemic, including through 
temporary lay-off subsidised schemes. A tripartite Council for Social Consultation meets 
regularly. Nevertheless, despite the creation of a Tripartite Commission on labour issues, 
controversy  about  its  membership  and  operational  modalities  have  hampered  its  full 
establishment.  Excessive  restrictions  to  the  right  of  strike  remain  a  matter  of  concern 
requiring further close monitoring.  

1.4.  Environment and Climate 

The  country  faces  serious  climate  change  adaptation  challenges,  including  scarcity  of 
water  and  food  and  energy  insecurity.  Only  10%  of  Cabo  Verde’s  soils  are  arable. 
Considerable  efforts  to  increase  water  availability  through  desalinisation  have  yielded 
some results and will continue. Linking these efforts to renewable energy is crucial to the 
affordability of water and to reduce the current dependency on imported fossil fuels. The 
size of protected areas, mostly coastal and maritime, increased during the reporting period. 
In 2020 the Government submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 
(UNFCCC) its update to the first nationally determined contribution (NDC), which moves 
beyond the initial set of actions and commitments. 

1.5.  Good Governance 

The Government has been implementing the National Integrated Programme 2018-2023 
to  fight  the  use  of  drugs  and  drug  related  crimes  and  is  committed  to  disrupting  drug 
trafficking in its airports and waters, with a good record of drug seizures. However, Cabo 
Verde does not have adequate capacities to effectively patrol its Exclusive Economic Zone. 
In 2022, the country made decisive progress towards the full operationalisation in Praia of 
the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre related to the common regional strategy 
to prevent and prosecute illicit activities in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea.  

In  March  2020  the  law  for  the  creation  of  the  Corruption  Prevention  Council  (an 
independent anti-corruption authority) entered into force. The Council was established in 
October  2022  but  remains  to  be  fully  operationalised.  Cabo  Verde  is  also  preparing  a 
National  Strategy  to  prevent  and  fight  money  laundering,  which  remains  to  be  fully 
operationalised.  

Page | 2 

 
1.6. 

Status of Ratification and Reporting 

All 27 relevant international conventions have been ratified by Cabo Verde and are being 
implemented. However, some shortcomings are noted in reporting obligations (1), hindered 
by  the  limited  capacity  of  the  country’s  public  administration.  This  situation  risks 
worsening, with increasing budgetary constraints and the closure of projects related to the 
CNDHC and the International Labour Organization (ILO). On a positive note, in the last 
quarter  of  2022  an  Inter-ministerial  Commission  was  reinforced  to  increase  capacity  to 
respond to reporting obligations. 

2.  LONG-TERM VIEW: CABO VERDE SINCE JOINING GSP+ IN 2012  

Since the independence of the country in 1975, the EU and Cabo Verde have developed 
close  relations,  which  were  strengthened  by  the  EU-Cabo  Verde  Special  Partnership 
established  in  2007.  The  Special  Partnership  has  continued  to  evolve  and  has  been 
reinforced  based  on  political  dialogue,  convergence,  and  development  cooperation. 
Additional instruments are the Mobility Agreement, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership 
Agreement,  and  since  2012  the  GSP+ (2).  Cabo  Verde  is  the  only  GSP+  beneficiary  in 
Africa. Before the pandemic, the country had registered a notable improvement in social 
conditions, due to a significant drop in poverty, and substantial progress in the education 
and health sectors.  

Cabo  Verde  participated  in  the  negotiations  of  a  regional  EU-West  Africa  Economic 
Partnership Agreement and signed it in 2014, but the agreement did not enter into force 
due to incomplete signature on the West Africa side.  

The economy of Cabo Verde is highly sensitive to external factors. Economic growth was 
particularly robust and accelerated in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, from 
2016 to 2019 (+5.8% in 2019 according to the Central Bank of Cabo Verde) and dropped 
sharply thereafter (see point 3). 

The country is  highly dependent  on tourism, which accounts for over 25% of its GDP. 
External  trade  in  goods  and  services  seems  crucial  for  its  long-term  sustainable 
development considering a much-needed diversification of its economy. Cabo Verde has 
been aiming to become an exporter of services, namely information and communication 
technology (ICT), tourism, and maritime services. The GSP+ is perceived as an important 
component of the national Strategic Sustainable Development Plan (PEDS II). Preferential 
access to the EU market has been crucial for the development of the blue economy, namely 
of its fisheries industry  and of green growth. Fish products are the main Cabo Verdean 
goods export, and 95% thereof is destined to the EU market.   

Cabo Verde’s exports of goods to the EU have expanded over the years, from an average 
€42 million during the five years prior to 2014 to an average €76 million since then (3). 
The  trend  was  positive  until  2018,  when  exports  reached  €91  million,  but  they  then 
decreased by 5% in 2019, and another 13% in 2020 to €76 million, as a result of COVID-
19. Some recovery took place in 2021, with exports increasing by 12% to €84 million, but 

(1)  Cabo Verde has two overdue reports under human rights conventions and faces reporting challenges 

under several environmental and climate change agreements – see Annex. 

(2)  Effective on 1 January 2014. 
(3)   Based on mirror data, i.e. imports from Cabo Verde by the EU as reported by Eurostat. 

Page | 3 

 
 
2022  saw  another  drop  by  17%  to  €71  million.  The  EU’s  share  in  the  country’s  total 
exports,  which  had  already  been  dominant  in  the  years  before  its  entry  into  the  GSP+ 
arrangement at close to 70%, increased to about 83% over the period 2014-2021 (80% in 
2022, based on mirror data) (4). EU exports to  Cabo Verde  were  about  €0.66 billion in 
2022  –  about  nine  times  as  large  as  imports  –  with  mineral  fuels,  machinery  and  dairy 
products being the most important products. 

Cabo  Verde  has  been  benefiting  from  a  derogation  from  rules  of  origin  since  2008  for 
mackerel  and  since  2019  for  mackerel  and  tuna (5).  Under  the  EU  rules,  this  kind  of 
derogation has to be regarded as temporary and subject to administrative cooperation and 
improved compliance with the rules of origin. 

Cabo  Verde’s  Government  is  committed  to  an  environmentally  sustainable  use  of  its 
marine  resources,  as  evidenced  by  its  membership  and  active  participation  in  various 
sustainable fishing agreements and initiatives, including the International Commission for 
the  Conservation  of  Atlantic  Tunas  (ICCAT)  and  a  Sustainable  Fisheries  Partnership 
agreement with the EU since 2007. 

3.  RECENT DEVELOPMENTS  

In 2020,  the Government  of  Cabo Verde elaborated, supported by the UN, a  long-term 
development vision reflected in the plan “Cabo Verde’s Ambition 2030”, which covers 
areas  such  as  maritime  transport,  trade  and  industry,  tourism,  digital  services,  and 
innovation with the aim of making Cabo Verde a Mid-Atlantic economic platform and to 
diversify  its  economy  through  the  development  of  competitiveness  clusters  based  on  a 
model of sustainable growth led by the private sector. The implementation of this plan was, 
however, considerably affected by COVID-19 and by the inflationary pressure stemming 
from Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. 

According to the Central Bank of Cabo Verde, in 2020 GDP contracted by 15%, the largest 
drop ever registered nationally, and the second largest one in Sub-Saharan Africa. Progress 
made  prior  to  the  pandemic  on  fiscal  consolidation,  fight  against  poverty  and  debt 
reduction  was  reversed.  The  combined  effect  of  the  cost  of  mitigating  measures  and  a 
dramatic decline in tourism (-71%) and in fiscal revenues (-23.8%) led to an increase of 
external debt from 124.9% of GDP in 2019 to 155% by the end of 2021. According to a 
GDP rebasing exercise, the IMF and the World Bank estimate that the debt to GDP ratio 
declined to 128.1% by end-2022. This remains an extremely high figure.  

These negative developments resulted in the deterioration of Cabo Verde’s main human 
development  indicators  and  may  delay  the  Government’s  goal  of  eradicating  extreme 

(4)   According to Cabo Verde’s National Statistics Institute (INE), 92.1% of CV exports in 2021 and 93.8% 
in 2022 went to the EU market. INE indicates that for 2017 and 2018 these figures were 96.2% and 
95.8% 
https://ine.cv/estatistica-de-comercio-extreno/#1477419842752-9b82d5f4-
f792c90e-449d  
All links provided in this Staff Working Document were up to date on 20 October 2023. 

respectively. 

(5)  Commission  Implementing  Regulation  (EU)  2021/966  of  11  June  2021,  granting  Cabo  Verde  a 
temporary  derogation  from  the  rules  on  preferential  origin  laid  down  in  delegated  Regulation  (EU) 
2015/2446,  in  respect  of  prepared  or  pressed  tuna  fillets,  prepared  or  preserved  mackerel  fillets  and 
prepared  or  preserved  frigate  tuna  or  frigate  mackerel  fillets,  OJ  L214  of  17.06.2021.  Previous 
derogations existed since 2008. See Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 815/2008 of 14 August 
2008, OJ L220 of 15.5.2008. 

Page | 4 

 
 
poverty  by  2026 (6).  Currently,  13%  of  the  population  is  estimated  to  live  in  extreme 
poverty (7) and 10% in food insecurity.  

In 2021, the economy initiated a moderate recovery registering a GDP growth of 6.8%. In 
2022, growth increased to 17.7%, supported by the reopening of the country to tourism, 
with  the help  of  a  successful vaccination  campaign and the  equivalence  of the national 
COVID-19 certificate with the EU’s. In 2022, the GDP of Cabo Verde was estimated at 
€2.3  billion  by  the  World  Bank.  However,  the  exacerbating  inflation (8)  affecting  food 
products  and  energy  prices  is  reducing  consumers  purchasing  power  and  threatening 
inclusive growth. According to the 2023 State Budget, GDP should increase by 4.8% in 
2023. 

The increasing deficit of the country was financed mainly through concessional loans from 
the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the IMF’s credit facility amounting 
to €120 million. Remittances continued to support the country’s relatively strong reserve 
position. 

A  new  President  of  the  National  Commission  for  Human  Rights  and  Citizenship, 
(CNDHC, established by the Government in 2014) was appointed in February 2023. This 
institution will be particularly important since Cabo Verde is to present its candidacy to 
the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period 2025-2027. However, the issue 
of the Commission’s compliance principles, namely regarding its independence vis-à-vis 
the Ministry of Justice, remains unresolved. 

The  strategic  and  geographical  situation  of  Cabo  Verde  has  allowed  for  an  increase  in 
private  and  public  investments  for  the  Mindelo  Blue  Port  Initiative  (MBI)  within  the 
framework  of  the  Global  Gateway  flagships,  which,  among  other  objectives,  aims  at 
building a deep-water port. 

EU–Cabo Verde Development Cooperation 

Between  2014  and  2020,  EU  support  under  the  11th  European  Development  Fund  (EDF) 
consisted of “Good Governance and Development” budget support and various regional projects 
in  the  areas  of  competitiveness,  renewable  energy,  and  port  infrastructure.  General  budget 
support disbursements in this period amounted to €71 million, including crisis related tranches, 
mitigating the impact of climate related disasters (torrential rains, prolonged drought), and, most 
notably, of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The  new  Cabo  Verde-EU  Multiannual  Indicative  Programme  (MIP)  2021-2027  aims  at 
supporting the implementation of the country’s development strategy and in particular economic 
recovery, while fostering a transformational shift towards an inclusive, green, and blue growth 
economic model. The EU is also preparing major Global Gateway investments to be financed 
through regional NDICI–Global Europe funding and in close cooperation with the European 
Investment  Bank.  In  addition,  several  projects  are  implemented  with  civil  society,  local 
authorities and national public entities (e.g. Court of Auditors, National Institute of Statistics, 
National Mint House) which are instrumental notably in the areas of security, illicit flows, good 
governance and public finance management, human rights, and mobility.  

The MIP includes two priorities for the period 2021-2027: 

(6)   In 2020, the number of people living in extreme poverty (<1.9 USD/day) was estimated at 72,874 (about 
14% of the population of 492,000 according to the 2021 National Census by the National Statistical 
Institute). In June 2022, the number of individuals registered in the Social Register in the most vulnerable 
Group (I) was 131,001. 

(7)  The  EU’s  Budget  Support  2021-2024  focuses  heavily  on  assisting  Government  to  eradicate  extreme 

poverty through social protection schemes. 

(8)  Annual inflation in Cabo Verde averaged 7.9% in 2022, the highest rate since 1997, according to INE. 

Page | 5 

 
 
i) Governance for Human Development and Equality (allocation 2021-2024: €12 million). It 
comprises  support  to  the  Government’s  mitigation  measures  to  respond  to  the  crisis,  while 
ensuring  no  one  is  left  behind  during  the  recovery  phase,  with  particular  attention  to  the 
eradication of extreme poverty by 2026; as well as reinforcing the sustainability of Government 
policies by strengthening domestic resource mobilisation and public finance management and 
by enhancing normative convergence with the EU. 

ii) Green Economy for decent jobs and inclusive growth (allocation 2021-2024: €9 million). 
This  has  three  elements:  supporting  Cabo  Verde’s  commitment  to  reach  50%  of  renewable 
energy penetration by 2030, promotion of sustainable tourism, and support to the Blue Economy 
sector. 

Cabo Verde is also one of the five lusophone countries in Africa (plus Timor Leste) receiving 
support under the PALOP-TL contract “economic governance”. 

The  Global  Gateway  Europe-Africa  Investment  Package  has  also  benefited  Cabo  Verde  by 
financing its connection to the transatlantic fibre optic cable linking Latin America and Europe, 
ELLALINK, and extending the port of Maio. 

A High Authority for Immigration was established in July 2020, introducing improved 
procedures and practices related to the integration of immigrants and their access to public 
services. 

4.  EU–CABO VERDE TRADE AND GSP+ 

The EU remains the main trading partner of Cabo Verde, providing for over 80% of the 
country’s  imports  and  being  the  destination  of  over  90%  of  its  exports,  most  of  them 
covered by the GSP+ preferences. 

Trade between the EU and Cabo Verde decreased in 2020 and 2021 to below €600 million 
(€584 million in 2021), comparing to €734 million in 2019, and rebounded to €733 million 
in  2022,  thanks  to  larger  EU  exports  to  the  country.  Cabo  Verde’s  exports  to  the  EU 
however decreased in 2022, as noted above, to €71 million. These exports, albeit small, 
are very relevant for the country and notably for its fisheries sector. 

Figures 1-4 below describe Cabo Verde’s utilisation of GSP+ in the context of the EU’s 
overall imports from Cabo Verde (9). 

Between  2019  and  2021,  exporters  of  Cabo  Verde  used  around  90-93%  of  tariff 
preferences available under the GSP+, which dropped to 86% in 2022 (Figure 1). In 2022, 
close to €65 million worth of goods imported to the EU from Cabo Verde were elegible to 
benefit from these preferences (Figure 1 and 2) and the main products were preparations 
of  meat,  of  fish  or  of  crustaceans,  molluscs  or  other  aquatic  invertebrates  (Figure  3). 
Together with fish, these accounted for about 80% of the country’s total exports to the EU. 
Other  exports  are  quite  limited,  with  garments  and  footwear  also  showing  consistent 
exports over time, of about €3-5 million each (about 5-8% each in total exports to the EU). 
Meat and fish preparations incurred the largest tariff reduction in 2022 (Figure 4).   

(9)  Source for all statistics: Eurostat data as of September 2023. GSP+ statistics only cover goods imported 
in the EU market, i.e., goods released for free circulation in the EU. The GSP statistics do not cover 
other EU-imports, like goods imported for the customs inward processing procedure or re-imports after 
the customs outward processing procedure. Trade flows registered as “confidential” do not appear in the 
GSP+  usage  figures  and  regime  1  normal  trade;  but  do  appear  in  total  trade  figures  (regime  4). 
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/ext_go_agg_esms.htm#conf1537195068659  

Page | 6 

 
 
 
Figure 1: EU imports from Cabo Verde and GSP+ utilisation rate, 2019-2021 

Total imports, € million 

GSP+ eligible, € million 

GSP+ used, € million 

Share GSP+ in total, % 

GSP+ utilisation rate, % 

2019 

84.5 

68.0 

61.2 

80.5 

90.0 

2020 

71.8 

57.7 

53.8 

80.4 

93.2 

2021 

82.6 

62.5 

56.4 

75.7 

90.2 

2022 

Trend % 

-17.8 

-4.6 

-9.1 

69.5 

64.9 

55.7 

93.4 

85.8 

Figure 2: EU imports from Cabo Verde by trade regime (€ million) and utilisation rates (%), 2019-2022 

100

80

60

40

20

0

7

61

16

6

56

20

4

54

14

9

56

5
2022

2021

2020

2019
GSP+ eligible not used
GSP+ preferential imports (€ million)
Other (MFN)

100

95

90

85

80

75

70

65

60

93,2

90,0

94,3

93,2

80,5

80,4

93,4

86,1

85,8

92,5

90,2

75,7

2019

2020

2021

2022

Share GSP+ in total
Utilisation rate
Share duty-free in total

Figure 3: Top Cabo Verde product groups 
benefitting from GSP+ tariff preferences, 2022, 
€ million 

Figure 4: GSP+ tariff reduction gains per product 
group, 2022, € million 

89,8 93,5

99,9 99,5

55,1

4
,
7
4

6
,
2
4

7
,
0 7
,
5

7
,
4

2
,
4

31,8

7
,
2

7
,
2

2
,
1

2
,
1

9
,
0

3
,
0

50,0
45,0
40,0
35,0
30,0
25,0
20,0
15,0
10,0
5,0
0,0

Footwear 
0,1

Others
0,0

Apparel & 
clothing
0,6

Fish & 
crustaceans
0,7

100,0
90,0
80,0
70,0
60,0
50,0
40,0
30,0
20,0
10,0

Meat & fish 
preparations
10,0

Eligible

Used

Utilisation rate (%)

5.  COMPLIANCE WITH GSP+ OBLIGATIONS  

5.1. UN Human Rights Conventions (Conventions 1-7)  

Stable political institutions and an operational multiparty democracy with a strong legal 
framework  that  guarantees  protection  of  human  rights  have  contributed  to  Cabo  Verde 
having one of the best human rights records in Africa.  

Page | 7 

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
In  2022,  the  announced  merger  between  the  National  Commission  on  Human  Rights 
(CNDHC)  and  the  recently  established  Ombudsman  continued  to  be  controversial.  The 
Government argued that this would bring national human rights bodies more in line with 
the  Paris  Principles,  further  improve  efficiency,  and  avoid  institutional  duplications. 
However,  the  then  President  of  CNDHC  (as  well  as  civil  society  organisations)  voiced 
concerns about the Ombudsman’s capacity to cope with the accumulation of roles. In the 
end, the Government withdrew the draft legislation that would have enacted this change, 
as it lacked the qualified majority needed in Parliament to approve this reform. The need 
to  reinforce  the  CNDHC’s  independence  vis-à-vis  the  Ministry  of  Justice  remains 
unresolved. 

The Government is aware of the need to improve specific shortcomings, such as human 
resources shortages in the judiciary, including magistrates. Challenges also remain with 
respect  to  the  fight  against  gender-based  violence,  violence  against  children,  sexual 
exploitation of women and children and trafficking in persons. Despite public campaigns, 
early  pregnancies  of  teenage  girls  continue  to  be  frequent.  The  rights  of  persons  with 
disabilities are also not properly ensured.  

During  the  reporting  period,  a  substantial  implementation  effort  was  made  by  the 
Government.  This  was  visible  in  the  approval  of  human  rights  related  legislation,  the 
elaboration of action plans, policies, or national strategies on human rights topics, and the 
establishment  of  new  administrative  structures 
the 
implementation of human rights policies. 

to  support  coordination 

in 

5.1.1.  International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 

(CERD) 

In  the  period  2012-2022,  the  CERD  Committee  did  not  issue  any  periodic  report.  The 
country  was  again  not  compliant  with  its  reporting  obligations  under  this  Convention. 
Reports on CERD are overdue since 2006. 

5.1.2.  International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 

In its 2019 Concluding Observations, the Committee on ICCPR welcomed the legislative, 
institutional,  and  policy  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  progress  in  the 
implementation of the Covenant’s provisions. These included some cases of discrimination 
against persons with HIV/AIDS, LGBTIQ people, and persons with disabilities, as well as 
the  persistence  of  deep-rooted  patriarchal  attitudes  and  gender  stereotypes  affecting 
women’s rights, violence against children, trafficking in persons, excessive use of force 
against people arrested or detained by the police, inconsistent application of fundamental 
legal safeguards of detainees, and detention conditions. 

In the 2022 edition of the Freedom in the World Index, Cabo Verde was ranked as a free 
country (10). The 2022 Reporters Without Borders (RWB) “World Press Freedom Index” 
ranked Cabo Verde in 36th place, dropping nine places in comparison to the previous year. 
According  to  RWB,  Cabo  Verde  faces  challenges  regarding  the  independence  and 
autonomy of the public media sector, and the lack of sustainability of the private media.  
In the face of the limited advertising market, public advertising plays a determinant role. 
In  this  context,  the  National  Journalists  Association  considers  there  is  a  risk  of  self-
censorship by journalists.  

(10)  With an overall score of 92 out of 100 – 54 out of 60 for civil liberties and 38 out of 40 for political 

rights in 2021; https://freedomhouse.org/country/cabo-verde/freedom-world/2022.  

Page | 8 

 
 
At the time of finalising this report, draft legislation on the prohibition of various types of 
discrimination  (including against LGBTIQ persons) prepared under the initiative of the 
National Commission for Human Rights and Citizenship continued to await discussion in 
Parliament.  

In September 2021, the Government adopted a law establishing an exceptional regime for 
the extraordinary regularisation of foreign citizens from the Economic Community of West 
African States (ECOWAS) and from the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries 
(CPLP). 

EU–Cabo Verde Development Cooperation on Strengthening Integration of Migrants 

A  project  on  “Strengthening  Migrant  Integration  through  cooperation  between  Portugal  and 
Cabo Verde - Coop4Int” is funded by the EU through the Migration Partnership Facility of the 
International  Centre  for  Migration  Policy  Development  (ICMPD)  since  December  2021  to 
January 2026.The amount allocated for this project is €1.5 million.   

Coop4Int  seeks  to  enhance  the  integration  of  migrants  into  the  society  of  Cabo  Verde, 
facilitating the development of tools and services provided locally to migrants and strengthening 
cooperation  on  migration  issues  between  Portugal  and  Cabo  Verde.  In  alignment  with  the 
priorities of the National Immigration Strategy 2018-2021, it involves the High Commission for 
Migration  of  Portugal  and  the  High  Authority  for  Immigration  of  Cabo  Verde,  alongside 
academic centres. 

5.1.3.  International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 

To ensure the protection of economic, institutional, and cultural rights, the Government of 
Cabo Verde took legislative, institutional, and policy measures that were welcomed by the 
Committee  on  ICESCR  in  its  concluding  observations  from  2018.  However,  the 
Committee  was  particularly  concerned  about  the  widespread  gender  inequality  in  the 
country. These inequalities are mirrored in women’s access to employment and education 
and in  the wage gap between men and women. Women are also  overrepresented in  the 
informal sector of the economy, leaving them in a more vulnerable position. Despite the 
raise of the minimum monthly wage to 127 euros, this is still deemed insufficient to provide 
a decent living and is reportedly not complied with in the agricultural sector and domestic 
service where the majority of workers are women. 

Regarding children’s rights, a substantial number of children are living in poverty. Child 
labour,  child  exploitation,  and  violence  against  children  remain  an  important  challenge 
which the recent economic crisis may have worsened.  

Concerns were also raised regarding access to public water supplies in most rural areas, as 
well as access to adequate housing and health services, namely due to the lack of health 
professionals. 

The 2021 Ibrahim Index for the quality of education ranked Cabo Verde as the 4th out of 
54 African countries (11).  

to  which 

(11)  The quality of education indicators assess the extent to which there are solid educational institutions and 
education policy delivers high quality education and supports research and development, as well as the 
extent 
the  needs  of  a  competitive  economy  (see 
the  education  system  meets 
https://iiag.online/data.html?meas=GOVERNANCE-
_1&loc=CV&view=table&subview=rank&range1from=2012&range1to=2021&range2from=2017&ra
nge2to=2021&showLowest=true&showHighest=true&showHighlights=true&showFullContext=false
&showAAT=false). 

Page | 9 

 
 
 
5.1.4.  Convention  on  the  Elimination  of  All  Forms  of  Discrimination  against  Women 

(CEDAW) 

Despite  some  improvements  in  the  legislative,  regulatory,  institutional,  and  policy 
frameworks related to the implementation of CEDAW, violence and discrimination against 
women remain  high.  A  positive  development  relates to  the  Law  Against  Gender-Based 
Violence adopted in 2011, after which prosecution of this crime no longer depends on a 
complaint  from  the  victim.  In  November  2022,  the  Government  announced  a  first 
allocation  of  funds  to  the  Victims’  Support  Fund  established  by  this  Law.  This  will  be 
decisive in financing a proper support system for victims. Another positive development 
is the Law on Gender Parity in political representation adopted in 2019, which has resulted 
in increased representation of women in Parliament and city councils. 

Gender  roles  and  stereotypes  are  deeply  rooted  in  Cabo  Verde’s  patriarchal  society. 
Women make up the majority of the poor and of informal sector workers, and consequently 
have less access to regular income and social protection. 

The  Government  is  actively  engaged  in  strengthening  gender  equality.  To  this  end,  in 
November 2021, it approved the National Gender Equality Plan 2021-2025. 

EU–Cabo Verde Cooperation against Gender-Based Violence 

In September 2020, the Cabo Verdean Association for the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence 
(ACLCVBG),  in  partnership  with  the  European  Partnership  for  Democracy,  the  Netherlands 
Institute  for  Multiparty  Democracy,  and  the  World  Leadership  Alliance-Club  of  Madrid 
promoted  online  training  on  Participatory  Audits,  as  part  of  the  EU  funded  “Djuntu  pa 
igualdadi” project. Trainings targeting all stakeholders (e.g. magistrates, police, NGOs, lawyers, 
journalists) continued in presence in 2021 and 2022. This project produced a roadmap for the 
effective implementation of the national Law on GBV. 

In March and December 2022, the EU and Djuntu pa igualdadi organised high-level dialogues 
on  Gender-Based  Violence  with  the  participation  of  the  Minister  for  Family  and  Social 
Inclusion,  the  Minister  of  Justice,  the  Institute  for  Gender  Equality  and  Equity,  members  of 
parliament, academia, and civil society. These events confirmed a strong political engagement, 
as  well as  the  relevance  of  civil  society  organisations  in  the  fight  against  this  deeply rooted 
problem. This was also an opportunity to take stock of the implementation of the Special Law 
on Gender-Based Violence, ten years after its adoption. 

Trafficking in persons is criminalised under the Penal Code of Cabo Verde. However, the 
CEDAW  Committee  noted that there  is a general  lack of standard protocols  to  identify 
victims of trafficking, and no special trainings are provided for the border police. Cases of 
forced  prostitution  take  place,  especially  affecting  migrant  women  from  West  African 
countries, mainly on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista. Moreover, poverty may also be a 
driver  for  women  and  girls’  sexual  exploitation.  The  number  of  investigations, 
prosecutions and convictions for human trafficking and sexual exploitation remains low.  

In 2022, measures included prosecuting and convicting a trafficker (for the first time in 3 
years) and launching standard operating procedures for victim identification and referral 
to  services.  Although  there  are  no  specific  shelters  or  services  for  victims  of  human 
trafficking, government-funded agencies such as the Institute for Children and Adolescents 
and the Institute for Gender Equality and Equity provide assistance. There is a need for 
training of law enforcement officials, labour inspectors, and child protection officers on 
ways to proactively identify victims. The project Organised Crime: West African Response 
to Trafficking (OCWAR–T), funded by the EU and the German Federal Foreign Office 
(GFFO), has been assisting on this. 

Page | 10 

 
 
5.1.5.  Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or 

Punishment (CAT) 

There is no record of any specific crime of torture at police level in Cabo Verde. However, 
incidents of police violence have been registered. A case dating back to 2014 concerns the 
death of a suspected criminal while in police custody, reportedly involving high-ranking 
officials.  It  reappeared  in  the  media  in  2022,  motivating  a  rare  intervention  from  the 
Prosecutor’s  Office  against  the  journalists  on  the  grounds  of  their  breaching  the 
confidentiality of judicial procedures. There have been no further developments since. 

In  the  reporting  period,  the  Government  continued  to  promote  training  and  awareness 
campaigns for security forces to improve the effective implementation of the Convention, 
notwithstanding the limited capacity of the judicial system. 

According  to  the  National  Commission  on Human Rights (CNDHC),  prison conditions 
generated  the  highest  number  of  complaints  it  received  in  2022,  notably  on  deficient 
conditions regarding sanitation, cases of abuse of authority, and difficult access to legal 
counsel  and  judicial  records.  The  Government  is  making  efforts  to  improve  prison 
infrastructures, but more and better-trained personnel (including legal and psychological 
counsel) is also severely lacking. In 2022, there were changes to the Criminal and Criminal 
Procedure Codes to include the use of alternative sanctioning measures such as electronic 
bracelets. This may help reduce prison overcrowding, especially in Praia. 

The  state  report  to  the  Committee  against  Torture  was  due  in  2020  but  has  not  been 
submitted yet.  

5.1.6.  Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 

The Cabo Verdean Institute for the Child and Adolescents (ICCA) continued to work in 
cooperation with local authorities, police forces, the attorney general, hospitals, and health 
centres  to  combat  violence,  abuse,  and  sexual  exploitation  of  children.  These  remain  a 
challenge and may have been worsened by the dire economic circumstances the country 
has gone through in the reporting period.  

In 2019, the ICCA stated that most cases of sexual abuse of minors were registered on the 
islands of Santiago, Fogo, and Santo Antão. The ICCA has created the Nôs Kaza Centres 
in  Praia  and  Santa  Maria  to  monitor  the  situation  and  care  for  homeless  children  and 
adolescents.  According  to  the  National  Police,  between  2012  and  2021,  sexual  crimes 
against children represented over 60% of all reported sexual crimes.  

In 2020, the National  Assembly  adopted  the Law on Crimes of  Sexual  Aggression and 
Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents. The Law, which is now in 
force, increases the penalties for sexual assault, including in cases of commercial sexual 
exploitation, sexting, and child sex tourism. In 2021, the Penal Code and the Code of Penal 
Procedure were revised to include provisions on sexual crimes against children. Moreover, 
the Second National Plan to Prevent and Combat Sexual Violence Against Children and 
Adolescents for 2022-2024 was adopted in 2022 (12).  

(12) Although not required by GSP Regulation, it is worth mentioning that in October 2022, Cabo Verde 
acceded to the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (which entered into 
force  on  1  January  2023)  and  the  Convention  on  Jurisdiction,  Applicable  Law,  Recognition, 
Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of 
Children (which entered into force on 1 August 2023). 

Page | 11 

 
 
Further efforts were made by the Government to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, 
which  continues  to  be  a  major  problem,  especially  in  agriculture,  construction,  and 
domestic work (see also point 5.2.3.). 

Regarding detention conditions, juvenile offenders aged between 12 and 15 are sent to the 
Orlando Pantera Centre in Praia, the only such centre in the country, which was funded 
by the EU in the framework of a project carried out by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime 
(UNODC) and the Ministry of Justice. Plans to create similar centres on different islands 
have been drafted but lack financing. 

Conclusions and priorities 

During  the reporting period,  Cabo Verde confirmed  overall a  good record on human 
rights  promotion  and  protection,  based  on  a  strong  national  legislative  framework, 
inclusive democratic procedures, and transparent institutions. 

However, limited human resources and technical capacity of the country’s small public 
administration  chronically  hinder  its  ability  to  deliver  on  reporting  obligations  under 
international conventions.  

The CCPPR  expressed concerns about  the lack of comprehensive anti-discrimination 
legislation covering all the grounds prohibited under the Covenant. A draft Law on non-
discrimination,  including  against  LGBTIQ  persons,  continues  to  await  discussion  in 
Parliament since 2019. Gender-based violence and children’s rights deserve continued 
and close monitoring. 

The Government is committed to a comprehensive and ambitious programme of reforms 
to  improve  the  judiciary’s  efficiency,  ranging  from  the  improvement  of  facilities  to 
digitalisation and to recruitment and training of judges and prosecutors. The President 
of the Republic also pays close attention to developments regarding the efficiency of the 
justice system. In 2022, progress was made in the gradual and phased establishment of 
a forensic institute over a period of ten years.  

Compliance of the CNDHC’s Statute with the Paris Principles will continue to require 
attention.  

5.2. 

ILO Labour Rights Conventions (Conventions 8-15)  

Cabo  Verde  has  a  strong  and  comprehensive  legal  framework  on  labour  rights  and 
standards and made  serious efforts to  preserve labour conditions  during  the COVID-19 
pandemic (13). 

The country has made progress in combating trafficking in persons, working towards the 
elimination of child labour, as well as towards gender equality, improving the rights of 
persons  with  disabilities  and  migrant  workers.  Further  improvement  is  encouraged  as 
regards the right to strike and collective bargaining, as well as on timely reporting to the 

(13)  Even if not required by GSP Regulation, it is worth nothing that in January 2020 Cabo Verde ratified 
ILO 
Standards); 
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:11200:0::NO:11200:P11200_COUNTRY_ID:103096.  

Convention 

(Minimum 

Security 

Social 

102 

No. 

on 

Page | 12 

 
 
 
ILO  monitoring  bodies (14).  The  country  benefitted  from  the  Trade  for  Decent  Work 
programme funded by the EU and Finland, implemented by the ILO. 

5.2.1.  Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining (Conventions No. 87 and No. 

98) 

Although the Government of Cabo Verde continues to be committed to promoting freedom 
of association and collective bargaining, to ensure compliance with the fundamental ILO 
Conventions No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise 
and No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, a few elements are lacking. 
All workers are guaranteed the freedom to create trade unions or professional associations 
to defend their rights, and their right to freedom of assembly and demonstration is legally 
safeguarded. However, generally, the Government restricts the right to strike in broadly 
defined essential industries and formal collective bargaining is reportedly uncommon in 
the private sector (15). 

In  2020,  the  ILO  Committee  of  Experts  on  the  Application  of  Conventions  and 
Recommendations (CEACR) requested the Government to provide detailed information 
on how minimum services are determined in essential services, in the event of a strike, and 
on the applicable rules for “recourse to civil requisitioning” and their implementation (16). 
It should be noted that the independent tripartite committee responsible for determining 
minimum  services  in  the  event  of  a  strike  has  not  yet  taken  up  its  functions (17),  as 
stipulated by the Labour Code of 2016. 

In  the  context  of  promoting  collective  bargaining,  the  Directorate-General  for 
Employment, under the Ministry of Finance, carried out labour fairs, workshops, and visits 
to  companies.  Moreover,  there  are  five  collective  bargaining  agreements  signed  and  in 
force,  covering  for  instance  workers  in  sectors  of  telecommunications,  electricity,  air 
transport and security services. The latest meeting of the Council for Social Consultation 
(Conselho de Concertação Social) took place on the 14th of March 2023 in Praia to discuss 
several changes to the Labour Code. 

5.2.2.  Abolition of Forced Labour (Conventions No. 29 and No. 105) 

Regarding Convention No. 29 on Forced Labour, Cabo Verde is aware of the warnings in 
the Police and in the Human Rights Committee reports that the region may be used as a 
transit point for trafficking in persons from West Africa to the Canary Islands and Europe. 
Hence the issue has been given priority by the Ministry of Justice. Trafficking in persons 
is criminalised under article 271-A of the Penal Code, introduced in 2015. No other specific 
legislation has been adopted. Furthermore, the National Observatory for the Monitoring 
and Rapid  Identification of Situations  of Trafficking  in  Persons, while intended to  lead 
national efforts, lacks the capacity to coordinate anti-trafficking activities.  

(14)  A positive sign is that the CEACR report of February 2023 recognises that Cabo Verde has submitted 
all  the  required  reports  for  the  year  2022  in  due  time,  before  the  CEACR  met  in  late  2022. 
(https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---
relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_868115.pdf, page 987) 
(15)  https://freedomhouse.org/country/cabo-verde/freedom-world/2022  
(16) 

https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_
COUNTRY_ID:4023439,103096  

(17)  According to the information provided by the  Government to ILO, the  matter will be settled, not by 
means of an implementing legislation to the Labour Code, but within the framework of a new legislative 
review process, which will be dependent on a prior impact assessment of the Labour Code, as requested 
by the social partners. 

Page | 13 

 
 
Cabo Verde has also been cooperating with European partners to address migration and 
human trafficking. Further efforts on protection and shelters for victims of trafficking are 
needed.  

It  should  be  noted  that  both  the  Judicial  Police  and  the  National  Police  do  not  have 
sufficient resources to identify cases of trafficking in persons, collect data, or to conduct 
investigations  throughout  the  national  territory.  Therefore,  law  enforcement  focuses  on 
international  airports  and  tourist  destinations  considered  as  hotspots  for  the  risk  of 
trafficking in persons, including for sex tourism.  

Regarding  Convention  No.  105  on  Abolition  of  Forced  Labour,  ILO’s  CEACR  in  its 
regular 2021 report had no comments on Cabo Verde’s implementation, which can be seen 
as a positive sign (18). 

5.2.3.  Minimum Age for Work and Worst Forms of Child Labour (Conventions No. 138 

and No. 182) 

In  2019,  Cabo  Verde  was  discussed  as  an  individual  case  at  the  ILO’s  Committee  on 
Application of Standards (CAS) regarding the implementation of ILO Convention No. 182 
on the Worst Forms of Child  Labour (19). In its conclusions, the Committee invited the 
Government  to  report,  in  the  regular  reporting  cycle,  on  progress  made  in  the 
implementation  of  Convention  No.  182  in  law  and  in  practice,  in  consultation  with  the 
most representative employers’ and workers’ organisations.  

Children  in  Cabo  Verde  are  subjected  to  the  worst  forms  of  child  labour,  including  to 
commercial  sexual  exploitation  and  human  trafficking.  However,  lack  of  data  does  not 
allow for a clear picture. In its report of February 2023, the CEACR urged the Government 
to take the necessary measures to ensure full implementation of the Penal Code regarding 
the crimes of child pornography and trafficking in persons, including minors, for sexual or 
labour  exploitation.  It  also  requested  transparent  reporting  including  the  number  of 
investigations, prosecutions, and convictions. 

In  2020,  the  National  Assembly  approved  a  Law  on  Crimes  of  Sexual  Aggression  and 
Abuse Against Children and Adolescents, increasing penalties for sexual assault, including 
in cases of commercial sexual exploitation, sexting, and child sex tourism. The Law also 
expands the definition of “children” from 14 to 16 years of age for such cases. In 2021, the 
Penal  Code  and  Code  of  Penal  Procedure  were  revised  to  include  provisions  on  sexual 
crimes  against  children.  Moreover,  the  Second  National  Plan  to  Prevent  and  Combat 
Sexual  Violence  Against Children and Adolescents  - 2022-2024, along  with  a National 
Communications Strategy (for implementation in 2022) were also adopted. 

Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture. The CEACR urged the Government 
to take measures to raise the general minimum age for admission to hazardous work from 
16 to 18 years and ensure that no child under the age of 18 shall be authorised to engage 
in hazardous work, other than in the exceptional cases allowed by Convention No. 138. In 
the reporting period, there has been a slight increase in reports of child labour cases to the 
Cabo Verdean Institute for the Child and Adolescents (ICCA). This may indicate that the 
population is more aware of child labour as a crime. Every year, in June, ICCA, together 
with Labour Inspection, carries out awareness raising campaigns on the consequences of 

(18)  https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:11110:::NO  
(19) 

https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_
COUNTRY_ID:4000038,103096  

Page | 14 

 
 
child labour. However, many people, especially in rural areas, continue to be unaware that 
certain activities carried out by children constitute child labour and that this is a crime.  

The Civil Code includes a list of light work activities that children from 14 years of age 
are  allowed  to  perform;  however,  it  does  not  prescribe  the  number  of  hours  per  week 
permissible for such light activities, nor does it specify the conditions under which these 
may be performed. While a list of hazardous work exists in Cabo Verde to prohibit such 
work for persons under 16 years of age, the ILO insists that this list still is to be amended, 
so that hazardous work will be prohibited for all persons under 18 years of age, not just 
those under 16 years (20). 

In  Cabo  Verde  the  gender  issue  does  not  arise  in  relation  to  frequency  and  access  to 
education.  Legally, all adolescents  and young children,  regardless  of their gender,  have 
equal treatment and opportunities in accessing education. Several measures are underway 
to  improve  the  education  system  in  the  country  with  the  implementation  of  the  new 
Strategic Education Plan.  

Since  2020/2021,  the  expansion  of  School  Social  Action  programmes  for  low-income 
students  and  the  extension  of  compulsory  education  to  the  12th  grade  contribute  to  the 
eradication of child labour. Education is also a way to overcome inequalities and promote 
opportunities for the poor and for the rural population. In 2022, the CEACR took note with 
interest of the detailed information provided by the Government regarding the wide range 
of  measures  taken  to  improve  the  functioning  of  the  education  system,  including  by 
increasing school enrolment, attendance, and completion rates. 

There is an urgent need for a survey to update information on child labour. In its absence, 
progress towards the elimination of child labour can only be assessed indirectly, namely 
through  progress  in  school  enrolment  rates.  Technical  capacity  for  monitoring  and 
following-up should also be strengthened (21). 

5.2.4.  Equal Remuneration and Elimination of Discrimination (Conventions No. 100 and 

No. 111) 

In general terms, labour laws, both for the public and private sectors, are guided by the 
principle of gender equality. The Cabo Verdean Labour Code indicates that workers are 
entitled to fair remuneration, according to the quantity, nature, and quality of their work. 
However, for the full respect of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value 
foreseen in ILO Convention No. 100, ILO urges further legislative amendments, ensuring 
the comparison of the value of work shall be done on the basis of factors free from gender 
bias,  such  as  skills,  effort,  responsibilities  and  working  conditions (22),  considering  the 
overall value of all factors. 

The CEACR has noted a number of areas where legislative changes would be necessary to 
implement ILO Convention No. 111, such as the need to ensure that workers are protected 
against discrimination based on national extraction (or to clarify if the words lineage or 

(20)  In its most recent comments about Convention No. 138 published in February 2023, the ILO CEACR 
urged the Government again to take the necessary measures to address this major problem. (CEACR 
report, page 438). 

(21)  Neither of the two most prominent UNICEF databases provide any suitable information about the child 
labour  rate  in  Cabo  Verde,  nor  the  webpage  of  the  ILO,  nor  the  website  of  the  World  Bank: 
https://mics.unicef.org/surveys; 
https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-labour/; 
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.0714.ZS?locations=CV  

(22) 

https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_
COUNTRY_ID:4023848,103096  

Page | 15 

 
 
origin have been implemented in this light), as well as to protect workers against indirect 
discrimination.  

The CEACR addressed the conditions of migrant workers in relation to Convention No. 
111  on  equality  of  opportunity  and  treatment  irrespective  of  race,  colour  or  national 
extraction. In this regard, the Committee asked the Government to take proactive measures 
to combat stereotypes and discrimination based on race, colour or national extraction, and 
to effectively ensure equality of opportunity and treatment for migrant workers, including 
for those in an irregular situation, in particular with regard to their remuneration. 

The  Committee  has  also  requested  the  Government  to  take  steps  to  ensure  protection 
against all forms of sexual harassment, not only committed by employers but also by other 
workers,  clients,  customers  and  suppliers.  Women  are  overrepresented  in  the  domestic 
work  sector.  The  Labour  Code  also  recognises  domestic  work  as  a  legal  modality  and 
domestic workers enjoy  the same rights – except for unemployment benefits – as other 
types of workers, namely the right to the same working conditions, social security, weekly 
rest and right to annual leave.  

Concerning equal opportunities for people with disabilities, the Government exempts the 
payment of tuition fees to students with disabilities and special needs at any level - from 
pre-school to university education, as well as vocational training.  

Regarding  social  security,  ILO  highlighted  the  country’s  successful  experience  in 
expanding  social  protection,  adding  that  Cabo  Verde  is  now  one  of  the  most  advanced 
nations in Africa in terms of implementing social protection.  

Conclusions and priorities 

Regarding freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, Cabo Verde has 
made limited progress in legislative alignment with Convention No. 87. Issues related 
to  the  right  to  strike  and  settling  and  delivering  of  essential  services  still  need  to  be 
addressed.  Continued efforts are also needed regarding collective bargaining and the 
negotiation of collective agreements in individual sectors. 

The authorities of Cabo Verde have made progress in combating trafficking in persons 
by adopting amendments  to  the Penal  Code and the policy framework, including  the 
2018-2021 National Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons. In 2022, with the support 
of the OCWAR-T project (23), the National Observatory for the Monitoring and Rapid 
Identification of Situations of Trafficking in Persons was relaunched (24) and is working 
on  a  new  national  plan  2023-2027  to  fight  against  trafficking  in  persons.  However, 
further  efforts  are  required,  notably  in  the  implementation  and  enforcement  of  the 
existing  legislation,  training  of  staff  of  enforcement  bodies,  including  judges  and 
prosecutors,  information  and  data  sharing,  coordination  of  actions,  and  provision  of 
adequate human, financial, and technical resources to the institutions involved. 

The  Government  has  made  progress  towards  preventing  and  increasing  penalties  for 
sexual  abuse  and  exploitation  of  children  and  the  elimination  of  child  labour,  by 
adopting and amending laws and policy frameworks. However, significant further steps 
are needed to ensure implementation. The Government needs to ensure that the general 
minimum age for admission to hazardous work is 18 years.  

(23)  The project Organised Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR–T) is funded by the EU 

and the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO). 

(24)  According to UNODC the Observatory was established in 2018 but it was not truly operational. 

Page | 16 

 
 
The  Government  has  also  taken  steps,  including  in  cooperation  with  international 
partners, to improve the quality of and access to education, through financial support to 
families in need, and social protection. 

Cabo  Verde  has  made  progress  regarding  non-discrimination  by  adopting  legislation 
and  a  policy  framework  related  to  gender  equality  and  the  rights  of  persons  with 
disabilities. During the reporting period, a draft law on non-discrimination, including 
against  LGBTIQ  persons,  continued  to  await  discussion  in  Parliament.  Moreover, 
further efforts are needed both in the adoption of legislation and in its implementation, 
including  on  economic  empowerment  of  women  and  their  political  participation,  job 
opportunities for persons with disabilities, and non-discrimination of migrant workers.  

5.3.  UN  Conventions  on  Environmental  Protection  and  Climate  Change 

(Conventions 16-23)  

Cabo Verde hosts one of the 23 most important marine ecoregions on the planet. However, 
the  environmental  system  is  also  highly  fragile  and  vulnerable.  Climate  change  has 
exacerbated many risks linked to the changes in the hydrological system and the increased 
frequency and intensity of extreme weather events that lead to floods as well as droughts. 
The economy of the country is also greatly dependent on its climate and the health of its 
environmental systems. The latter are at the core of the major economic activities in the 
country: tourism and fisheries. However, the country’s environmental systems are being 
exploited  to  support  economic  development,  particularly  the  unplanned  and  un-
coordinated  development  of  tourism  and  the  intensification  of  agricultural  exploitation 
through the conversion of natural areas into agricultural areas. 

Cabo Verde is partially compliant with the reporting obligations, which are still due for 
three of the eight Multilateral Environmental Agreements.  

5.3.1.  Convention  on  International  Trade  in  Endangered  Species  of  Wild  Flora  and 

Fauna (CITES) 

The Government of Cabo Verde submitted its first biennial report for 2018-2020 in March 
2021. It illustrates the poor state of implementation of the Convention and indicates that 
there  is  no  national  enforcement  strategy  or  action  plan  for  the  implementation  of  the 
Convention  nor  any  formal  national  interagency  cooperation  to  reduce  illegal  wildlife 
trade. It also mentions that no supply-side or demand-side activities have been undertaken 
to address illegal trade in CITES-listed species. Criminal offences such as poaching and 
wildlife trafficking are not recognised as serious crimes in the country. 

The CITES Secretariat noted that in 2019 Cabo Verde was among the Parties that had not 
reported  progress  in  adopting  appropriate  measures  for  the  implementation  of  the 
Convention  since  COP18.  The  country’s  national  legislation  continues  to  be  ranked  as 
category 3 (25) under the Convention. On the other hand, the CITES Secretariat noted that 
a  legislative  plan  was  in  place  and  was  backed  by  a  strong  commitment  to  prepare 
legislation,  but  progress  is  slow,  and  the  Cabo  Verdean  authorities  may  need  technical 
assistance in the drafting of such legislation. 

(25)  Category 3: legislation that is believed generally not to meet the requirements for the implementation of 

CITES. 

Page | 17 

 
 
 
5.3.2.  Waste  Conventions:  Basel  Convention  on  the  Control  of  Transboundary 
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic 
Pollutants (POPs) 

Although Cabo Verde’s legal regime for waste management was approved in 2015, there 
are  no  legislative  provisions  to  institutionalise  the  implementation  of  the  Basel 
Convention. The focus  on waste management has concentrated on solid  waste  with  the 
adoption of the National Solid Waste Management Strategic Plan for 2015-2030. There is 
legislation since 2017 on the prohibition of importing, marketing and using of conventional 
non-biodegradable plastic bags. However, implementation is lacking. 

In terms of reporting on the Stockholm Convention on POPs, Cabo Verde’s updates for 
2018, 2020 and 2022 are overdue. As of March 2023, no national reports were submitted. 
The  Government  is  yet  to  develop  a  policy  or  legislation  that  would  establish  a 
comprehensive  regime  to  address  pesticides,  toxic  chemicals  for  industrial  use,  and  the 
management and control of pollution. 

The 2017 National  Implementation Plan (NIP) acknowledged that the first NIP had not 
been  implemented  (its  revision  is  ongoing)  and  proposed  a  range  of  measures  for  the 
sustainable management of POPs. However, no timelines were set for the implementation 
of  these  measures,  with  the  NIP  only  indicating  evaluation,  review,  and  revision  of 
measures every five years.  

5.3.3.  Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 

The Government of Cabo Verde has been compliant with reporting obligations under the 
CBD.  The  sixth  national  report,  from  2020,  shows  that  the  country  has  taken  several 
actions towards the implementation of the Convention and  of the National  Biodiversity 
Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2014-2030 (26).  

Cabo  Verde  is  currently  receiving  support  from  the  Global  Environment  Facility  to 
mainstream  biodiversity  conservation into the tourism  sector, to  strengthen  institutional 
capacity  for  the  conservation  of  marine  ecosystems,  and  to  develop  a  sustainable  blue 
economy.  It  also  seeks  Global  Environment  Facility  support  for  the  strengthening  of 
biodiversity  governance  systems  for  the  sustainable  management  of  living  natural 
resources. Additionally, the country invests in the conservation of species and habitats via 
its domestic Environment Fund. 

However, the implementation of the NBSAP is deficient and overall progress towards the 
achievement  of  targets  remains  slow.  Although  there  is  increased  recognition  of 
biodiversity values and ecosystem services in policies and strategies at the national level, 
there  are  gaps  in  integrating  biodiversity  into  development  and  land-use  planning 
processes.  With  the  adoption  of  the  new  Kunming-Montreal  Global  Biodiversity 
Framework (KMGBF) in December 2022, Cabo Verde will be expected, like all countries 
that are Parties to the CBD, to align its NBSAP with the targets set out in the KMGBF 
ahead of the next CBD COP16 in 2024.  

In September 2020, the Government of Cabo Verde submitted its third national report on 
the  implementation  of  the  Cartagena  Protocol  on  Biosafety  to  the  Convention  on 
Biological Diversity. The report noted that the draft national biosafety law and National 
Biosafety  Framework  had  not  been  finalised  since  2011.  Consequently,  at  the  time  of 
finalising  this  report,  the  country  has  neither  established  a  mechanism  for  budgetary 

(26)  https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/cv/cv-nbsap-v2-en.pdf  

Page | 18 

 
 
allocations for the operation of this framework, nor appointed permanent staff to manage 
tasks related to the framework. 

5.3.4.  Conventions on Climate Change and Protection of the Ozone Layer (27) 

Cabo Verde is highly vulnerable to increasingly extreme weather events, desertification of 
land, rising sea-level, and persistent droughts (it is estimated that 80% of the country is 
highly  susceptible  to  drought).  As  a  result,  climate  change  poses  risks  such  as  water 
resource scarcity, as well as food and energy insecurity. Moreover, due to its small and 
vulnerable  economy,  the  country’s  capacity  to  overcome  damage  caused  by  extreme 
weather and climatic events remains weak. 

Consequently, adaptation and resilience to climate change are at the heart of the National 
Strategic  Agenda  for  Climate  Resilience  for  2020-2030,  the  framework  of  the  national 
Development  Strategy  Ambition  2030,  and  the  National  Strategy  for  Disaster  Risk 
Reduction for 2018-2030. 

In April 2021, the Government submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate 
Change  its  update  to  the  first  nationally  determined  contribution  of  2015  under  Paris 
Agreement (28).  The  update  deepens  and  moves  beyond  the  initial  set  of  actions  and 
commitments  with  respect  to  scope,  sector  ambition,  balancing  of  mitigation  and 
adaptation  action,  climate  justice  and  gender  equality,  as  well  as  transparency  and 
governance. With 14 contributions and more than one hundred measures planned, Cabo 
Verde seeks to achieve a substantial mitigation benefit – in the order of 180,000 tCO2eq 
to 242,000 tCO2eq annually by 2030 – as well as a lasting adaptation impact in terms of 
food,  water  and  energy  security  for  Cabo  Verde  and  improved  resilience  across 
communities. 

In  line  with  the  Enhanced  Transparency  Framework  (ETF)  established  under  the  Paris 
Agreement,  Cabo  Verde  will  enact  dedicated  legislation  covering  comprehensive 
monitoring, reporting and evaluation of greenhouse gases (GHG) data, mitigation action 
as  well  as  adaptation  action,  and  defining  a  cross-institutional  climate  governance 
framework. To this end, the Government had planned to submit a National Adaptation Plan 
in 2022. However, this was not yet done. 

With respect  to  the  consumption  of ozone-depleting  substances (ODS) as agreed in  the 
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol, this 
has been well below the control limit in Cabo Verde and has decreased further between 
2015 and 2021, standing at a low 0.04 ODS tonnes in 2021 (UNEP, undated).  

Conclusions and priorities 

In general, the Government of Cabo Verde is  politically committed to adopt relevant 
legislation  compliant  with  the  relevant  Multilateral  Environmental  Agreements 
(MEAs),  but  the  country  faces  a  lack  of  adequate  capacity  for  implementation, 
monitoring and enforcement of the laws in force. The absence of a sustained financing 
system  for  biodiversity  conservation  and  for  the  implementation  of  climate  change 
related commitments is also an area of concern.  

(27)  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate  Change,  Kyoto  Protocol  to  the  United  Nations 
Framework  Convention  on  Climate  Change,  and  Montreal  Protocol  on  Substances  that  Deplete  the 
Ozone Layer. 

(28)  https://d1bf23g64f8xve.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/downloads/policy-

database/Cabo%20Verde_NDC%20Update%202021.pdf  

Page | 19 

 
 
Although some progress has been made over the reporting period, implementation of 
some MEAs leaves room for improvement. For example, implementation of the CBD 
has been slow, and that of CITES and Stockholm Conventions has been inadequate. The 
authorities of Cabo Verde need to take additional measures to update national legislation 
to meet the requirement of Category 1 legislation under the CITES Convention, to ratify 
the Basel Ban Amendment to the Basel Convention and establish legislative provisions 
to institutionalise the implementation of the Basel Convention, as well as to update its 
National Implementation Plan and regulate new industrial persistent organic pollutants 
under the Stockholm Convention. 

Reporting obligations are still outstanding for three MEAs. 

5.4.  UN Conventions on Good Governance (Conventions 24-27)  

Cabo Verde developed with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) its National 
Integrated Programme (2018-2023) to fight use of drugs and drugs related crimes.  

Cabo Verde’s performance in terms of fighting corruption is good in the regional context. 
The  establishing  of  the  Corruption  Prevention  Council  in  October  2022  is  a  positive 
element. 

5.4.1.  International Drug Control Conventions (29) 

Although not a drug producing country, Cabo Verde is a transit hub for drugs, trafficked 
from  Latin  America  to  Europe  and  Africa,  especially  cocaine.  The  archipelago’s  large 
maritime zone, limited patrol resources and many remote areas on its ten islands make it 
attractive to traffickers.  

The authorities of Cabo Verde are making substantial efforts to disrupt drug trafficking in 
the  country’s  maritime  zone  and  have  a  good  record  of  drug  seizures.  The  National 
Integrated Programme (NIP) (2018-2023) for the fight against the use of drugs and drug 
related  crimes  has  been  adopted,  and  the  Government  is  committed  to  disrupt  drug 
trafficking in its airports and in waters under its jurisdiction with a good record of drug 
seizures (close to six tonnes of cocaine in April 2022). However, the country’s capacity to 
effectively patrol its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in an area prone to the presence 
of drug traffickers and illegal fishing vessels is limited. 

Among other things, Cabo Verde lacks manpower and equipment, including ships and air 
assets.  The  Government  recognises  this  lack  of  capacities  and  has  been  actively 
cooperating with international partners to strengthen its capacity to monitor the country’s 
international waters and combat drug trafficking. The expected operationalisation of the 
the  Yaoundé 
Multinational  Maritime  Coordination  Centre  for 
architecture (30) in Praia as well as the reinforcement of capacities of the country’s Coast 
Guard, through the equipment and training recently provided by the EU and the US, may 
improve the overall surveillance capacity. 

the  zone  G  of 

(29)  UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), 
and UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988). 
(30)  The Yaoundé Architecture comprises the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC), the coordination and 
information-sharing structure which connects the Regional Maritime Security Centre for Central Africa 
(CRESMAC) and the Regional Maritime Security Centre for West Africa (CRESMAO). The coastal 
space is divided into 5 operational maritime zones where activities are coordinated by five Maritime 
Multinational Coordination Centres (MMCC).  

Page | 20 

 
 
 
Data on arrests for drug-related crimes are not available. Overall, observers consider that 
the Government takes a serious and effective approach to the implementation of the NIP, 
developed with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), and  enforcement of the 
existing  legal  framework.  Drug  prevention  initiatives  are  being  implemented  by  public 
authorities, civil society organisations, and non-governmental organisations throughout the 
country, targeting local communities, families, and young people. 

Considering Cabo Verde’s capacity constraints, both in relation to law enforcement and 
demand reduction programmes, technical cooperation and assistance has been provided by 
various donors. 

5.4.2.  UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) 

In March 2020 the law for the creation of the Corruption Prevention Council entered into 
force.  The  Council  was  established  in  October  2022  as  an  independent  anti-corruption 
authority and is presided by the President of the Court of Auditors by virtue of office. 

However,  statistics  on  the  implementation  and  enforcement  of  the  anti-corruption 
legislation are not available. In terms of prevention, a free-phone line has been set up by 
the  customs  authority  to  facilitate  the  reporting  of  offences,  including  anonymous 
reporting.  Corruption  scandals  are  rare,  but  at  the  same  time,  surveys  show  that  Cabo 
Verdeans have a relatively pessimistic perception of the state of corruption in the country 
and  the  authorities’  countermeasures.  The  legislation  on  money  laundering  has  been 
amended several times in the reporting period with a view to strengthen the regime and 
align it with international norms and standards. Cabo Verde is also preparing a National 
Strategy to prevent and fight money laundering. 

According to the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International, Cabo Verde 
has improved its position and in 2022 ranked 35th (41st in 2019) out of 180 countries (with 
a score of 60/100 comparing to 58/100 in 2019) (31).  

Conclusions and priorities 

Drug trafficking is a significant problem in Cabo Verde due to its strategic location as a 
transit  hub  between  Latin  America,  Africa,  and  Europe.  The  country  has  limited 
resources  to  patrol  its  vast  Exclusive  Economic  Zone,  which  makes  it  an  attractive 
location for drug traffickers. However, the Government has made efforts to combat drug 
trafficking, including implementing the National Integrated Programme 2018-2023 and 
actively cooperating with international partners to strengthen its capacity. 

It is also encouraging to see that drug prevention initiatives are being implemented by 
public  authorities,  civil  society  organisations,  and  non-governmental  organisations 
throughout  the  country,  targeting  local  communities,  families,  and  young  people. 
However,  there  is  a  lack  of  data  on  arrests  for  drug-related  crimes,  which  makes  it 
difficult to assess the actual impact of law enforcement efforts. 

Priority should be given to  continue to strengthen the country’s capacity to patrol its 
waters  effectively.  The  Government  should  also  continue  to  work  with  international 
partners  to  combat  drug  trafficking,  including  sharing  information  and  intelligence. 
Additionally,  efforts  to  prevent  drug  use  through  education  and  awareness-raising 

(31) See https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2022/index/cpv  

Page | 21 

 
 
campaigns should be scaled up, and more data should be collected to assess the impact 
of drug prevention and law enforcement efforts. 

The Corruption Prevention Council was established in October 2022, so it is yet to be 
seen  how  it  effectively  and  efficiently  operates.  Statistics  on  the  enforcement  and 
application of anti-corruption legislation are not available, which raises questions about 
the effectiveness of these laws in practice. The establishment of a free phone-line for 
reporting offenses is a good preventative measure, but more needs to be done to increase 
public trust in the authorities’ countermeasures against corruption. 

The amendments made to the money laundering legislation to align with international 
standards  are  commendable.  Cabo  Verde’s  improvement  in  its  ranking  on  the 
Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International is a positive development, 
but more efforts are needed to ensure sustained progress. 

Page | 22 

 
 
 
ANNEX: CABO VERDE– TREATY RATIFICATION AND REPORTING 

Convention 

Ratification status 
Reservations 

Compliance with reporting obligations 
to monitoring bodies 

Human rights conventions 
1. Convention on the Prevention 
and Punishment of the Crime of 
Genocide 
2. International Convention on the 
Elimination of All Forms of Racial 
Discrimination 

3. International Covenant on Civil 
and Political Rights 

4. International Covenant on 
Economic Social and Cultural 
Rights 
5. Convention on the Elimination of 
All Forms of Discrimination 
Against Women 
6. Convention Against Torture and 
other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading 
Treatment or Punishment 

7. Convention on the Rights of the 
Child 

Acceded: 
10.10.2011 
No reservations 
Acceded: 
03.10.1979 
No reservations 

Acceded: 
06.08.1993 
No reservations 
Acceded: 
06.08.1993 
No reservations 
Acceded: 
05.12.1980 
No reservations 
Acceded: 
04.06.1992 
No reservations 

Acceded: 
04.06.1992 
No reservations 

Labour conventions (32) 
8. Convention concerning Forced or 
Compulsory Labour, No 29 

Ratified: 
03.04.1979 

9. Convention concerning Freedom 
of Association and Protection of the 
Right to Organise, No 87 

Ratified: 
01.02.1999 

10. Convention concerning the 
Application of the Principles of the 
Right to Organise and to Bargain 
Collectively, No 98 
11. Convention concerning Equal 
Remuneration of Men and Women 
Workers for Work of Equal Value, 
No 100 
12. Convention concerning the 
Abolition of Forced Labour, No 
105 

Ratified: 
03.04.1979 

Ratified: 
16.10.1979 

Ratified: 
03.04.1979 

13. Convention concerning 
Discrimination in Respect of 
Employment and Occupation, No 
111 
14. Convention concerning 
Minimum Age for Admission to 
Employment, No 138 

Ratified: 
03.04.1979 

Ratified: 
07.02.2011 

No reporting obligations 

Lack of compliance with reporting 
obligations 
•  Last report submitted on 05.08.2002. 
•  Next report was due on 02.11.2006. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted on 09.02.2018. 
•  Next report due in 2025. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted on 09.11.2017. 
•  Next report due on 31.10.2023. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted on 28.07.2023. 

Lack  of  compliance  with  reporting 
obligations 
•  Reports not submitted so far. 
•  Latest report was due on 07.12.2020. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted 12.10.2017. 
•  Next report due on 03.07.2024. 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments: 2022. 
•  Latest report received in 2021. 
•  Next regular report due in 2024. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments: 2021. 
•  Latest report received in 2019. 
•  Next regular report due in 2023. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments: 2021. 
•  Latest report received in 2019. 
•  Next regular report due in 2023. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments: 2021. 
•  Latest report received in 2022. 
•  Next regular report due in 2025. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments: no 

comments during the period under 
review. 

•  Latest report received in 2021. 
•  Next regular report due in 2024. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments: 2021. 
•  Latest report received in 2022. 
•  Next regular report due in 2025. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments: 2022. 
•  Latest report received in 2021. 

(32)  Reservations  do  not  apply  in  the  ILO  system,  so  there  is  no  relevance  to  providing  information  on 

reservations under each of these conventions. 

Page | 23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Convention 

15. Convention concerning the 
Prohibition and Immediate Action 
for the Elimination of the Worst 
Forms of Child Labour, No 182 
Environmental conventions 
16. Convention on International 
Trade in Endangered Species of 
Wild Fauna and Flora 

Ratification status 
Reservations 

Ratified: 
23.10.2001 

Compliance with reporting obligations 
to monitoring bodies 
•  Next regular report due in 2024. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments: 2022. 
•  Latest report received in 2021. 
•  Next regular report due in 2024. 

Acceded: 
08.11.2005 
No reservations 

Lack  of  compliance  with  reporting 
obligations 
•  2021 Annual Report submitted on 

03.01.2022. 

•  Annual reports for 2020, 2019, 2018, 

2017 submitted on 04.01.2021. 
•  Annual reports for 2016 and 2015 

submitted on 29.03.2017. 

•  No annual Illegal Trade reports 

submitted between 2016 to 2020 (33). 

•  Last (2018-2020) Biennial or 

Implementation Report (IR) submitted 
on 10.03.2021 (34). No other IRs 
submitted. 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Annual data for 2020 and 2021 has been 

submitted.  

Compliant with reporting obligation 
•  National report (NR) for 2021 submitted 

on 27.12.2022. 

•  Previous NRs for 2012-2020 all 

submitted. 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last (Sixth) National Report (NR) 
submitted (date unknown (35)). 

•  Previous NRs submitted: Fifth NR on 

25.11.2015; Fourth NR on 30.11.2009; 
Third NR on 25.01.2007; Second NR on 
16.03.2009. 

•  Second National Biodiversity Strategy 
and Action Plan (NBSAP) covering 
2014-2030 finalised in 2014 and 
submitted on 19.08.2016. 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  First NDC submitted 21.09.2017. 
•  Updated NDC submitted 02.04.2021. 
•  Third national communications (NC3) 

submitted 05.10.2018 (NC1 in 2000 and 
NC2 in 2011). 

•  No Biennial Update Report (BUR) 
submitted as of April 2023 (36). 

Lack  of  compliance  with  reporting 
obligation 
•  Fourth national report (NR) overdue. 
•  Previous reports submitted: Third NR 

on 21.09.2020; second NR on 
09.11.2011. 

17. Montreal Protocol on 
Substances that Deplete the Ozone 
Layer 
18. Basel Convention on the 
Control of Transboundary 
Movements of Hazardous Wastes 
and their Disposal 

19. Convention on Biological 
Diversity 

Acceded: 
31.07.2001 
No reservations 
Acceded: 
02.07.1999 
No reservations 

Ratified: 
29.03.1995 
No reservations 

20. The United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change  

Ratified: 
29.03.1995 
No reservations 

21. Cartagena Protocol on 
Biosafety 

Acceded: 
01.11.2005 
No reservations 

22. Stockholm Convention on 
Persistent Organic Pollutants 

Acceded: 
01.03.2006 

Lack  of  compliance  with  reporting 
obligation 

(33)  Reporting mandatory, but not subject to compliance procedure. 
(34)  Reporting mandatory, but not subject to compliance procedure. 
(35)  Report submitted offline, scanned report available on CBD website, date not indicated in report or on 
CBD website (see https://www.cbd.int/reports/ and https://www.cbd.int/doc/nr/nr-06/cv-nr-06-en.pdf). 

(36)  Can submit BUR at its own discretion as a Small Island Developing State. 

Page | 24 

 
 
 
 
Convention 

Ratification status 
Reservations 
No reservations 

Compliance with reporting obligations 
to monitoring bodies 
•  No national report submitted as of April 

23. Kyoto Protocol to the United 
Nations Framework Convention on 
Climate Change 
Good governance conventions 
24. United Nations Single 
Convention on Narcotic Drugs 

25. United Nations Convention on 
Psychotropic Substances 

26. United Nations Convention 
against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic 
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 

Acceded: 
10.02.2006 
No reservations 

Acceded: 
24.05.1990 
No reservations 
Acceded: 
24.05.1990 
No reservations 
Acceded: 
08.05.1995 
No reservations 

27. United Nations Convention 
against Corruption 

Acceded: 
23.04.2008 
No reservations 

2023. 

No reporting obligations 

Partially compliant with reporting 
obligations 
•  Most reports and statistics under the 

Single Convention and Convention on 
Psychotropic Substances provided since 
2014, including in 2020 and 2021 
(although some gaps, e.g. annual 
statistics on production for 2020 under 
the Single Convention (Art. 20), annual 
statistics on psychotropic substances 
(Art. 16)). 

•  No reports submitted under the 

Convention against Illicit Traffic in 
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic 
Substances since 2018. 

Review by INCB 
•  No INCB mission has taken place.  
•  No indication of non-compliance in 

INCB reports. 

No reporting obligations. Reviewing by 
UNODC & peer review 
•  Latest executive summary of review 
report and full report (2nd cycle) 
published in 2017. 

•  Executive summary of first review cycle 

report published in 2016. 

Page | 25