Central African Republic

Article 3 

Everyone has the right to life and physical integrity. They may only be infringed in these rights by application of a law. 

No one may be subjected either to torture, or to rape [viol], or to cruel, inhuman, degrading or humiliating acts or treatment. Any individual, [or] any agent of the State, [or] any organization that is rendered culpable of such acts, will be punished in accordance with the law. 

No one may be arbitrarily arrested or detained. Every defendant is presumed innocent until their culpability has been established following a procedure offering to them the guarantees indisputable for their defense. The legal time period of detention must be respected. 

No one may be convicted except by virtue of a law [which] had entered into force before the act committed. 

The rights of defense are exercised freely before all the jurisdictions and the administration of the Republic. 

Any person made the object of a measure deprivative of liberty has the right of being examined and treated by a doctor of their choice. 

Article 4 

Freedom of the person is inviolable. Freedom of movement, residence and establishment throughout the Territory are guaranteed to all under conditions laid down by law.  

Article 6 

Marriage and the family constitute the natural and moral basis of human community. They are placed under state protection. The State and other public bodies are collectively the duty to ensure the health and welfare of the family and encourage socially by appropriate institutions. The protection of women and children against violence and insecurity, exploitation and neglect, mental and physical is a requirement for the state and other public bodies. This protection is ensured by appropriate measures and institutions of the state and other public authorities. Parents have the natural right and the primary duty to raise and educate their children in order to develop them in good physical, intellectual and moral. They are supported in this task by the State and other public authorities. Children born out of wedlock have the same rights to public assistance as legitimate children. Natural children, legally recognized, have the same rights as legitimate children. The State and other public authorities have a duty to create preconditions and public institutions which guarantee the education of children. 

Article 9 

The Republic guarantees every citizen the right to work, a healthy environment, rest and recreation in compliance with the requirements of national development. She provides favorable conditions for its growth through a policy of efficient use. All citizens are equal before use. No one may be prejudiced in his work or Every worker participates, through its representatives, in determining working conditions. Laws lay down the conditions for assistance and protection afforded to workers, especially the younger ones, to older, disabled and those who have health problems due to their working conditions.

Constitution of the Central African Republic (PDF)

Chapter XII Human Trafficking 

Article 151 

Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or to welcome people under the following conditions:  

– By means of threat or use of force or other forms of stress;  

– By the abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a 

vulnerable situation;  

– By the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for exploitation.  

Trafficking in persons, when committed intentionally or attempted trafficking is punishable imprisonment of five to ten years. Trafficking in persons, when committed for exploitation of minors under 18 is punishable by hard labour for time, regardless of the use of the means mentioned in the first paragraph of this article. The endings operations include, among others, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. 

Chapter II: Other Crimes against Humanity 

Article 153 

It is a crime against humanity, any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against any civilian population, with knowledge 

of the attack:  

– Murder;  

– Extermination;  

– Deportation or forcible transfer of population;  

– Enslavement;  

– The massive and systematic practice of summary executions;  

– Disappearance forced people;  

– Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in 

violation of fundamental rules of international law;  

– The practice of torture and acts 

inhuman;  

– Rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization or any other form of comparable gravity of sexual violence;  

– The persecution of any group or any identifiable collectivity of political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious or according to other universally recognized as impermissible under international law, according to the provisions of the Rome Statute;  

– The crimes of apartheid;  

– All other inhumane acts of a character similar intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or physical or mental health. 

Article 3 

For the purposes of this Code: 

“forced or compulsory labour” 

Work or service exacted from an individual under the threat of any penalty and for which the individual has not voluntarily offered himself; 

Article 7  

Forced or compulsory labor is prohibited in all its forms, including: 

– as a measure of coercion or political education; 

– as a punishment for persons who have expressed certain political, trade union and religious, ideological opposition to the political, social or economic order; 

– as a method of mobilizing and using labor for economic development purposes; 

– as a measure of labor discipline; 

– as a measure of racial, social, national or religious discrimination; 

– as a punishment for having participated in strikes. 

Article 8 

Not considered as forced or compulsory labor within the meaning of this Code: 

– any work or service required under the laws on military service and assigned to work of a purely military character; 

– any work or service arising from the normal civic obligations of Central African citizens defined by law; 

– any work or service exacted from an individual as a result of a conviction provided that the work is carried out under the supervision and control of the public authorities and the said person is not conceded or made available to private individuals or legal entities; 

– any work or service required in the event of force majeure: wars, disasters or threats of disasters, fires, floods, famine, earthquakes, epidemics and violent epizootics, invasions of animals, insects or 

Harmful plant pests and, in general, any circumstances which endanger or threaten the life or normal conditions of life of the whole or part of the population; 

– any work or service performed pursuant to a requisition order; 

– any work or service of general interest carried out with the consent of the persons concerned. 

Article 262 

The expression “worst forms of child labor” means: 

– all forms of slavery or similar practices such as the sale and trafficking of children, bonded labor and bondage and forced or compulsory labor, including including the forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict; 

– the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution for the production of pornographic material or pornographic performances; 

– the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of illicit activities for the production and trafficking of narcotic drugs; 

– works which, by their nature or the conditions under which they are carried out, may be detrimental to the health, safety or morals of the child. 

Article 263 

The worst forms of child labor are prohibited throughout the Central African Republic. 

Central African Republic Labour Code (PDF)