A/HRC/42/61 E. Women’s rights 62. In January and June 2019, the Independent Expert met with women’s groups in Bangui and Bangassou. The discussions centred on issues linked to women’s political participation and empowerment. The groups were also active in raising public awareness of the Peace Agreement as part of a first wave of activities in the country’s 16 prefectures. Later, 32 women’s associations travelled across the country to continue this work. 63. Women leaders are also working to increase women’s participation in the upcoming elections, both as candidates and as voters. 64. The women interviewed highlighted the particular challenges linked to the inclusion of rural women as a result of financial difficulties and the weight of tradition. They all identified the need for women’s leadership training and noted the support planned in this area through a project financed by the Peacebuilding Fund. They also pointed out that women traditionally do not have identity documents. A campaign should be conducted to regularize civil status and provide women with identity documents so that they can become full citizens. 65. At the institutional level, the recent decision of the Constitutional Court on 5 June 2019 regarding the constitutionality of the Electoral Code represents significant progress in giving effect to the right of women to participate fully in public life. Pursuant to Act No. 16.004 of 24 November 2016 on gender parity in the Central African Republic, the Court decided to supplement the Electoral Code and make it mandatory for all candidates standing in multiple-seat legislative, senatorial and regional elections to provide a signature. The Court also removed from the Electoral Code the requirements for candidates in senatorial elections to have a minimum of a bachelor’s level qualification and at least 10 years’ professional experience in the economic, political, social or cultural fields. The Court also brought the deposit required for senatorial candidates into line with the amount for parliamentary candidates. The deposit, which had previously been set at 500,000 CFA francs (CFAF), was reduced to CFAF 250,000. Recalling the unconstitutionality of legal or regulatory decisions disregarding the parity requirement, the Court reinstated electoral lists for legislative, senatorial, regional and municipal elections and specified that at least 35 per cent of the candidates on each list must be women, in accordance with the Equality Act. Under the Electoral Code, if the 35 per cent quota for women cannot be met on a particular list, the Court should decide on the admissibility of the list in question on a case-by-case basis. F. Situation of children and young people 66. Children continue to be exposed to inadequate protection, including through family separation, recruitment and use by armed groups, sexual violence, exploitation and other harmful practices such as accusations of witchcraft, female genital mutilation and early marriage. Between October and December 2018, 91 serious violations were reported affecting 75 children, 63 per cent of them boys and 37 per cent girls. They included 19 cases of murder, 13 cases of sexual violence and 12 cases of recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. The vast majority of these violations were committed by armed groups. 67. Insecurity remains a major obstacle to education for children affected by conflict. Between September 2018 and February 2019, 363 schools were closed, 234 of which were attacked or occupied. Since 2017, more than 100 attacks against the education system have been reported.2 For example, five schools were looted and burned in Batangafo on 30 and 31 October 2018. 68. Beyond the conflict, measures should urgently be taken to ensure that children in the Central African Republic have the full enjoyment of their rights, taking into account, in particular, the recommendations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its 2 GE.19-13726 Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Central African Republic: humanitarian situation and urgent funding requirements, update of 27 March 2019, p. 11. 11