ESCR in Togo: Our Joint Contribution to the Universal Periodic Review

Lomé, Paris, 17 July 2026

Over the past few years, Togo has adopted a number of significant reforms in the areas of health, social protection, labour law and women's rights. Yet these developments remain insufficient to ensure the effective enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by the population. Inequalities remain widespread, the most vulnerable groups continue to face significant barriers, and the shrinking civic space further undermines the implementation of these rights.

Against this backdrop, a coalition of Togolese civil society organisations, coordinated by the Collectif des Associations Contre l'Impunité au Togo (CACIT), with the contribution of Human Dignity, prepared three joint stakeholder reports for submission to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Based on data covering the period 2022–2026, these reports assess the implementation of recommendations made during the previous UPR cycle and put forward new recommendations addressed to the Togolese authorities.

Beyond their respective thematic focus, the three reports share a common approach: placing the effective realization of rights at the centre of public policy assessment. They call for stronger social protection systems, greater respect for workers' rights, particularly in export processing zones, increased investment in access to safe drinking water and sanitation, sustained support for food security and livelihoods, and improved prevention of, protection from and responses to violence against women. Finally, they stress the need to strengthen implementation, monitoring and accountability mechanisms so that Togo's international commitments translate into tangible improvements in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by the population.

The reports are available for download below in French:

 

• Joint NGO report on economic, social and cultural rights (right to health, education, work and decent employment)
• Joint NGOreport on the right to food and an adequate standard of living
• Joint NGO report on women's rights