Côte d'Ivoire

Since achieving independence in 1960, Côte d'Ivoire has maintained close ties with France. This alliance has contributed, along with cocoa, coffee, and palm oil production, to making Côte d'Ivoire economically healthy in comparison with other West African countries.

Since a military coup in 1999, however, the country has experienced major political unrest, which has divided the country and resulted in both France and the United Nations dispatching peacekeeping troops. Although they have the legal right to equality, Ivoirian women live in a male-dominated society in which they are considered to be of little worth. Widows may be forced to marry the brothers of their dead husbands, and young girls are forced to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM). Girls as young as 7 years old are forced into marriage with men old enough to be their grandfathers. Violence against women is epidemic, and many women have limited access to education, healthcare, and employment.

Ivoirian activists have been heavily involved in pressuring the government to enforce new laws banning forced marriages. They stepped up those efforts after a 12-year-old girl killed her husband who had beaten and raped her. Activists are also determined to improve the situations of young girls who are faced with poverty, illiteracy, and FGM, which is correlated with the country's high human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) rate (3.9 percent)-the 17th highest in the world.

Less than half the population is urbanized, and 68 percent of the workforce is dependent on agriculture. Côte d'Ivoire has a per capita income of only $1,700, and 42 percent of the population live in poverty. As a result of the civil war, from 40 to 50 percent of the workforce may be unemployed. Ethnic groups include Akan (42.1 percent), Voltaiques or Gur (17.6 percent), Northern Mandes (16.5 percent), Krous (11 percent), and Southern Mandes (10 percent). Ivoirians are religiously diverse, with most people identifying themselves as either Muslim (38.6 percent) or Christian (32.8 percent). Approximately 12 percent of the population has adopted indigenous religions. French is still the official language, but more than 60 native dialects are also spoken.

Ivoirians have an infant mortality rate of 68.06 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is the 27th highest in the world. Female infants (60.73 deaths per 1,000 live births) have a distinct advantage over male infants (75.17 deaths per 1,000 live births). With a life expectancy of 56.28 years, adult women also have a higher survival rate than men (54.64 years). However, unlike most countries of the world, the median age for women (19.1 years) is lower than that of men (19.4 years), in part because of rampant violence and the fact that FGM makes them more susceptible to HIV/AIDS. Ivoirian females have a fertility rate of 4.12 children each. All Ivoirians also have a very high risk of contracting bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, schistosomiasis, and rabies. A highly pathogenic form of avian flu has also been identified.

[Page 350]Women are discriminated against in all elements of society. Some 60.8 percent of men are literate, but only 38.6 percent of females older than 15 years are able to read and write. Less than half of men and less than a third of women receive a complete education. In 2005, the estimated earned income for women was $795 compared with $2,472 for males. The country's political turmoil has spilled over to elections, but in 2001, women won 19 of 225 seats in the National Assembly, four of 33 ministerial posts, and four of 41 Supreme Court seats. Subsequent elections were suspended because of political unrest.

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