The Central African Republic has ratified the Maputo Protocol, the African Union's key treaty for the protection of the rights of women and girls.
With this decision, the country becomes the 46th state to make concrete commitments against gender-based violence, harmful practices and structural inequality.
The agreement, adopted in 2003, calls for legal reforms, public policies and justice mechanisms to ensure equality in all spheres of life.
The accession comes after years of pressure from African human rights organisations, which have pushed for more countries to join the regional instrument.
The ratification is a significant step forward in a country marked by instability, where women have been particularly affected by violence resulting from internal conflicts.
Source: amnesty.org; un.org