16 • • • • • The very high teacher/pupil ratio (1/120P) which hardly favours efficient teaching or good assimilation; The high rate of uneducated children of school going age, in particular with respect to girls; The high rate of school drop outs; The demotivation of teachers due to the persistent non-payment of salaries; The prostitution in the school and University environment. The combination of all of these factors constitutes the basis of the phenomenon of illiteracy which is highly prejudicial to the development of the country. j Historical Perspective A former French Colony, the Central African Republic has experienced major social changes for which Man, in all his aspects, has been entirely responsible throughout his History. II/ COMMITMENT OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC IN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES The Central African Republic’s commitment in relation to Human Rights is indicated by its adherence to several, if not almost all the international and regional human rights instruments: 12345678910- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights; The International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, ratified on the 16th March 1971; The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, ratified on the 8th May 1981; The International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ratified on the 8th May 1981; The Optional Protocol to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, ratified on the 8th May 1981; The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ratified on the 26th April 1986; The International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, ratified on the 21st June 1991 ; The Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified on the 23rd April 1992; The Statutes of the International Criminal Court, ratified on the 3rd October 2001; The Convention against Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ratified on the 3rd July 2002. Arrangements are in progress for the ratification of those instruments which have not yet been signed. All in all, a general overview of the Central African Republic reveals that the country has major and important assets and good material conditions to offer the Central African people, to enable it improve its existence and satisfy its basic needs. Thus, the following details should allow an appreciation of the efforts undertaken by the country in relation to the provisions of the African Charter on Human and