INTRODUCTION 1. This Combined Report is submitted to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ratified by Chad in 1986. 2. The Government of the Republic of Chad submitted its Initial Report in 1997. 3. This Combined Report includes the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th reports of Chad covering the period from 1998 to 2015. The submission of this Report is a clear testimony of the Government of the Republic of Chad’s willingness to fulfil its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, thus clearing the backlog it had accumulated in this area. 4. Due to a host of difficulties, the Government of the Republic of Chad was unable to honour its commitments regarding the timely submission of reports under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. 5. Pursuant to Order No. 3912/PR/PM/MDHLF/ 2011 of 12 December 2011, the Government of the Republic of Chad, with a view to meeting its regional and international human rights obligations, established an Inter-ministerial Follow-up Committee on International Human Rights Instruments. The activities of this Committee are coordinated by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. 6. The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, with the support of the Advisory Unit of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, organized a capacity-building workshop in 2015 for members of the Inter-ministerial International Human Follow-up Committee on Rights Instruments on techniques for drafting national reports to be submitted to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. 7. This Combined Report was prepared and validated by the Inter-ministerial Follow-up Committee on International Human Rights Instruments, which is composed of representatives of various ministries, the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission and civil society organizations. 8. It is worth noting that, since the submission of the Initial report in 1997, several measures have been taken by the Government to promote and protect the rights enshrined in the Charter and other international instruments ratified by Chad. 9. This Report was prepared in accordance with the Guidelines for National Periodic Reports under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights adopted in 1989 and the State Party Reporting Guidelines for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Page 7 sur 87