Life stages in Comoros

Children under 18 remain under the protection and care of parents or tutors. The juge des enfants, a children's court judge, may order social investigation, protection or educational measures and placement when a child's safety, morality, health or education is seriously threatened. A child, parent, tutor, prosecutor or authorised association can bring a protection matter before the judge. The Ministère de l'Intérieur and état civil services handle birth registration, which establishes identity and supports access to school and other services. Preschool and school services target children from about 3 to 16 years. Access beyond primary school and learning quality face significant constraints. Nutrition also affects childhood: SMART 2024 reported stunting at 24.1% and acute malnutrition at 7.8%, alongside gaps in breastfeeding, supplementation, deworming and vaccination coverage. The National Strategy for Schooling of Children Living with Disabilities 2017-2026 supports inclusion; 1,742 pupils with disabilities were recorded in the 2024/25 school year, including 905 girls. Youth transitions commonly involve school, vocational or higher education, work, media and community clubs. UNICEF's Jeunes Reporters programme reached about 200 adolescents through 16 clubs across the three islands. Girls aged 11 to 17 face particular risks of violence and exploitation. In 2025, 165 violence cases were recorded, including 71 involving sexual violence. Services d'écoute provide psychological, medical, legal and social support on all three islands. Programmes for young mothers have combined school or examination assistance with vocational reintegration: in 2022, 114 participants received support, including 52 for trades and 62 for schooling or examination costs. At 18, a person generally acquires full civil majority and voting rights. Formal employment may begin from 15, while children under 15 may not perform paid or self-employed work; limited household or agricultural initiation is allowed only when it does not harm schooling or development. Informal work is widespread and social protection covers only part of the working population, which increases income risks during the move into adulthood. Marriage is generally permitted from 18. A judge may grant a dispensation for a serious legitimate reason, and both parties must freely consent; the wali has a legally defined role in a woman's marriage. Parenthood brings specific employment protections. Maternity leave lasts 14 consecutive weeks, including at least 8 weeks after birth, and may be extended by 3 weeks for illness. A breastfeeding employee may take breaks for up to 15 months, normally no more than one hour per working day. A widow or widower has a legally recognised work interruption of four months and ten days. No universal counselling service for these transitions has been evidenced. Older-age support relies heavily on family and extended community networks. The Caisse de Retraites des Comores (CRC) formally covers old age, invalidity and death for public and non-public employees and members of parliament with the relevant employment and contribution connection. There is no evidenced social pension for everyone, and overall pension coverage among older people is estimated at about 8.3%. No reliable national universal long-term-care insurance, care allowance, residential-care system or professional home-care service has been evidenced. Health and social services may provide case-based support, but access is not established as a general entitlement. Life-stage needs become more acute during cholera outbreaks, cyclones, floods, water shortages and coastal erosion. These events can disrupt children's schooling, health and psychological stability. A World Bank shock-responsive and resilient social safety-net programme has planned cash transfers, livelihood support, public works and human-capital measures for chronically poor or shock-affected households, with emphasis on women and young people of working age. The planned coverage is 40,000 households and remains targeted and project-based rather than universal. The main public bodies involved include the Ministries of Health, Solidarity and Social Protection, Education, Interior, and Justice, the Délégation Générale des Droits de l'Homme, INSEED and CRC, together with UNICEF, the World Bank, local Services d'écoute and families.