Source: United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) |

Committee on the elimination of discrimination against women reviews the report of Burkina Faso

Experts welcomed the efforts to improve the situation of women in Burkina Faso and, recognizing the challenges caused by the activities of non-State armed groups in the north and the Sahel

GENEVA, Switzerland, October 25, 2017/APO Group/ --

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today considered the seventh periodic report of Burkina Faso on its implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Introducing the report, Laure Zongo Hien, Minister for Women, National Solidarity and Family, said that Burkina Faso continued to take steps to strengthen the legislative and institutional framework for the rights of women: it had adopted a number of legal texts, including on the prevention, repression and reparations for violence against women and girls, and on the protection of children in conflict with the law. The national strategy for the promotion and protection of girls 2017-2026 and the national strategic plan for the elimination of female genital mutilation were in place, and the country was taking tangible and concrete steps to protect women from domestic violence, early and forced marriage, sexual harassment, and female genital mutilation. Burkina Faso attached great importance to increasing the participation of women in public and political life, and was in the process of re-reading the law on quotas. Ms. Zongo Hien concluded by stressing that the full realization of the rights contained in the Convention was hampered by a range of economic, financial and political constraints, notably poverty, illiteracy, and lack of financial and material resources.

In the discussion that followed, Experts welcomed the efforts to improve the situation of women in Burkina Faso and, recognizing the challenges caused by the activities of non-State armed groups in the north and the Sahel, commended the participation of Burkina Faso in peacekeeping missions, in regional security initiatives, and in welcoming refugees. They inquired about the impact of local and mobile courts on access to justice for women, and raised concern about corruption in the judiciary. Burkina Faso had put in place a number of institutions to promote national reconciliation, social cohesion and understanding between religions, Experts noted and asked about the participation of women in these initiatives and in efforts to counter violent extremism and radicalization. With regard to violence against women and girls, concerns were raised about the continued practice of female genital mutilation and the normalization of domestic violence, as well as about the lack of harmonization between different laws which addressed various forms of violence against women. In the area of health, Experts were worried about the precarious situation of maternal and infant mortality, noting that maternal mortality rates stood at 300 per 100,000 live births. Abortion was criminalized and unsafe abortion was among the leading causes of maternal mortality.

In concluding remarks, Ms. Zongo Hien expressed satisfaction with the quality of the exchange with the Committee Experts during the dialogue and said that Burkina Faso took due note of the Experts’ comments and recommendations.

Dalia Leinarte, Committee Chairperson, commended Burkina Faso for its efforts and encouraged it to address various recommendations which the Committee would issue with the purpose of the more comprehensive implementation of the Convention throughout the State party.

The delegation of Burkina Faso included representatives of the Ministry of Women, National Solidarity and Family; Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Civic Promotion; Ministry of Finance and Development; Ministry of Health; Ministry of National Education and Literacy; Ministry of Public Functions, Labour and Social Protection; Ministry of Agriculture and Housing; National Council to Combat Female Circumcision; and the Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee will reconvene in public on Wednesday, 25 October, at 10 a.m. to consider the fifth periodic report of Singapore (CEDAW/C/SGP/5).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).