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 AFROL
Gender Profiles:
Burkina
Faso
Burkina Faso has had its share of revolutions and political
instability. Six years after independence, in 1966, popular uprisings were followed by a military coup d'état. This was followed by three coup d'états and two popular uprisings between 1974 and 1983. The 1983 uprisings brought Captain Thomas Sankara to power, and the national revolution saw the day of light. However, things got out of hand, and in 1987 present president Blaise Compaoré toppled the revolutionary government. He stabilised the situation by holding and winning free, multiparty elections in 1991, and under Compaoré, Burkina Faso seems to have found national reconciliation and stability.
Women in Burkina Faso are not protected by any constitutional
provision or law. Customary law and practice determine in family
rights issues.
Female Genital Mutilation is widely practiced. Each woman
averagely gives birth to 6,44 children (2000 est).
Social data
Life expectancy: Total population: 46,73 years
male: 46,29 years
female: 47,18 years (2000 est.)
Infant mortality: 108,53 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Alphabetization rate: Total population: 19,2%
male: 29,5%
female: 9,2% (1995 est.)
Medical services: 70% of the population have access to medical services.
(33.333 persons per doctor)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1,03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1,02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0,91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0,74 male(s)/female
total population: 0,95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Religious data: Muslim 50%, traditional African religions
40%, Christian 10%
Family and tradition
Female Genital Mutilation is practiced widely, especially in
rural areas. Due to tradition, women do much of the subsistence farming
work. Women experience discrimination in family rights issues. No special laws
protect women against violence such as wife beating and spousal rape. Cases like
this are handled through customary law and practice.
Gender sensitivity in society
There are no specific constitutional provisions or laws protecting women, who face extensive discrimination. In general women continue to occupy a subordinate position and experience discrimination in such areas as education, jobs, property, and family rights. Overall, women represent 45 percent of the work force. However, in the modern sector women make up one-fourth of the government work force, although they are usually found in lower paying positions. Women still do much of the subsistence farming work. After the May 1997 parliamentary elections, the Government created a Ministry of Women's Affairs and appointed a woman as minister.
There are no specific constitutional provisions or laws protecting women, who face extensive discrimination. In general women continue to occupy a subordinate position and experience discrimination in such areas as education, jobs, property, and family rights. Overall, women represent 45 percent of the work force. However, in the modern sector women make up one-fourth of the government work force, although they are usually found in lower paying positions. Women still do much of the subsistence farming work. After the May 1997 parliamentary elections, the Government created a Ministry of Women's Affairs and appointed a woman as minister.
Health data
Access to potable water: 42%
Medical services: 70% of the population have access to medical services.
(33.333 persons per doctor)
Maternal mortality rate: 930/100.000
Infant mortality: 108,53 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Up to 70% of females undergo this
procedure.
Female genital mutilation, which is widely condemned by international health experts as damaging to both physical and psychological health, still is practiced widely, especially in many rural areas, and usually is performed at an early age. The percentage of females who have undergone this procedure may be as high as 70 percent. The Government has made a strong commitment to eradicate FGM through educational efforts, and a national committee (The National Committee for the Fight against Excision) campaigns against the practice. The Penal Code was revised in 1996 to make FGM a crime, with stricter punishments for those involved in its practice. Perpetrators are subject to 6 months to 3 years imprisonment and a significant fine. The Government continued its sensitization campaign regarding the deleterious effects of this practice. Another form of mutilation, scarification of the faces of both boys and girls of certain ethnic groups, gradually is disappearing.
Violence against women
Violence against women, especially wife beating, occurs occasionally. Cases of wife beating usually are handled through customary law and practice. There are no statistics on rape, although it is recognized as a crime. Spousal rape is not discussed. There are organizations that counsel rape victims, including Catholic and Protestant missions, the Association of Women Jurists in Burkina, the Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights, the Association of Women, and Promofemmes, a regional network that works to combat violence against women. The Government is attempting to change attitudes toward women, using education through the media. The Penal Code explicitly prohibits sexual harassment but has no special laws protecting women against violence other than general laws dealing with violence.
Main sources: U.S. Department of State, CIA,
UN, HRW, Mundo negro
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