Agenda: discussing viable mechanisms to end child
abuse in Southeast Asia
In Burundi, there exists an established national
legal framework for the protection of child rights,
and Burundi has ratified key international treaties
including the Child Rights Convention, and both of
its Optional Protocols.
Burundian law penalises commercial sexual
exploitation of children with 10 to 15 years in
prison and a fine, and penalises child pornography
with 3 to 5 years in prison and fines. There were,
however, no prosecutions of this nature during 2018.
Furthermore, the law penalises violence against
or abuse of children, with 3 to 5 years’
imprisonment (U.S. Department of State, 2018).
Burundi’s 2014 anti-trafficking law criminalises forced
labour and trafficking. There are, however, gaps in
Burundi’s Penal and Labour Codes which leave some
children without legal protection.
There exist institutional mechanisms in Burundi for the
enforcement of child labour laws
CHILD LABOUR LAWS
In Burundi child marriage and forced marriage is
illegal, with the minimum age for sexual consent
at 18. The Constitution’s article 29 legally
prohibits same-sex marriage, and article 567 of
Burundi’s Penal Code penalises consensual same-
sex sexual relations between adults with up to 2
years prison, violating Burundian people’s right to
privacy and non-discrimination (Human Rights
Watch, 2018).
RCRI of Burundi – 3,62 – black level (very serious
situation)
Rank in terms of respect of Rights for children – 174
Efforts have been made by the Burundian government
to demobilise former child soldiers and to reintegrate
them into their communities, and the government
does not recruit children into its armed forces (Bureau
of International Affairs, 2018).
Forced marriage, and child marriage, is illegal in
Burundi. National law protects children, setting the
legal age for marriage at 18 for girls and 21 for
boys, with the minimum age for consensual sex
being 18. Rape of a minor (= sex with a minor)
incurs 10 to 30 years’ imprisonment for
perpetrators. Although child marriage was reported
in southern muslim regions, this seems to be
uncommon. Burundi’s Ministry of the Interior has
made efforts to persuade Imams not to officiate
illegal or unregulated marriages (U.S. Department
of State, 2018). Nonetheless, 6% of girls in Burundi
aged 15 to 19 are married, and 1 in 37 of them gives
birth, indicating that child
marriage and rape of girls are serious problems
which threaten the lives and the wellbeing of many
girls in Burundi (Save the Children, 2019).
In Burundi, there exists an established national
legal framework for the protection of child rights,
and Burundi has ratified key international treaties
including the Child Rights Convention, and both of
its Optional Protocols.
Burundian law penalises commercial sexual
exploitation of children with 10 to 15 years in
prison and a fine, and penalises child pornography
with 3 to 5 years in prison and fines.
In Burundi child marriage and forced marriage is
illegal, with the minimum age for sexual consent
at 18. The Constitution’s article 29 legally
prohibits same-sex marriage, and article 567 of
Burundi’s Penal Code penalises consensual samesex sexual relations between adults with up to 2
years prison, violating Burundian people’s right to
privacy and non-discrimination (Human Rights
Watch, 2018).
National law protects children, setting the legal
age for marriage at 18 for girls and 21 for boys,
with the minimum age for consensual sex being
18. Rape of a minor (= sex with a minor) incurs 10
to 30 years’ imprisonment for perpetrators.
Burundi’s Ministry of the Interior has made efforts
to persuade Imams not to officiate illegal or
unregulated marriages
BURUNDI’’S RELATION WITH THE TOPIC:
1. Due to the political uprise in 2015, many people fled the
country, resulting in lots of children that are displaced.
They are at a very high risk of sexual abuse, emotional
abuse like neglect and in certain cases even death.
2. Even though there are laws against child marriage, it
was found that in 2019 around 6% of girls (aged 15 to
19) are married and I in 37 of them give birth. This raises
the severity if the issue of sexual abuse and violating
children’s fundamental rights.
3. Child trafficking is a major issue in Burundi. These
children have to face physical abuse, sexual abuse as
well as emotional abuse. Girl children are trafficked
internationally for sexual exploitation. A lot of Burundi
children are also forced into agriculture in Tanzania.