Human Trafficking in [Burundi] [other countries]
Street Children in [Burundi] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Burundi] [other countries]
 

Child Prostitution

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Republic of Burundi [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

The Republic of Burundi [map] is located in E central Africa and is bordered by Rwanda (N), Tanzania (E), Lake Tanganyika (SW), and Congo (Kinshasa) (W). Bujumbura is its capital and largest city. The population of Burundi have been left vulnerable by deteriorating social infrastructures, severe drought and eight years of civil war in which over 200,000 lives have been lost.

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Burundi. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated, misleading or even false. No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

Quick Search for Missing Children - Select Gender, Country (Burundi), and Years Missing

UNICEF – BACKGROUND - Rape, child prostitution and exploitative child labor remain all too common. An estimated 7,000 children have been used as soldiers.

National Plan of Action

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - Child prostitution is also a problem. There are reports that child trafficking occurs both within Burundi and across borders. CHILD LABOR LAW AND ENFORCEMENT - The Penal Code prohibits prostitution. An individual who entices or forces a person under the age of 21 into prostitution faces a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 francs (USD 9.30 to 93.04) and a prison sentence of up to 15 years. The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

WOMEN - The law prohibits prostitution; however, it was a problem. There were reports that soldiers and rebels sexually exploited women and young girls residing near military installations and rebel camps.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2000

[75] The Committee is concerned that children have been the victims of sexual exploitation, sometimes by those persons who are responsible for their care.

[76] The Committee recommends that the State party make every effort to end and prevent the sexual exploitation or abuse of children, giving particular attention to children living in camps.

ECPAT: Fifth Report on implementation of the Agenda for Action [DOC]

[B] COUNTRY UPDATES – BURUNDI – CSEC in Burundi is an emerging problem. Victims of CSE are also victims of discrimination as their risk for being sexually exploited varies in relation to their gender and ethnicity. The exposure of children to CSE has been exacerbated by the war, which has displaced people and split families. Victims include children from broken families, street children, and children living in camps. In June, a criminal network engaged in sexually exploiting children was discovered. According to the report, the network rented a house in which they were using schoolgirls under the age of 15 years for pornography and prostitution. Four members of the network have been imprisoned.

Analysis of the Situation of Sexual Exploitation of Children, East & South Africa Region

3.1 MAGNITUDE AND LINK BETWEEN HIV/AIDS AND CSEC - MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM - In Burundi, the government admits that as a result of poverty, children frequently abandon their families at an early age to look for a job, which may be in prostitution.

Gender Profile of the Conflict in Burundi [DOC]

THE IMPACT OF THE CONFLICT ON BURUNDIAN WOMEN - ECONOMIC SECURITY AND RIGHTS - The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burundi reported in 2001 that child prostitution was reaching "disquieting proportions." Causes for child prostitution are often war-related, such as the destruction of traditional community support structures, increased numbers of orphans due to combat, HIV and abandonment and the inaccessibility of other means of financial sustenance.

Watchlist Country Report on Burundi

EDUCATION - In interviews with the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children in 2000, Burundian women expressed concern about children and adolescents’ lack of access to school. They reiterated the needs to raise levels of school attendance and literacy, and again offer children and adolescents alternatives to violence and prostitution. Since 2000, the access to education has further deteriorated due to insecurity. Unconfirmed reports indicate that state funding for educational and other social programs is unevenly allocated around the country in favor of the Tutsi population, thereby limiting access to secondary school and university and professional opportunities for certain groups.

Human Rights Overview - Burundi

JUSTICE - Despite frequent calls for justice, both national and international actors appear driven more by expediency than real concern for accountability. The late 2003 agreement between the government and the FDD, generally supported by the international community, granted “provisional immunity” to all combatants and leaders of both forces, meaning that justice for their crimes would be at least postponed and probably never delivered.

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Human Trafficking in [Burundi] [other countries]
Street Children in [Burundi] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Burundi] [other countries]