Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Commend Burkina Faso’s Employment Initiatives for Refugees, Ask about Agrarian Conflict between Farmers and Herders and Reported Discrimination against the Peuhl Community
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today concluded its consideration of the combined twentieth to twenty-fourth periodic reports of Burkina Faso, with Committee Experts commending the State on its employment initiatives for refugees, and asking questions on the ethnically motivated agrarian conflict between farmers and herders and reported discrimination against the Peuhl community.
One Committee Expert said the State’s various employment initiatives for refugees were laudable, and asked about the number of refugees recruited under these initiatives.
Guan Jian, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, expressed concern about ethnically motivated conflicts between farmers and herders in the State party. What impact had the National Observatory for the Prevention and Management of Community Conflicts had in preventing inter-ethnic tensions and clashes?
Bakri Sidiki Diaby, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, cited reports of members of the Peuhl community being forcibly disappeared or executed by security and volunteer forces. Members of these forces reportedly also looted cattle and expropriated land belonging to members of the Peuhl community for their alleged collaboration with terrorism. Had investigations been opened to determine responsibilities for these offences?
Introducing the report, Sabine Bakyono Kanzie, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said that, despite the complex security context marked by terrorist attacks against peaceful populations and their property, Burkina Faso had undertaken political, legal and institutional reforms to guarantee the equal rights of all citizens and to combat all forms of discrimination.
Regarding job seeking support for refugees, the delegation said that in 2025, letters of recommendation allowed 10 refugees to obtain employment. The Government was working to raise awareness amongst private sector employers to support refugees’ employment, and to collect data on the employment of refugees.
The National Observatory for the Prevention and Management of Community Conflicts had dealt with 1,700 conflicts in 2025, mostly land-related conflicts, settling around 550 of them, the delegation said. Some 153 pastoral conflicts had been resolved in recent years, with 63 conflicts currently being resolved.
On reports of violations of the rights of the Peuhl, the delegation said Burkina Faso had never distinguished between ethnic groups and demanded equal treatment of all groups. The Major General of the Army was a Peuhl and Peuhl were represented among Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland. It would be strange if these people were working toward the extermination of their own people.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Guan said that the dialogue had been fruitful, although not all questions were fully answered. He thanked the delegation for their efforts and all persons who had contributed to the dialogue.
Ms. Kanzie, in concluding remarks, said the delegation had presented the State’s efforts to promote human rights and combat racial discrimination. The Government would pay attention to the Committee’s recommendations, bearing in mind national values and security concerns. Burkina Faso was devoted to cooperating with all stakeholders to promote human rights.
Gün Kut, Committee Chair, in his concluding remarks, thanked the delegation for the answers provided and said that the Committee would develop concluding observations based on the dialogue.
The delegation of Burkina Faso consisted of representatives of the Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Basic Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Family and Solidarity; Ministry of Security; Ministry of the Servants of the People; and the Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee will issue its concluding observations on the report of Burkina Faso after the conclusion of its one hundred and seventeenth session on 1 May. The programme of work and other documents related to the session can be found here. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the meetings can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public on Thursday, 23 April at 3 p.m. to consider the combined twenty-second to twenty-sixth periodic reports of Cuba (CERD/C/CUB/22-26).
Report
The Committee has before it the combined twentieth to twenty-fourth periodic reports of Burkina Faso (CERD/C/BFA/20-24).
Presentation of Report
SABINE BAKYONO KANZIE, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, affirmed Burkina Faso’s commitment to the fight against all forms of racial discrimination. Despite the complex security context marked by terrorist attacks against peaceful populations and their property, Burkina Faso had undertaken political, legal and institutional reforms to guarantee the equal rights of all citizens and to combat all forms of discrimination. The national development plan 2026-2030 addressed the fight against all forms of racial discrimination.
Regarding legislative developments, the Personal and Family Code adopted on 1 September 2025 set the age of marriage at 18 years for both sexes without distinction and devoted an entire chapter to the prevention of statelessness. The 2024 law on the conditions of entry and residence of foreigners, and exit of nationals and foreigners allowed Burkina Faso to strengthen the border and migration control system and fight against insecurity. The February 2023 amendment of the Code of Military Justice allowed for the deployment of units responsible for recording all violations and abuses of human rights.
At the institutional level, major developments included the establishment, in 2026, of the Communication Regulatory Authority, which was responsible for regulating both communication and the protection of personal data; the strengthening of the National Human Rights Commission through an increase in its staff and budget; the establishment in 2023 of the interministerial working group for monitoring allegations of human rights violations reported in the context of the fight against terrorism; and the establishment of a framework for monitoring and early warning of allegations of human rights violations and abuses.
The Government was intensifying efforts to secure the territory and continuously improve the human rights situation. The intensification of reconquest actions had made it possible to fully control more than 74 per cent of the national territory. To resolve community conflicts, the Government put in place the National Observatory for the Prevention and Management of Community Conflicts. The fight against terrorism, which was an absolute national priority, was not directed against any community and was conducted in strict compliance with national laws and Burkina Faso's international human rights commitments.
The Government had made the prevention of discrimination and the fight against hate speech or speech with ethnic overtones a priority. To this end, the stabilisation and development action plan devoted actions to ensure the systematic repression of hate speech and combat the stigmatisation of communities. Prosecutions were initiated and sanctions pronounced against five people between 2019 and 2023, in accordance with the law against hate speech.
In the area of justice, the Government had undertaken several reforms that had made it possible to improve the credibility of justice and access to justice for litigants. Burkina Faso adopted in November 2024 the law on the administration of community service, which established community service as an alternative to detention. Since 2025, judicial authorities had initiated an operation to expedite the processing of case files. The landmark Faso Bu Kaoré law recognised local justice mechanisms and customary courts.
The State had adopted several policies and programmes relating to human rights education and a culture of tolerance at both the primary and secondary levels. Implementation of the language policy for 2021-2023 and its three-year action plan had contributed to the promotion and enhancement of national languages.
Although substantial efforts had been made by the State in the fight against all forms of racial discrimination, challenges remained. Burkina Faso therefore reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the human rights treaty bodies through the submission of periodic reports.
Questions by a Committee Expert
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the State party's report did not contain sufficient statistical data on the situation in the State party. Could the delegation provide contemporary statistics on the ethnic composition of the population and socio-economic indicators on the different ethnic groups in the country?
Burkina Faso adopted a new Penal Code in 2018. Its article 322-2 included a definition of racial discrimination. Mr. Guan welcomed the State party's efforts to align this definition with the Convention. Was the caste system included in the definition? Article 322-1 punished acts of discrimination and acts contrary to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion with imprisonment from one to 10 years and a fine of one million to five million CFA francs and a ban on residence for five years. Could recent data be provided on complaints, investigations and sanctions imposed concerning acts of racial discrimination? Article 332-4 of the Code provided for penalties for acts of discrimination committed through the media. Some conflicts had been exacerbated through hatred and discriminatory propaganda, becoming racial conflicts. How many cases of such acts had the State party dealt with in recent years?
Which Government sectors were responsible for combatting racial discrimination? Had these officials developed programmes relating to the fight against racial discrimination? What institutional measures were taken to combat discrimination, stigmatisation and incitement to hatred and violence against certain ethnic groups, including measures to monitor the spread of racist hate speech on the Internet, in the media and on social media platforms? What sanctions were imposed on those responsible for racial discrimination?
What measures were in place to raise awareness of the Convention and legislation on racial discrimination among judges, prosecutors, lawyers, members of the security forces, as well as the public? Which bodies were responsible for the development and implementation of such training programmes?
The Committee commended the State party for the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission and its achievements in the field of the protection of human rights. How was legislation on the Commission amended in 2021 to bring the Commission more in line with the Paris Principles? What efforts had been made to strengthen the functioning of the Commission and increase the human, financial, technical and material resources at its disposal?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that according to the 2019 census, Burkina Faso’s population was around 20.5 million, with around 60 ethnic groups. The economic development policy of the State was not grounded on ethnic considerations but based on fair distribution of profit from growth. The Constitution prohibited any form of discrimination.
Since 2025, “homeland days” were celebrated in all primary and secondary schools. Education on homeland values was provided in schools. Military officers were provided with regular training on human rights and related international instruments, including the Convention. A manual on the consideration of human rights was developed for officers working in anti-terrorist activities in 2021. In 2023, five training sessions were held for members of the judiciary on international human rights instruments, including the Convention. Awareness raising campaigns on human rights targeting the public were conducted, and every year, a national commemoration of peace and tolerance was held, which 250,000 persons participated in in 2025.
Article 322-2 of the Penal Code defined acts of discrimination in line with the definition in the Convention. Persons found guilty of hate speech or intolerance against persons or groups of persons were issued sentences of six months to three years imprisonment, with a financial penalty. The delegation cited cases in which persons convicted of hate speech or incitement to hatred, including for statements against journalists and statements made on social media, had been sentenced to imprisonment and fined.
In 2016, the State party adopted a law establishing the National Human Rights Commission, which was reformed in 2021. This was an independent institution for the defence of human rights, which also acted as the national preventive mechanism against torture. As of 2025, it had 79 staff, including 25 women and six persons with disabilities. The Commission’s budget had grown despite the security context, from 458 million CFA francs in 2024 to 484 million in 2025.
The Government was aware of the impact of hate speech on human rights. It had taken measures to raise awareness of hate speech and sanction perpetrators. Under the Penal Code, hate speech that led to violent acts or the destruction of assets led to a three-to-10-year prison sentence and a large fine. The Government had taken measures to sanction hate speech and was encouraging communities to come together. It called on the public to report hate speech cases to the courts. In 2025, the Government published information on hate speech in public areas. In March 2026, a bill on religious freedom was adopted, which would contribute to combatting hate speech on religious grounds. The Government had also strengthened oversight of digital spheres to combat misinformation.
The Government had conducted activities targeting journalists, religious communities and other stakeholders on combatting racist acts. It had trained 700 Imams on preventing the proliferation of hate speech.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked about the entity responsible for collecting data on ethnicity. What matters had the National Human Rights Commission worked on since it was established, and which institutions did the Commission work with?
BAKRI SIDIKI DIABY, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, welcomed the strengthening of the defence and security forces and the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland. How was the State party reacting to reports of impunity for human rights violations amongst these forces?
FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, expressed regret that the State party had not submitted its follow-up report to the Committee’s previous concluding observations. Could the State party provide an update on progress in accrediting the national human rights institution with “A” status under the Paris Principles?
Other Committee Experts asked questions on the dissolution of non-governmental organizations and political parties; measures to investigate and remedy hate speech by members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland against the Fulani and the Peuhl; the conscription and disappearances of judges and lawyers as a form of reprisal for actions that were unfavourable to the Government; the progress of investigations into the 2024 massacre of the Fulani and other ethnic groups, which had 223 victims; training for judges in customary courts and oversight of their decisions; the harmful practices prohibited by the State’s legislation; whether courts had recorded reports of racial discrimination in recent years; whether legal instruments were accessible in remote areas; the State’s response to letters sent to the State party in 2023 and 2024 under the Committee’s early warning mechanism, which related to violations by the armed forces and non-State actors against the Peuhl people; and whether the State party was developing a methodology to collect ethnically disaggregated data.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party provided financing to the National Human Rights Commission and was working to ensure its accreditation with “A” status under the Paris Principles. The Commission was involved in human rights training for Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland and others.
Due time was being given to investigations into cases of hate speech that began in 2024. Burkina Faso did its best to respond to the early warnings it received in this regard from the Committee and other treaty bodies.
Burkina Faso did not use the expression “non-State actors” – it referred to these groups as “terrorists”. Reports that led to the dissolution of 118 non-governmental organizations were legitimate. These organizations were dissolved because they were not legally registered.
The State party prioritised efforts to combat terror over elections. It sought to ensure that actions by political parties did not present an obstacle to efforts to combat terror. This was why political parties were dissolved.
Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland were citizens of the State who had answered the call of the Head of State to defend the homeland. This was an inclusive body; all communities were affected by the security context. The military police was responsible for monitoring law enforcement officers and addressing violations.
Each ministry was responsible for collecting data within its mandate. The National Institute for Statistics and Demography conducted the census and collected data on social and economic spheres. The State party was not planning to collect data on ethnic origin, as the Constitution called for all citizens to enjoy human rights on an equal footing. References to ethnicity were removed from administrative acts 20 years ago. However, the State party took the concerns of different communities into account and had undertaken several activities to ensure equal treatment for different ethnic groups. Burkina Faso did not have indigenous peoples.
Under State legislation, persons who were not already members of the armed forces and who were able bodied could be conscripted to the armed forces, including judges and lawyers. If individuals believed that they had been recruited inappropriately, there were channels for appeal.
Questions by a Committee Expert
BAKRI SIDIKI DIABY, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked why the Government had decided to dissolve the National Human Rights Commission and close the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Appeals Committee for requests for international protection had been operational since 2013. From March to December 2016, this Committee considered only four applications, with two accepted and two refused. Why had such a low number of cases been handled and why were half rejected? The State had taken several measures to improve refugees' access to the labour market. It regularly issued letters of recommendation at the request of refugees to enable them to apply for job offers. How many refugees had benefited from job seeking support from the National Employment Promotion Agency? What awareness campaigns had been carried out concerning refugees’ access to work?
Burkina Faso acceded to the 1954 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons in 2012 and adopted a law in 2016 ratifying the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. To what extent had this law been implemented? How many persons in Burkina Faso were stateless or at risk of statelessness? What was achieved by the national action plan to end statelessness for 2017-2024? Was the Government considering a second plan to correct the shortcomings of the first plan?
Application of the 2008 law on the status of refugees and measures to protect asylum seekers and refugees had seemingly been severely hampered by the security crisis, the lack of financial resources, and administrative difficulties. How did the Government ensure that the presence of armed groups and the state of emergency in several regions did not impede humanitarian access and protection for refugees?
What measures were taken by the State to resolve documentation problems and difficulties in obtaining and renewing identity and travel documents? A lack of employment opportunities, language barriers and xenophobia complicated local integration. What measures were in place to promote socio-economic integration and address the data gap related to refugees? What was the current size of the refugee population?
Refugees reportedly faced discrimination and hate speech, including refugee children at school. They were not included in the national poverty reduction plan, nor in development strategies. What measures were in place to address this? A February 2024 law reformed migration control in Burkina Faso for security reasons, imposing strict residence permits, digitised procedures, and toughened penalties against illegal immigration. How were the rights of refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons respected in this context?
In Burkina Faso, stateless persons and internally displaced persons faced serious violations of fundamental rights, mainly due to their lack of civil status documents. These people were deprived of access to education, health care, and formal employment, and lived in extreme precariousness. What measures were taken to address this lack of documentation and support undocumented persons?
The 2017 law on the protection of human rights defenders provided for criminal penalties for crimes committed against human rights defenders. The law did not create a protection mechanism for human rights defenders, though one had been created by the national human rights institution. How would this mechanism be strengthened? What campaigns to publicise the law had been undertaken by the Government? The fight against terrorism hindered the activities of human rights defenders, who reportedly faced threats, arbitrary detentions, kidnappings and assassinations, with perpetrators not always prosecuted. How were these issues addressed? The 2017 law allowed for the expulsion of defenders in the name of “internal security”, creating a risk of misuse. Would this be revised?
Several allegations had been made of members of the Peuhl community being systematically removed from public transport by the forces of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland and then forcibly disappeared or executed. Members of the security and defence forces and volunteer forces reportedly also looted cattle and expropriated land belonging to members of the Peuhl community for their alleged collaboration with “terrorism”. Had investigations been opened to determine responsibilities for these offences?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Burkina Faso was open to continuing to collaborate efficiently with all the United Nations human rights mechanisms. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights had taken initiatives without considering information provided by Burkina Faso. The decision to suspend its local office was a response to these actions; it did not demonstrate that the State was unwilling to cooperate with the Office.
Burkina Faso had not dissolved the National Human Rights Commission. It had ended the mandates of sitting Commissioners but would appoint other Commissioners.
Burkina Faso had adopted a law in 2008 establishing refugee status and decrees for its implementation. It had established the National Commission for Refugees to ensure effective protection of the rights of asylum seekers and refugees and review their claims. Special registration operations were conducted in 2025 in localities where there were no branch offices of the Commission; more than 1,550 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in 2025. The Commission also issued 6,300 identity papers in 2025 and organised workshops for security forces on the right to asylum. The national act on the right to asylum gave refugees the same rights as Burkina Faso citizens, with the exception of the right to vote and access to public office.
Asylum seekers whose claims were rejected could lodge a complaint to the National Appeals Committee, which reviewed the case. The law establishing refugee status was being reviewed to ensure its alignment with international standards, considering the rights of unaccompanied minors and the privacy rights of refugees. The law governing entry and residency conditions allowed the State to better manage its borders and strengthen security for people at the borders, preventing the kidnapping of children.
In 2025, the State party adopted a new Code on the Status of Statelessness that included provisions to prevent statelessness. Children born in Burkina Faso to stateless parents were automatically granted Burkina Faso nationality. More than 1,800 civil documents had been issued to refugee children. The Government had undertaken several measures to promote birth registration among refugees.
The 2017 law on human rights defenders obligated the State party to ensure the protection of human rights defenders from human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, torture, enforced disappearance and other acts. A 2025 law regulated the process for establishing associations and non-governmental organizations, ensuring that those associations strengthened their oversight to counter terrorism and money laundering. Burkina Faso had 23,000 registered associations and 540 non-governmental organizations as of the last census.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
BAKRI SIDIKI DIABY, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the 2016 law on the National Human Rights Commission stated that Commissioners had a four-year mandate and could not be removed unless they undertook illegal actions. The State party was undermining the security of the State by suspending their mandate in violation of this law. Why were the Commissioners suspended? What was the impact of the national action plan on the prevention of statelessness?
FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, said that the Fulani and other groups had been recognised as indigenous peoples by the United Nations. Why did the State party deny that there were indigenous peoples in Burkina Faso? The Appeals Committee for asylum decisions had only assessed seven cases when the report was submitted. How many cases had it assessed to date?
One Committee Expert said the State’s various employment initiatives for refugees were laudable. How many refugees were recruited under these initiatives?
Other Committee Experts asked questions on the oversight of customary courts and the codification of customs to ensure that justice was handed down by these courts; whether all refugee children were registered at birth; the reasons for the lack of complaints of racial discrimination submitted to courts; and how the State party was working to protect children in the context of the complex security situation.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party had decided to remove the Commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission due to their lack of compliance with the principle of impartiality, pluralism and complementarity.
In 2025, letters of recommendation allowed 10 refugees to obtain employment. The Government was working to raise awareness amongst private sector employers to support refugees’ employment, and to collect data on the employment of refugees.
All children born in Burkina Faso needed to be registered in the civil registry. However, there were some areas where registration centres were not always operational due to the security situation. The new Family Code included measures ensuring that refugees and displaced persons could be registered where they resided. The Government was not aware of stateless persons in Burkina Faso, but there was a risk of statelessness, as many refugees did not have identity papers. The State was supporting access to such papers.
There were only a few cases assessed by the Appeals Committee because most applications for refugee status were accepted.
A January 2026 law regulated dispute settlement in traditional courts. Cases of discrimination on the basis of various grounds could be heard by these courts, which freed up the national courts. A prosecutor oversaw the operation of these courts and there was a training programme planned for officials of these courts.
State legislation enshrined the impartiality of the judiciary and their institutional and functional independence. Judges could not be removed from their position by the State except in cases of disciplinary proceedings. However, the mobility of judges was permitted, subject to written requests. The independence of judges could be seen in the numerous rulings they had issued against the State. The lack of cases on racial discrimination did not indicate that citizens feared the justice system.
The Government had taken several measures to address the problem of street children. In 2019, it assisted more than 550 children in street situations. Around 150 youths in street situations had been provided with financial support. In 2024, 2,700 children were taken out of begging activities, some of whom were of foreign nationality. In 2022, protection was afforded to children during operations to return security to the country.
The State party did not engage in ethnic considerations. It promoted social cohesion, particularly in the fight against terrorism. The national army and volunteer forces received training on combatting discrimination.
Some 500 young human rights defenders living in insecure areas had been trained in human rights in 2021. Burkina Faso did not discriminate against English-speaking refugees and asylum seekers or such persons of any language or origin. It reviewed all asylum requests on an equal basis.
Burkina Faso was characterised by a cultural mosaic within which a wide diversity of ethnicities, languages and religions cohabited. This was an essential cornerstone of national unity. The State party’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights ensured balanced and inclusive development. There was no indigenous community in Burkina Faso.
Questions by Committee Experts
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said that Burkina Faso had about 60 ethnic groups which did not always occupy specific geographical territories. Sources indicated that the Fulani and the Tuareg were indigenous, but the State party did not recognise their indigenous status. Most Fulani were pastoralists. The Committee had received numerous reports that Peuhl were victims of injustice, particularly racist attacks and hate crimes in the country.
What was the impact of the security situation on certain ethnic communities, particularly the Peuhl? What investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sanctions were imposed in relation to allegations of serious human rights violations committed against members of the Peuhl ethnic group since 2019, in the context of clashes and military and security operations, often carried out with the participation of the State armed forces and the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland.
The Committee was concerned about the persistence of the caste system within certain ethnic groups in Burkina Faso, which led to discrimination against certain categories of the population and prevented them from fully enjoying the rights enshrined in the Convention. It called on the State party to take all measures necessary to eliminate discrimination based on descent. What awareness-raising and education campaigns addressed such discrimination? Could the State provide examples of administrative sanctions issued for discriminatory acts?
In its last concluding observations, the Committee expressed concerns about the exploitation, abuse and trafficking of “garibou” [Koranic school students who survive through begging] from neighbouring countries or belonging to certain ethnic groups. What were the impacts and results of the measures adopted since 2013 to combat the exploitation of talibé or garibou children from neighbouring countries or belonging to certain ethnic groups? Could data be provided on complaints, investigations initiated, and convictions handed down in cases of forced begging and abuse of talibé and garibou children?
The Committee was concerned that certain groups, including nomads, migrants and people living in rural areas, were not sufficiently supported in the development policies and programmes put in place by the State party. What progress had been made in the implementation of the first national economic and social development plan and related measures, and what impact had these had on the protection of the economic, social and cultural rights of all persons?
The Committee had also previously expressed concern about ethnically motivated conflicts between farmers and herders in the State party. In 2015, the State set up the National Observatory for the Prevention and Management of Community Conflicts, which as of 2021 had resolved 25.5 per cent of farmer-herder conflicts and 20 per cent of ethnic conflicts according to the State report. What was the role and function of this institution in preventing and managing community conflicts and what impact had its activities had in preventing inter-ethnic tensions and clashes?
In Burkina Faso, minority ethnic groups were reportedly harassed by law enforcement agencies and armed groups and were not sufficiently guaranteed access to justice through judicial proceedings. According to reports, these groups often could not file a complaint due to the absence of a local court of law or due to a lack of support for their legitimate claims. There were also reports that the work of prosecutors and judges was threatened from time to time by certain organizations, groups and individuals.
What judicial measures had been taken to prevent the ethnic profiling of members of ethnic minorities such as the Peuhl by the security forces and other persons? What measures were taken to ensure access to legal remedies in cases of racial discrimination and to combat discrimination and stigmatisation of members of the Peuhl ethnic group, who were often targeted because of their alleged association with terrorism? How did the State ensure that judges could work independently and safely without fear of reprisals, including forced conscription?
BAKRI SIDIKI DIABY, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, commended the efforts of Burkina Faso to meet its international obligations despite the security context. Had steps been put in place to prevent damaging practices such as slavery in minority ethnic communities? Armed groups reportedly forcibly recruited members from these communities. How was the State working to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence against the Fulani people?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said certain ethnic issues were frequently arising in the dialogue, but Burkina Faso had never distinguished between ethnic groups and demanded equal treatment of all groups. There were people from different ethnicities who were members of Government. The Major General of the Army was a Peuhl and Peuhl were represented among Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland. It would be strange if these people were working toward the extermination of their own people.
The security situation impacted all communities and individuals without exception. Security forces prioritised the protection of citizens and their possessions without discrimination, following international commitments. In 2019, a High Court case had been lodged regarding a conflict and three people had been prosecuted for injuries, damage to property, and incendiary activities. The case was still being assessed.
The Code of Persons and the Family prohibited discrimination based on marriage and inheritance, and also banned forced and child marriage. The public and traditional chiefs had been trained on preventing forced marriage. The national strategy to promote culture, tolerance and peace, which was renewed in 2015, aimed to highlight cultural values and discourage harmful cultural practices. Many communities had been involved in implementing this strategy.
The State party adopted a programme in 2015 on children in street situations and conducted operations in 2018 to withdraw children and women from street situations, assisting 4,800 persons. It had also assisted 1,400 women and children in 2019 and 2020 and 2,700 children in 2024. In recent years, the State had provided support in school to 450 children and supported 150 youths to engage in legal income-generating activities. In 2008, the State trained 300 Koranic masters and assisted 2,600 talibé children, who were assigned to these masters. In 2024 and 2025, courts had ruled on 94 and 67 cases of trafficking in persons, respectively.
The State party had implemented measures to bring health services, drinking water and sanitation closer to the population through the national development plan. Thanks to these efforts, from 2016 to 2020, the average distance between homes and health centres dropped and access to drinking water and sanitation increased.
The National Observatory for the Prevention and Management of Community Conflicts had dealt with 1,700 conflicts in 2025, mostly land-related conflicts, settling around 550 of them. Many other conflicts were also in the process of being settled. Courts dealt with cases in a fair and impartial manner. Any person who was a victim of racial discrimination had the right to seek remedies in courts.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said an emergency shelter for talibéand garibou children was opened in 2013. How many people worked in this centre and what financial resources were devoted to it? The conflict settlement observatory was a good measure. How many people worked for this observatory and what financing was available for it? The Committee sent a letter to the Government in 2023 but had received no reply. Could the State party answer the questions posed to it by the Committee in 2023?
BAKRI SIDIKI DIABY, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked for more information on the rate of school attendance of nomadic populations. Peuhl children were often recruited to look after cattle and so could not attend school. Were there any adapted education programmes to keep these children in school? Conflicts related to land use had an ethnic dimension as they often occurred between farmers and cattle herders. How did the justice system respond to these conflicts? What remedies were available for such conflicts? There were reports of seizures of the cattle of ethnic minority communities. In one case, over 1,000 cattle were reportedly seized from a community and sold at auction. Had investigations into these cases been carried out? What complaints had been lodged regarding out-of-court settlements in the traditional justice system?
Other Committee Experts asked questions on measures promoting access to services for Peuhl victims of sexual violence; whether there was differentiation between different ethnic groups and regions regarding attendance rates at school and literacy rates; whether the Fulani and the Tuareg were allowed to self-identify and practice their traditions; and the current rate of resolution of conflicts between herders and farmers.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said it was concerning that the Committee made statements that were not necessarily based on facts. All ethnicities in the State were considered on an equal footing. The Peuhl participated freely in cultural expression. The State party was currently celebrating the National Week of Culture, and the Peuhl people were included in these cultural activities. All ethnicities were welcome to freely express their cultural identity.
Chairs of special delegations on land issues were representatives of the Government. Actions undertaken by these special delegations were in line with State legislation. Animals were sometime found in certain enclosures by special delegations, which returned these animals to their owners. Special delegations did not confiscate animals with a view to selling or appropriating them. Persons with the necessary permissions were able to conduct farming activities and animal husbandry without issue. Mobile schools had been set up to support education for the nomadic populations and a curriculum had been developed for educating these populations. Some 153 pastoral conflicts had been resolved in recent years, with 63 conflicts currently being resolved.
As of 2020, there were 13 regional observatories of talibé and over 300 departmental offices managed the 7,800 Koranic schools in the State. An intensive campaign was carried out in 2020 to rescue children in street situations; more than 3,500 children were reached by this campaign. More than 1,000 children were now in stabilisation centres, where they benefitted from schooling. Actions were also taken to support around 300 mothers who took their children to the street to beg. Some 240 children who had been housed in stabilisation centres had either been returned to their parents or sent to a shelter or foster home.
The State party provided training to healthcare staff and other officials on responding to sexual violence and providing support to victims.
Questions by a Committee Expert
BAKRI SIDIKI DIABY, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the exclusion of women accused of witchcraft had been criminalised in the new Penal Code of 2018, which provided for an appropriate penalty. How many cases had been investigated and how many convictions had been reached?
In Burkina Faso, persons with albinism faced persistent stigma, including social rejection, prejudices, and discrimination in hiring and access to housing. These individuals suffered marginalisation from childhood, aggravated by a lack of access to dermatological care. What measures were being taken by the State to address this issue? What measures were in place to protect persons with albinism from violence, abduction and discrimination, and to grant reparation to victims? How was the State supporting civil society organizations dedicated to fighting discrimination against person with albinism?
Many children with albinism struggled in school as they were unable to read the blackboard well in class, and they suffered from prejudice, mockery and often even rejection. Were measures in place to keep these children in school? Were there measures supporting children with albinism, including in regular schooling with equipment adapted to their disability? What awareness raising campaigns had the State carried out regarding parents and teachers of children with albinism? What subsidy programmes were available for the purchase of sunglasses, sunscreen and large print books?
What measures were being taken to prevent and combat racial profiling by law enforcement officials and other public officials against ethnic communities, including the Fulani? How were these groups included in the design, implementation and evaluation of these measures? How was the Government promoting freedom of movement and training law enforcement on road checks?
How did the State party work to reduce poverty levels among persons belonging to ethnic communities, persons with albinism, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and ensure their effective access to basic services? What measures were being taken to ensure adequate representation of the Fulani in Government and the National Human Rights Commission? What measures would the State party take to combat trafficking in persons, including of Fulani and non-citizens?
What measures were being taken to raise awareness among the public, civil servants, and law enforcement officials about the importance of cultural diversity, tolerance and inter-ethnic understanding? What human rights education did the State provide and what impact did it have? What measures were being taken to prevent the dissemination of racial and xenophobic stereotypes and prejudice against ethnic communities and other vulnerable groups?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that between 2019 and 2022, more than 200 people were prosecuted for involvement in the exclusion of women accused of witchcraft. A roadmap for the withdrawal and reintegration of persons excluded on grounds of witchcraft was adopted in 2015 to coordinate the actions of different stakeholders.
A legislative framework was in place to combat discrimination against persons with albinism. The Constitution and Penal Code included protections of life and physical integrity. Persons with albinism who were victims of discrimination, stigmatisation and violence could refer the matter to the courts. The Government was implementing the strategy for the protection of persons with disabilities, and as part of activities, it supported associations of persons with albinism and organised the Week for Persons with Albinism.
The armed forces and other officials did not carry out racial profiling. The Constitution prohibited racial and ethnic profiling. All persons could be subjected to checks in the context of the fight against terrorism, which was carried out in strict respect of persons’ dignity. The State party had raised awareness among armed forces of the need to avoid stigmatisation of communities when carrying out these activities. The fight against terrorism did not have an ethnic dimension. There were anonymous hotlines that citizens could use to lodge complaints regarding discrimination by armed forces.
The State party was currently drafting a new training programme on human rights education for citizens. Human rights education had been included at all levels of the school curriculum and all armed forces personnel received lifelong training on the respect for human rights. Training was also provided to public servants on human rights approaches as part of the national strategy to prevent radicalisation and violence.
State legislation determined that ordinary courts dealt with all issues except for administrative issues. Persons wishing to appeal the decisions of traditional courts could bring their cases to ordinary courts.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
BAKRI SIDIKI DIABY, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked whether the lack of complaints regarding racial discrimination indicated that the population was not aware of the complaints mechanism. How did the State manage the education of internally displaced children? There were damaging practices of heritage slavery affecting the Peuhl population. How was the State party preventing these practices and raising awareness among chiefs and others of this issue? What awareness raising campaigns was the Government carrying out as part of the Decade for People of African Descent?
Other Committee Experts asked questions on enrolment statistics for girls at all levels of education and the dropout rate for girls; whether the State was monitoring obstetric violence; rates of access to health services for different regions and ethnic groups; whether the State’s initiatives had reduced the practice of exclusion of women accused of witchcraft; whether forced marriage and female genital mutilation affected some ethnic groups more than others, and whether the State’s awareness raising campaigns for combatting these practices were targeted at vulnerable groups; legal provisions to confer collective rights on traditional territories for pastoralists from the Peuhl and Tuareg communities, including in the context of mining activities; measures adopted to ensure that indigenous women could access land; whether the Government had a strategy to promote women’s right to land ownership; and why persons accused of witchcraft were primarily women and why these persons were excluded.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that the lack of complaints did not indicate that there was no racial discrimination in Burkina Faso. However, there was a legal framework in place to combat racial discrimination. Countries in the Global South did not have a culture of approaching the justice system, which was one reason for the lack of reported cases.
The State party had implemented several measures to educate internally displaced children. It had trained 385 teachers in educational centres, reopened over 2,000 schools in reoccupied areas, and set up more than 9,000 temporary schools. More than 15,900 internally displaced children had re-enrolled in schools, and the State provided bursaries to child-led households.
Around 23 per cent of boys and 19 per cent of girls of primary school age were enrolled in school and 10 per cent of boys and girls of secondary school age were enrolled. The Government conducted activities to promote girls’ inclusion in education and had developed guidelines on protecting the health and dignity of girls. Some 180 teachers had been trained on promoting gender equality.
The State’s actions had led to a drop in the number of excluded women on grounds of witchcraft. More work needed to be done to collect data on this group. The fixation on women sorcerers reflected the vulnerable situation of women in Burkina Faso. Women, particularly elderly widows or childless women, were often targeted by these practices. However, State law also addressed men accused of witchcraft, who were welcomed in support centres.
Traditional harmful practices affected women from all communities. The State party had implemented legislative measures to curtail these practices, and it aimed to prevent them entirely.
There were no collective land rights granted in Burkina Faso. Under the new law on agrarian land reform, the land in question belonged to the State, but the State could concede physical occupation to legal entities or individuals. There was a low rate of granting land titles to women because few women applied for such titles. Awareness raising campaigns were carried out on women’s access to land rights and there were no selective criteria that favoured men over women in granting of land titles.
Burkina Faso carried out various activities to support the descendants of slavery, including initiatives to grant residency permits. The State party prohibited slavery and issued severe penalties of between 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment for the practice. Traditional leaders were heavily involved in awareness raising campaigns on social cohesion.
Closing Remarks
FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, said that at the end of the dialogue, the Committee would adopt concluding observations, and it expected the State party to submit a follow-up report on efforts to implement those concluding observations within one year.
GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said that the dialogue had been fruitful, although not all questions were fully answered. Mr. Guan thanked the members of the delegation for their efforts and all persons who had contributed to the dialogue.
SABINE BAKYONO KANZIE, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the high-quality exchange, in which the delegation had presented efforts to promote human rights and combat racial discrimination. Combatting terrorism was a major challenge for Burkina Faso and the top national priority. Various measures had been implemented to protect the people and their assets, in respect for human rights. Assessments that did not take these efforts into account were inappropriate.
Ms. Kanzie thanked the Committee and all who contributed to the successful dialogue. The Government would pay attention to the Committee’s recommendations, bearing in mind national values and security concerns. The Government was determined to strengthen national security, speed up the development of human capital and infrastructure, and bring about sustainable change in the economy. Burkina Faso was devoted to cooperating with all stakeholders to promote human rights.
GÜN KUT, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the answers provided. The Committee would develop concluding observations based on the dialogue.
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