Press Release

WOM/1168

IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION FOR WOMEN STRESSED DURING ANTI-

DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE MEETING ON BURKINA FASO
REPORTS
20000127

The importance of education for women was underlined this afternoon as expert members
of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concluded its
consideration of the combined second and third periodic reports of Burkina Faso on
compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women.

One expert, describing education as the gateway to women’s empowerment and

implementation of the Convention, said it was disheartening that literacy rates among
women in Burkina Faso remained low. It seemed illiteracy and poverty were a woman’s
fate throughout the world. Education would enhance the fight against poverty.

Another expert stressed that neither education nor emancipation in its broadest sense
would be able to change anything without the full participation of women in political
power. Civil and family education should be used to prevent young people from growing
up to perpetrate violence against women. Violence was a result of miseducation in the
family.

A member of Burkina Faso’s delegation agreed with experts that illiteracy among women
was a major hindrance to their attaining equality in her country. While education was the
best method of transmitting information to women about their rights, women must also be
taught to complain. If there were no complaints, there could be no adjudication.

Aida Gonzalez Martinez of Mexico, Chairperson of the Committee, said the level of the
delegation of Burkina Faso was proof of the country’s commitment to eliminating
discrimination against women. She hoped that the socio-cultural models and stereotypes
presenting obstacles in the path to equality for women worldwide could eventually be
removed through efforts similar to those that the delegation of Burkina Faso had so
clearly outlined.

Among other issues discussed this afternoon were polygamy, divorce, abortion and
family planning.
The Committee will meet again at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, 28 January, to begin its
consideration of the third periodic report of Belarus.

Women’s Anti-Discrimination Committee - 2 - Press Release WOM/1168 459th Meeting

(PM) 27 January 2000

Committee Work Programme

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women met this afternoon
to continue its consideration of the combined second and third periodic reports of
Burkina Faso on implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women. For background information on those reports, see Press
Release WOM/1167 of this morning.

Questions and Comments by Experts

An expert underlined the urgency and importance of women’s education as the gateway
to women’s empowerment and implementation of the Convention. It was disheartening
that literacy among women remained low. Therefore, she joined in requesting that the
Government give that sector priority in allocating both financial and human resources.

Another expert said that due to the three major obstacles to the fight against female
discrimination in Burkina Faso -- poverty, lack of education and stereotyping due to
traditions and customs -- it was very difficult to counter that situation, but the country
was succeeding in its efforts. On the issue of abortion, she noted the Government’s strong
programme, but she also shared the views of her colleagues that education was the
priority.

Throughout the world, she continued, it appeared that poverty and illiteracy were a
woman’s fate. The fight against poverty would be enhanced by education. Moreover,
while the establishment of satellite schools and formal education policies for boys and
girls could be viewed as a pilot project, she was recommending that the State implement
special and additional programmes particularly for girls. She noted that areas of weakness
were the country’s poor family planning programmes and inequality due to inadequate
employment laws.

Another expert pointed out that, given women’s involvement in the profusion of small
and medium-sized enterprises in the country, they could make a worthwhile contribution
to Burkina Faso’s participation in the current trend towards globalization. Also, the
availability of information technology could further women’s education through
knowledge that could be procured through that medium, as well as through traditional
media.

Turning to the issue of poverty among rural women, one expert said it was necessary to
guarantee poor women’s access to loans and to jobs other than agriculture. How were
rural women with real needs covered by the law that had been established in June 1991 to
govern agrarian reforms? she asked.

An expert noted that the delegation had pointed out that one of the issues the Government
had been dealing with was the representation of women in public and political life.
Therefore, she wanted to know whether, in that undertaking, special measures like quotas
in Parliament, civil service and other relevant areas were being considered. That would
help to increase the visibility of women and the issues that concerned them.

On the issue of polygamy, she noted the need for the State to protect women and children
from such situations and to protect those who sought recourse. It was not enough to
expect women to say no to polygamy, as there were obvious consequences -- what
protective legislation for women in case of polygamy was in place?

Response of Government

CLEMENCE ILBOUDO, of Burkina Faso’s delegation, responding to questions on

polygamy, said that if a man, in spite of his wife’s refusal, decided to go ahead with
another marriage, the courts would formally prohibit the second marriage.

She said that although there were no accurate records, divorce rates in Burkina Faso were
not very high. Efforts were usually undertaken, often with the assistance of the woman’s
family, to reconcile the couple. If that failed, the courts were a last resort.

ROSE MARIE-ZOUNGRANA, also of the delegation of Burkina Faso, in response to

questions on rural women, said special attention was now being focused on rural women.
Donors were insisting that every project undertaken take them into account as a condition
for funding. It was of paramount importance not only to involve them in projects, but also
to involve them in decision-making.

She said that when rural women had children, they could not enrol in literacy classes,
because it was difficult to find someone to care for those children. Literacy courses took
on additional costs because women sometimes had to bring their children with them and
have them taken care of while they learned.

Another concern was that once rural women overcame illiteracy, it was important to
maintain literacy, she said. Rural women did not have sufficient access to books and
other publications in French and they risked reverting to illiteracy after a few years.

Responding to other issues, she said banks had to be provided with guarantees before
women could be provided with credit. Regarding education, the Government had made it
a priority and was elaborating plans of action.

SAMWIDI ZOUNGRANA, of Burkina Faso’s delegation, said it was clear that women’s
illiteracy was a major hindrance to their attaining equality in her country. She agreed with
the experts’ opinions that education was the best method of transmitting information to
women on their rights; however, women must also be taught to complain. If there were
no complaints, there could be no adjudication. The Government was also using a strategy
through a focal department that dealt exclusively with rural and illiterate women. There
were social workers at the national and village levels who had recourse to both men and
women.

Turning to the draft codes, she noted that they affected six provinces and included laws
for women’s empowerment. Under those codes, legal offices had been established to deal
with problems of violence against women, among other things, and approximately 200
people came in monthly to request information on the Family Code.

There was good reason for optimism, particularly in cases of forced marriage, she stated.
Recently, about 100 girls had fled their homes and the parents were being brought to
justice. Furthermore, to propel that change, it was now the women’s turn to invoke and
claim their rights. They must organize themselves so they could fully implement those
rights.

AGNES KABORE OUATTARA, Director for Family Relations in Burkina Faso’s

Ministry of Social Work, referring to issues on abortion and family planning, reiterated
that youth and family programmes in the health sector had led to the establishment of
youth centres aimed at preventing pregnancies and abortions.

SEG-NOGO OUEDRAOGO-SAWADOGO, of the delegation of Burkina Faso,

responding to questions about health, said national associations for family well-being
were training young people and midwives. Training courses had been redesigned to cover
all health problems. All staff who would be working in the health services would be
trained in pre- and post-abortion care.

She said the integration of all those activities would be carried out at the level of the
national health service. Studies now being undertaken would determine how those
services could be made available to women. Hopefully, by the Committee’s next session,
there would be indicators and statistics reflecting a changed situation. In three years,
midwives and nursing graduates would be able to make use of their training.

An expert stressed that neither education nor emancipation in its broadest sense would be
able to change anything without the full participation of women in political power.

She said civil and family education should be included in general education to inform
young people on violence against women. Violence was a result of miseducation in the
family.

Regarding abortion, she said that any new legislation envisaged for the protection of
women must include their right to decide about their own bodies and to make their own
decisions. While no woman would make such a decision lightly, she deserved the right to
make her own decision.
Mariam Marie-Gisele Guigma, Minister for the Development of Women of Burkina
Faso, emphasized that education was indeed the key. It was only in the past three years
that Burkinabe women had become aware of its prioritization. Also, regarding women in
political and public life, women’s organizations had struggled to maintain a quota of 25
women in political parties and groups, and had ensured that women would no longer be
put at the bottom of political lists, but rather in the middle. Furthermore, the role of
women had been raised at the highest level of government and she believed that the next
report would reflect that real success had been achieved.

Ms. ILBOUDO said that it was important to note that Burkina Faso had not lost sight of
its responsibility for implementing the Convention. Consequently, on the national level,
the National Commission for Children’s Rights and representatives of various societies
and organizations, together with members of the human rights movement, had studied
ways to integrate and implement human rights, including those of women, at every level
of the country.

AIDA GONZALEZ MARTINEZ of Mexico, Chairperson of the Committee, said the

level of the delegation of Burkina Faso was proof of the country’s commitment to
eliminating discrimination against women. She hoped that the socio-cultural models and
stereotypes presenting obstacles in the path to equality for women worldwide could
eventually be removed through efforts similar to those that the delegation of Burkina
Faso had so clearly outlined.

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