Burundi: Frequency of forced and early marriages, as well as legislation; protection and assistance provided by the state and civil society (2010-June 2013)
Limited information on the frequency of forced and early marriages in Burundi could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints. However, the following information could be useful.
According to article 88 of Executive Decree No. 1/024 of 28 April 1993 on the reform of the Code of Persons and the Family (Décret-loi n°1/024 du 28 avril 1993 portant réforme du Code des personnes et de la famille), [translation] "a man under 21 years of age and a woman under18 years of age cannot enter into marriage" (Burundi 1993).
According to the United States Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010, "[c]hild marriage reportedly was not widespread, although informal marriages of young girls sometimes occurred when victims were forced by their families to marry after rape or other forms of sexual exploitation" (US 8 Apr. 2011). For example, Country Reports points out the case of a young man who reportedly arranged the marriage of his 13-year old sister after she was raped by a local businessman (ibid.). The report on Burundi states that "[i]f there was no such agreement, victims and their families were sometimes intimidated by perpetrators living in their community" (ibid.).
Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Burundi. 1993. Décret-loi n°1/024 du 28 avril 1993 portant réforme du Code des personnes et de la famille. [Accessed 28 May 2013]
United States (US). 8 April 2011. Department of State. "Burundi." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010. [Accessed 27 May 2013]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to contact the following people and organizations were unsuccessful: Association des femmes juristes du Burundi, Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme Iteka, Organisation mondiale contre la torture, SOS Villages d'enfants Canada, Unicef Burundi.
Internet sites, including: AllAfrica; Amnesty International; Association de réflexion et d'information sur le Burundi; Association des femmes juristes du Burundi; Association mondiale des amis de l'enfance; Burundi – République du Burundi; Child Rights International Network; Equality Now; Factiva; Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme; Freedom House; FVS-AMADE; Girls Not Bride; GlobalRights; Human Rights Watch; Institut de statistiques et d'études économiques du Burundi; International Alert; International Crisis Group; International Rescue Committee; Minority Rights Group; United Nations – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, World Health Organization, Refworld, UNICEF; Voices of America; World Bank.