Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Burundi (Ratification: 2002)

The Committee notes the observations of the Trade Union Confederation of Burundi (COSYBU), received on 28 August 2025. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this regard.

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour and penalties. Sale and trafficking of children. The Committee observes that the Government, in its report, refers once again to the provisions of the Criminal Code that punish the trafficking of children, without, however, providing concrete information on their application in practice.

The Committee notes that, according to the 2024 Annual Report of the Independent National Human Rights Commission (CNIDH), in 2024, only one case of trafficking in persons was brought before the national courts, with no reference made to the age of the victims. The CNIDH observes that, while this was the only case of trafficking examined by the courts, there is consistent evidence that trafficking is widespread in Burundi. The Committee urges the Government to step up its efforts, including by enhancing the capacities of law enforcement bodies to ensure that cases of trafficking in children are identified and that all persons who commit acts of trafficking in children are subject to investigation and prosecution, and that sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are imposed. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on: (i) the number of investigations conducted by the CNIDH and the competent services concerning trafficking in children under 18 years; and (ii) the number of prosecutions initiated in this regard and the number of penalties imposed on perpetrators of trafficking in children.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee notes, according to the Government’s report submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC): (1) the implementation of initiatives aimed at promoting the education of girls by the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI), in particular the raising of awareness among parents and the establishment of UNGEI committees at the provincial and communal levels, with the aim of identifying girls who do not attend school or who have dropped out; (2) that progress has been recorded in terms of reducing the disparity in school enrolment rates for girls and boys; (3) that the challenges faced in ensuring access to education persist, in particular the cost of uniforms, school supplies, transport and miscellaneous contributions (CRC/C/BDI/3-5, 29 March 2024, paras 111 and 112).

The Committee notes that, according to the UNICEF Annual Report 2024, in 2022–23: (1) the net enrolment rate was 87 per cent at the primary level with significant disparities among rural areas (in which 35 per cent of children were enrolled) and urban areas (in which 60 per cent of children were enrolled); (2) at the primary level, the repetition rate was 29 per cent and the school drop-out rate was 10.7 per cent; (3) UNICEF has continued to invest in improving school infrastructure, including through the renovation and construction of classrooms; and (4) UNICEF also participated in the ongoing training of 944 primary teachers.

The Committee notes, according to the 2024 Annual Report of the CNIDH, that: (1) a sectoral education plan for Burundi 2022–30 has been adopted; (2) the Government continues to implement the programme for free basic schooling, the school canteen programme, and its policy on leaving no one behind, by focusing on the promotion of the education of vulnerable persons, including children from the Batwa community; (3) despite these efforts, the Government is faced with insufficient financial, material and human resources to achieve the expected results; and (4) other challenges persist, in particular school drop-outs due to unwanted pregnancies, the phenomenon of street children, the use of drugs, the remoteness of schools in certain regions, emigration, child labour, and natural disasters resulting in population movement and the closure of schools. While noting the measures taken by the Government, the Committee requests it to strengthen its efforts to improve the functioning of the education system in the country in order to guarantee access to free basic education for all children, including girls and children from the Batwa community. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken and the results achieved, and to provide updated statistical information on school attendance, repetition, and drop-out rates in primary education and lower secondary schools.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. Street children. The Committee notes the Government’s indications that a national strategy for the prevention of the phenomenon of street children and adult beggars, and their reintegration into the community, was adopted in 2022.

The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report submitted to the CRC: (1) a national platform for stakeholders in this field (civil service, civil society) implements the activities of the Action Plan for the National strategy for the prevention of the phenomenon of street children and adult beggars, and their reintegration into the community; (2) there are centres that provide family and socio-professional reintegration services and school and university education for children removed from the streets; and (3) in June 2022, 1,455 street children were reintegrated into their families after passing through transit centres (CRC/C/BDI/3-5, para. 61). The Committee notes that, in its observations, COSYBU requests the Government to: (1) increase its efforts to protect street children from the worst forms of child labour, including by providing for their rehabilitation and social integration, and not to treat them as criminals; and (2) to provide information on the number of children identified as street children and the support measures provided to them.

The Committee notes that, according to the 2024 Annual Report of the CNIDH, despite certain efforts undertaken by the Government, including the creation of a shelter for child and adult beggars, the phenomenon of street children persists throughout certain provinces in the country. The CNIDH considers that holistic measures aimed at providing the best protection of children and a reintegration strategy taking into account the age, gender and diversity of these children, are necessary. Recalling that street children are particularly exposed to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee once again requests the Government to step up its efforts to protect these children from the worst forms of child labour, ensure their rehabilitation and social integration, and guarantee that they are not treated like criminals. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures adopted in this regard, and on the results achieved, including the number of children identified as street children and the support measures provided to them.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.