EXECUTIVE SUMMARY _____________________________________________________________________ 7.19 The problem of gender and gender equality. Women constitute the majority of the population of Burkina, and they are the cornerstone of the family and agricultural production. Burkina Faso has ratified a good number of international and regional conventions on the rights of women. By adhering to these instruments, the Burkinabe state is committed to instituting a legal framework and relevant institutional mechanisms, and to implementing policies and strategies that can offer the Burkinabe – both men and women – equal opportunities for access to SHD. 7.20 Some well-known actions have been initiated, but a good number of instruments are ineffective as a result of a lack of appropriate measures to ensure their application, and a lack of ownership by all the actors, especially the beneficiary populations. In fact, very few women are aware of the existence of these instruments, not to mention eventually enjoying them. This is attributable to the persistence of socio-cultural constraints militating against women, and the high illiteracy rate among women, which is estimated at 80% among young girls and women aged above 15 years. The factors are related to the low political and economic participation of the female population, notably 5% at the level of local entities and 16% at the level of Parliament. The Burkinabe authorities should initiate voluntarist policies to enhance the access of women to basic social services and production factors in order to make them real informed actors and beneficiaries of development. The APR Panel recommends (notably) the adoption of positive discriminatory policies such as the institution of a quota system for both elective and appointment function. 7.21 The diaspora, a factor of sustainable development. Presently, the number of Burkinabe living abroad is estimated at about 8 million people, representing nearly two-thirds of the country’s population. This is an exceptional number when compared to other countries in the African continent. The very high degree of attachment of the Burkinabe diaspora to the ‘motherland’, combined with its dynamism and ingenuity – which are highly appreciated in the entire West African region, and in all areas of activity – are powerful vectors to accompany all the strategies and policies geared towards general sustainable development objectives and opening up Burkina Faso. 7.22 Concerning financial resources, recent statistics indicate that the current transfer of funds from the diaspora amounts to some CFAF 50 billion per annum, representing one-third of the amount mobilised during the past two decades. 7.23 The authorities are quite aware of the immense development potential of this diaspora. This awareness is mainly expressed through the efforts geared towards developing a migratory policy, which falls under the responsibility of the National Population Council (CNP), and the creation of the Supreme Council of Burkinabe Living Abroad (CSBE). It is within this framework that the implementation of this policy is expected to give a concrete boost to achieve the full participation of the Burkinabe abroad in the economic, social and cultural development of their country. 31