Table I : Children adopted from 2009 to 2015
Period
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015 Total
Level
National15
19
19
16
25
20
31
17
147
International16
7
4
5
18
32
29
17
112
g) . Abuse, neglect and exploitation of the child (art 16 and 27)
82. Article 44 of the Constitution stipulates that "Every child has the right to special measures in
order to provide or improve the care necessary for his well-being; his/her health and physical safety
and to be protected from ill treatment, abuse or exploitation ". Corporal punishment is prohibited in
schools. These measures are set out in the Penal Code and the Code of Persons and the Family,
which contain provisions aimed at protecting the child against any form of violence, physical injury,
brutality or exploitation, including sexual violence. Thus, article 298 of the Code of Persons and the
Family provides for the deprivation of parental authority in case of abuse of the parents and abuse
against the child. The Penal Code punishes domestic violence against children (section 535);
incitement to debauchery and child prostitution (article 539 (2)), encouraging prostitution (article
547 (1)) and rape of a child (article 556 (1)).
83. Sexual abuse has been exacerbated during the civil war and the waves of violence it has
engendered. Data compiled by NGOs working in Burundi show more than 2700 cases of sexual
assault in 2007. The recent promulgation of Law N ° / 13 of 22 September 2016 on prevention,
protection of victims and repression of gender based violence should be pointed out.
84. The Government of Burundi has set up a National Centre for the Prevention and Care of
Victims of Gender-Based Violence in the Centre of the Country (Humura Centre of Gitega) in order
to prevent and support victims of sexual violence and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes
VII. BASIC HEALTH AND WELL BEING
85.
The Government of Burundi is aware that it is its duty to ensure children's enjoyment of
the right to health. This is reflected in the 2005-201517 National Health Policy (NSP), which
includes measures to promote the health of the general population, and of mothers and children in
particular.
15
Source : District Court in Bujumbura City
16
Source : Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender, Department of Children and Family / Central
Authority
17
National Forum on Child Poverty and Disparities in Burundi, June 2009
23