216. These initiatives include, on the one hand, the use of a common system for the surveillance of trafficking and the sharing of information to facilitate investigations and legal proceedings and, on the other hand, necessary and effective protection and support to the victims. In the short term, a mechanism for identification, repatriation, reintegration of victims of trafficking, research and prosecution of the perpetrators of such crime is implemented. 217. With regard to abduction, the Penal Code defines the offense of kidnapping as the fact, without the order of the constituted authorities and in the cases provided for by law, of arresting, abducting, detaining or to sequester a person. The perpetrator is punishable by a prison sentence and may be sentenced to life imprisonment (Article 244 Penal Code). The maximum penalty is also imposed on a person who has abducted or had arrested, get arrested, detained, or get detained persons for the purpose of selling them as slaves or who has disposed of persons under his authority for the same purpose (article 245). e) Children victims of social and cultural harmful practices or affecting the well being, dignity, normal growth and development of the child i. Bethrothal of girls and boys 218. This kind of bethrothal between families is not known in Burundi. The parents give the latitude to their children to choose their future spouse. ii. Early and forced marriage 219. In Burundi, early and forced marriages are relatively common practices. Between 1987 and 2006, although the law sets the legal age of marriage at 18, 14% of urban children and 18% of children in rural areas married before the age of 18. Poverty is the main motivation. The phenomenon of early child marriage compromises their normal growth. In Burundi, the phenomenon is much more pronounced for girls than for boys and is one of the leading causes of death among married and single girls aged 15-19. The rate of girls who are married before the age of 15 was estimated at 2.9% in 2005 and the rate of those who were married before the age of 18 was estimated at 20.4%, 9.6% of women aged between 15 and 19 years old are married or in a relationship. Of these married girls or those in early-relationship, 12.7% did not attend school compared with 2.3% who completed high school.48 iii. Any form of female genital mutilation 146. The practice of FGM is not authorised or known in Burundi. f) Children from a minority group 48 Report on Child Poverty and Disparities in Burundi, p. 70 47