Article 34 of the CRC protects minors against sexual abuse.
d2. Limitations
Although instruments exist that punish these abuses, some parents hesitate to lodge
formal complaint. Denunciation does not go well with society. Sometimes, parents prefer to
reach an understanding, provided a certain sum is paid as compensation.
Others see in preliminary investigation another source of judicial redtape. Thus, justice is
the last resort.
d3. Achievements
The relevant legislation is very repressive:
the emergence of the phenomenon of group rape in 2002 prompted the
population to denounce these acts;
the fight against poverty might put an end to some types of sexual
exploitation.
The care of junvenile prostitutes by NGOs and their retraining in tailoring,
hair-dressing, cooking, etc.
138 girls received free medical care.
E. Other forms of abuse and exploitation such as begging, teenage pregnancy (article
29b)
e1. Legislative, administrative and judicial measures
The Penal Code cracks down on the misdemeanour of begging (section 179). Meanwhile,
section 181 punishes parents who benefit from the begging of their minor children.
The code also cracks down on the enticement of minors with or without violence. The
penalty depends on the gravity of the offence.
e2. Limitations
These are linked to socio-cultural constraints:
the poverty of the population ;
the non application of instruments on religious grounds;
the urge of parents to send their children into the streets to beg;
the marabouts who demand that their pupils pay a certain sum of money;
some parents hire out their children as guides to blind beggars, subject to a
daily remuneration;
the victims of teenage pregnancies are rejected by their families;
children conceived outside marriage constitute a failure for the family;
some girls prefer clandestine abortion, thus putting their lives in danger;
others commit infanticide ;
there are no State structures providing care.
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