U.S. Department of State 2001 Trafficking in Persons Report - Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso (Tier 2)

Burkina Faso is a source, transit, and destination country for internationally trafficked persons, including children. Burkina Faso is an occasional source country for women who travel to Europe to work as domestics, but, upon their arrival, are exploited sexually. Burkina Faso is a transit country for trafficked children, notably from Mali. Children in transit from Mali are often destined for Cote D'Ivoire. Trafficked Malian children are also destined for Burkina Faso. Destinations for trafficked Burkinabe children include Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. In 1999 there were reports of trafficked Burkinabe children destined for Germany.

The Government of Burkina Faso does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite severe resource constraints. There is no law that specifically criminalizes the act of trafficking, but a range of other relevant laws may be used to prosecute traffickers. The Constitution specifically prohibits slavery, inhumane treatment, torture, and mistreatment of children and adults. The Penal Code prohibits kidnapping, violence, and mistreatment of children. The Government prosecutes rape, kidnapping, and pandering cases, and the penalties are generally commensurate with those for rape. The Government has established two centers to help with the social reintegration of at-risk children. The Ministry of Social Affairs has on occasion provided short-term assistance to repatriated minors. In addition, the Government works with local and international NGO's. The Government, in cooperation with the ILO, formulated a National Action Plan Against Child Labor that incorporates efforts to sensitize the population to the problem of child labor, including trafficking.

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