Burundi

(18 November 2016, CEDAW/C/BDI/CO/5-6, Concluding observations on fifth/sixth report, paras. 34 and 35)

“The Committee welcomes the measures in place to increase the enrolment and retention of girls in school, including the adoption of a policy on the reintegration of girls into school after pregnancy, the establishment of school meal programmes, and training of school teachers and students on combatting violence against women. However, the Committee is concerned that: …

(e)        Girls are often victims of sexual and gender based violence on the way to and from school as well as on school premises and that perpetrators of such acts regularly enjoy impunity due to the frequent lack of investigations into these allegations.

“The Committee, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4, target 4.5 to eliminate gender disparities in education, recommends that the State party: …

(e)        Raise public awareness about the importance of women’s and girls’ education and reinforce a zero-tolerance policy with respect to sexual abuse and harassment at school, ensuring that perpetrators are punished appropriately, corporal punishment is abolished in practice, and that victims are ensured access to health-care, psychological services and reparations; and,

(f)        Establish a robust gender-disaggregated data collection system in the education system, covering special needs education, school net enrolment and retention, and incidents of sexual and gender-based violence in school settings, including their resolution, and enforce the Committee’s previous recommendations (CEDAW/C/BDI/CO/4, para. 32).”