Country fact sheet: Burkina Faso
Women’s rights in law and practice in Burkina Faso: key indicators, treaties, ten laws and their gaps, recent developments and reforms recommended.
Last updated · October 30, 2026
Country fact sheet · Burkina Faso · women’s rights in law and practice
Read from RFLD’s Burkina Faso legal profile, October 2026. “Gaps recorded” means a treaty body, the government or national organisations have reported shortcomings in the law or its application.
Treaty commitments
| Maputo Protocol | signed 26/02/2004 / ratified 09/06/2006 / deposited 09/08/2006 |
| CEDAW | acceded 14 Oct 1987 |
| CEDAW Optional Protocol | signed 16 Nov 2001 / ratified 10 Oct 2005 |
| African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child | signed 27/02/1992 / ratified 08/06/1992 / deposited 10/07/1992 |
Ten laws that matter for women, and their gaps
| Topic | Law | Gaps recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Gender-based and domestic violence | Loi n°061-2015/CNT du 6 septembre 2015 portant prévention, répression et réparation des violences à l’égard des femmes et des filles | The government reported continuing challenges in enforcing the law. |
| Rape and sexual offences | Loi n°025-2018/AN du 31 mai 2018 portant Code pénal (sexual offences) | The government noted the need for stronger application of these provisions. |
| Female genital mutilation | Loi n°025-2018/AN du 31 mai 2018 portant Code pénal, articles 513-7 à 513-9 | The government noted the need for stronger enforcement. |
| Child marriage and age of marriage | Loi n°025-2018/AN du 31 mai 2018 portant Code pénal, articles 531-1 et suivants | – |
| Family and personal status | Persons and Family Code (Code des personnes et de la famille), revised in 2025 | – |
| Land and property | Loi n°034-2009/AN du 16 juin 2009 portant régime foncier rural, article 75 | Only 32% of women in unions held land in 2010 and 8.2% held it alone. |
| Abortion and sexual and reproductive health | Reproductive Health Act, Act No. 049-2005/AN (2005); Penal Code | Abortion on request or on social grounds is not permitted. |
| Political participation and quotas | Electoral quota law (30% of candidates of either sex) | Women hold 19.0% of seats in the appointed Transitional Legislative Assembly; elections are suspended during the transition. |
| Human rights defenders | Loi n°039-2017/AN du 27 juin 2017 portant protection des défenseurs des droits humains au Burkina Faso | The law created no protection mechanism; the one set up by the national human rights commission rests on an administrative order with no appeal process and no specific provisions for women defenders. |
Recent developments
- July 2026. UN Human Rights Office announced the shutdown of its Burkina Faso country office.
- May 2026. CERD Committee published findings on serious violations against Fulani communities and descent-based discrimination.
- March 2026. Renewal of the Transitional Legislative Assembly: 11 women among 58 members.
- December 2024. Burkina Faso’s invitation to accede to the Budapest Convention lapsed.
- 2 July 2024. Start of a 60-month transition period under the revised transition charter.
Reforms recommended
- Repeal the polygamy provisions of the Persons and Family Code (CEDAW Committee, 2010).
- Adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination provisions covering direct and indirect discrimination against women (CEDAW Committee, 2010).
- Investigate and prosecute extrajudicial executions, torture and arbitrary detention, and prohibit ethnic profiling in law (CERD Committee, 2026).
Laws on sexual violence adopted since 2020
RFLD and its member organisations contributed to the advocacy behind these laws in Burkina Faso:
- Code des personnes et de la famille, adopted on 1 September 2025 (2025). Sets 18 as the minimum age of marriage for girls and boys and makes the consent of both parties the basis of marriage.
See all 13 laws in the register of laws and policies we helped change.
RFLD in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is one of the eight countries of RFLD’s Afrofeminist Initiative for Human Rights Development in Francophone West Africa, supported by the SEA-T programme (GIZ, on behalf of BMZ). See our countries of work and the West Africa legal scorecard 2026.
Sources and updates
Every entry comes from RFLD’s Burkina Faso legal profile, which cites the official text or source for each line. Last checked: October 2026. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
Frequently asked questions
Has Burkina Faso ratified the Maputo Protocol?
Yes. Burkina Faso’s status is: signed 26/02/2004 / ratified 09/06/2006 / deposited 09/08/2006.
What is the minimum age of marriage in Burkina Faso?
The Penal Code prohibits and punishes child and forced marriage. (Loi n°025-2018/AN du 31 mai 2018 portant Code pénal, articles 531-1 et suivants)
Is female genital mutilation banned in Burkina Faso?
Loi n°025-2018/AN du 31 mai 2018 portant Code pénal, articles 513-7 à 513-9. Criminalises female genital mutilation. Gap recorded: The government noted the need for stronger enforcement.
Does Burkina Faso have a law on violence against women?
Loi n°061-2015/CNT du 6 septembre 2015 portant prévention, répression et réparation des violences à l’égard des femmes et des filles. Dedicated law that defines and punishes violence against women and girls and sets up victim support. It creates offences that were previously unpunished, such as abduction and witchcraft accusations. Gap recorded: The government reported continuing challenges in enforcing the law.
Does Burkina Faso have a gender quota?
Electoral quota law (30% of candidates of either sex). Requires a minimum of 30% of candidates of each sex on every list.
Cite and share
How to cite: RFLD (2026). Country fact sheet: Burkina Faso. Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement. https://rflgd.org/country-fact-sheets/burkina-faso-fact-sheet/ (accessed [date]).
Free to quote and share with attribution. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
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