Source: Amnesty International –
Reacting to the adoption by the Transitional Legislative Assembly of the new Persons and Family Code, Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said:
“We welcome the long-awaited decision to set the minimum age for marriage at 18 for both boys and girls and establishing consent between the two parties as the basis of marriage. This move protects children from early and forced marriage, a deeply harmful practice that has long violated their rights and hindered their education, health, and well-being. We also welcome provisions eliminating gender discrimination in inheritance rights. These provisions represent a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to safeguard children’s and women’s rights.
We call on President Ibrahim Traoré to refer the Code back to the Transitional Legislative Assembly for a revision before enacting it into the law.
Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa
“However, we are alarmed and deeply concerned by the criminalization of same-sex relations between adults. This does nothing but create discrimination and violates the right to equality before the law. It is at odds with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both ratified by Burkina Faso.
“Everybody is entitled to respect for their private and family life and to enjoy that right without fear and discrimination. We call on President Ibrahim Traoré to refer the Code back to the Transitional Legislative Assembly for a revision before enacting it into the law.”