War “the greatest obstacle” to female equality

Experts considering the Burundi government’s report said “the greatest obstacle to complying with the terms of the Convention was the war”, and that the situation of women in displaced person’s camps [civilian ‘regroupment’ camps] needed to be addressed. It was also said that legislative amendments were needed “to achieve true independence and equality of women”, and that customary laws which discriminated against women needed to be considered, a UN press release stated.

Remarks were also made about the vagueness of the report on certain issues, including the situation regarding violence against women, it added. With an estimated 90 percent of Burundian women living in rural areas, it was important that the government work to provide for social services and income generation opportunities in the countryside, the experts said.

Burundi was making a periodic report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, having ratified the Convention in 1991. Ndorimana is expected to respond to the issues raised by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on Tuesday 23 January.