Gender-Based Violence in Burkina Faso

By Dorothy Fakrogha, aPHRi

Burkinabe women, like their counterparts around the globe, are faced with the rising challenge of gender-based violence (GBV), which has a profound and devastating impact on mental health. GBV can lead to a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It is not a surprise that one in five African women experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives. Depression is the most common mental health condition, affecting 5.9% of women in Africa, while anxiety disorders affect 4.7% of women in Africa. Given this reality, it is imperative to understand the lived experiences of African women in Africa and how their mental health is important to democratic societies. 

 The issue of GBV continues to affect women’s well-being, especially with the clamour for equal rights under a military regime. 

Burkinabe women have had cause to fight against gender-based violence in recent years, so much so that it has gained international attention. As the world marks 16 days of activism against GBV, it is worth unpacking the dimension of this clamour from Burkina Faso and see lessons that can be replicated across the region.

THE BURKINA FASO CONTEXT

The multidimensional security crisis that began in 2016 in Burkina Faso remains a critical challenge for curbing GBV. It is the most dynamic crisis the country faces, particularly in terms of population displacement and movement. Forced population displacement is known to increase the risk of gender-based violence. According to the 2022 semi-annual report by the GBV sub-group, 91% of reported GBV cases during this period involved internally displaced persons (IDPs). Women and girls accounted for 97% of the reported cases (Gender-Based Violence Situation Analysis Report, Burkina Faso, September 2022).  

For over five years, armed groups have relentlessly targeted the population, which has led to massive displacement. Current estimates show that more than two million people are internally displaced and 6.3 million are in need of assistance, many of whom face disruptions in basic services like education and health care. The displacement of populations, the breakdown of social structures, and the disruption of essential services have created a dangerous environment for women and girls, exposing them to increased risks of violence, exploitation, and abuse.

Recently,  the AFJ/BF legal clinic recorded 795 cases of GBV in just two years (2018 and 2019), with a growing number of cases of rape and unwanted pregnancies, especially among young girls aged 13 to 17. These sources further reveal increased violence against girls and women. To take one example, the Centre-Nord region according to the report, recorded a high prevalence of all forms of GBV. This region has been particularly affected by the ongoing security crisis, leading to increased displacement, poverty, and social disruption. These factors contribute to a heightened risk of gender-based violence, as women and girls become more vulnerable in such contexts. The prevalence of domestic violence was estimated at 20%, and 63% of women were married before the age of 18 - 24 (compared to 52% at national level). 

This new context reinforces existing social norms that create the conditions for gender-based violence to persist within society.

When some school teachers were interviewed to understand how they perceived GBV, their definitions were expressed in the terms of existing gender norms propagated by the patriarchal nature of their society. An example of this is the commonality of child marriages in Burkina Faso, and how patriarchally induced policies influence their perception. Child marriage in Burkina Faso is often seen as a way to protect girls’ honor and secure their future. However, patriarchal power structures and economic disparities exacerbate this issue. Families may view early marriage as a way to alleviate financial burdens or reduce the risk of premarital sexual activity, which is heavily stigmatized. Additionally, traditional gender roles dictate that women are primarily responsible for domestic duties and child-rearing, leading to limited educational and economic opportunities.  Furthermore, the normalization of GBV is expressed how victims do not see anything wrong with the abuse. This normalization is often rooted in societal and cultural norms that perpetuate harmful gender roles and minimize the severity of violence against women, leading victims to internalize blame and accept abuse as a part of their lives. For example, in Burkina Faso, harmful cultural practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) are often justified as necessary for a girls’ purity and acceptance within the community. Victims may not question these practices due to societal pressure and the belief that they are protecting their daughters. Additionally, domestic violence is often seen as a private matter within the family, and women may be hesitant to report abuse due to fear of social stigma or retaliation.

THE LINK BETWEEN GBV AND MENTAL HEALTH 

GBV, particularly violence against women (VAW), can have multidimensional impacts on women’s mental health.  A study in 2012, shows significant correlation between anxiety and depressive disorders with gender-based violence, where victims may experience lifetime challenges. In some situations, the victims of GBV may even be suicidal. A GBV related situation prominent in Burkina Faso is victimisation, where enablers of abuse or victim blamers make it difficult for abused victims to speak up about their conditions. Most of society refuses to condemn the crime and instead blames the victims, citing numerous ways they would have prevented the situation from occurring rather than condemning the crime. Victim blaming, especially in the cases of sexual violence, makes it difficult for the abused to seek and receive medical care, which can lead to a lifetime of trauma for the victim, and in most cases depression, and maybe even suicide. Conflict-related sexual violence is another prominent situation in the country. The ongoing security crisis has led to a surge in sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, and sexual slavery, perpetrated by armed groups. Despite legal prohibitions, FGM remains a prevalent practice in some parts of Burkina Faso, particularly in rural areas. This harmful traditional practice has significant health and psychological consequences for women and girls. Trafficking of women and girls within Burkina Faso and across borders for forced labor and sexual exploitation, particularly in the mining and agricultural sectors is another prevalent issue.

The relationship between GBV and mental health is not only direct due to its effects on the mental health of victims, but it also has indirect impact as abusive partners may confine or control their partners who are victims of intimate partner violence from seeking or receiving medical care; this is also inclusive of restricting them from social and economic opportunities which prevents them from fully participating as active members of society, and by extension affect their sense of worth and mental health. 

A DEPRIORITISED ISSUE

The key challenge in addressing violence against women or gender-based violence in democratic societies is limited funding which hinders access to the prevention, mitigation and response programming. Local non-governmental organisations in Burkina Faso, that are led by women, mostly have generic impacts on victims. For example, providing services that don’t address the unique needs and experiences of individual survivors, as well as prioritizing immediate needs like food and shelter, while neglecting essential services for psychological healing, legal aid, and economic empowerment. This is due to the lack of funding and collaborative activities with bigger organisations that can enable them to scale their programs to have both individual and multifunctional effects on victims across diverse groups. 

In Burkina Faso, a low-income earning country, food insecurity and climate change are prioritised over issues of gender-based violence. People would rather eat and worry about the impact of climate change, such as overflooding or high incidence of crop pests, than engage in issues of sexual violence or child marriage which has been deeply ingrained through cultural myths and norms thereby, driving these practices underground. But policies fail to identify the correlation between these issues. For example, food insecurity has been cited as a reason that Burkina Faso girls leverage child marriage as coping mechanisms, while about 21% utilise survival sex or prostitution to be able to feed and raise money for their families, and 14% of women and girls become victims of domestic violence due to food insecurity. 

Furthermore, beyond funding, physical and social barriers like the inability of organisations to access affected victims because of security restrictions, and victims’ unwillingness to report these cases due to social norms are crucial bottlenecks to GBV mitigation. The statistics show that about 79% of local organisations and 78% of organisations that serve people living with disabilities have expressed their concerns in accessing these populations. 

THE SPACE FOR SOLUTIONS

Mitigating GBV in Burkina Faso should involve a variety of stakeholders and take several forms that encompasses its core structures. In societies where women’s rights have more theoretical basis than practical standings, preventing GBV will be effective via the following strategies:

The government should enact and enforce comprehensive laws that criminalise all forms of violence against women and girls. Establishing specialised GBV courts can expedite case processing and ensure justice for survivors. Moreover, providing legal aid services to victims, particularly those from marginalised communities, can empower them to seek justice.

Secondly, significant investments are needed in various areas. Allocating specific funds to NGOs working on GBV prevention and response can enhance their capacity to implement effective programs. Additionally, increasing funding for law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and social services can strengthen their ability to address GBV cases effectively.

Furthermore, it is crucial to promote gender equality and empower women. This can be achieved through various strategies, including providing education and vocational training to women and girls, conducting awareness campaigns to challenge harmful gender norms, and involving religious leaders and traditional authorities in promoting gender equality. Lastly, establishing youth-led organisations and providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education can empower young people to advocate for their rights and make informed decisions.

Dorothy Ibifuro Fakrogha is an Admin/Research Assistant at the Centre for Democracy and  Development (CDD-West Africa)