2021 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Burkina Faso

Moderate Advancement

In 2021, Burkina Faso made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government developed an implementation plan for the National Strategy to Combat the Worst Forms of Child Labor for the period of 2022 to 2023. It also signed a memorandum of understanding with Nigeria to address human trafficking and completed a national child labor survey. However, children in Burkina Faso are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in farming and commercial sexual exploitation, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in artisanal gold mining. The Labor Code does not identify the activities in which children may engage in light work. The government also lacked resources for the enforcement of child labor laws and did not release information on its labor and criminal law enforcement efforts.

 
I. Prevalence and Sectoral Distribution of Child Labor

Children in Burkina Faso are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in farming and commercial sexual exploitation, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in artisanal gold mining. (1-3) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Burkina Faso. Data on some of these indicators are not available from the sources used in this report.

Table 1. Statistics on Children's Work and Education

Children

Age

Percent

Working (% and population)

10 to 14

35.7 (849,922)

Working children by sector

10 to 14

 

Agriculture

 

80.0

Industry

 

5.6

Services

 

14.4

Attending School (%)

10 to 14

Unavailable

Combining Work and School (%)

10 to 14

Unavailable

Primary Completion Rate (%)

 

64.9

Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2020, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2022. (4)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from Enquête Multisectorielle Continuée (EMC), 2014. (5)

Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.

Table 2. Overview of Children's Work by Sector and Activity

Sector/Industry

Activity

Agriculture

Planting, weeding, and harvesting crops, including cotton (3,6-9)

 

Raising and herding† livestock, including cattle and goats (10-12)

Industry

Artisanal mining† of gold, including digging† and crushing† rock, working underground,† carrying heavy loads,† and using mercury† (1,3,7,8,11-16)

 

Quarrying† and transporting heavy loads† while working to extract granite (12)

 

Working in construction (10,16)

Services

Domestic work (2,3,16)

 

Street work, including vending† (10,17)

Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡

Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,2,18)

 

Farming, including production of cotton, cocoa, and livestock raising, domestic work, begging, gold mining, and quarrying, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,2,12,16)

 

Forced begging in unregistered, and thus illegal, Koranic schools (1,2,16)

 

Recruitment by non-state armed groups for use in armed conflict (19)

† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.

Burkina Faso is a destination, transit point, and source for child trafficking to and from other West African countries. Child trafficking also occurs within Burkina Faso. (1,2,20) Children engage in artisanal gold mining, which is particularly arduous and often exposes children to dangerous chemicals such as cyanide and mercury used in the gold extraction process. (2,7,12,21) Burkina Faso is also one of the largest producers of cotton in Africa, with a reported 250,000 children involved in growing the crop, primarily on small family farms. (9,22) Children working in the cotton sector are exposed to many health risks, including exposure to pesticides, injury from the use of sharp tools, animal bites, and respiratory issues. (6,12)

During the reporting period, children were used as soldiers by extremist armed groups. Research indicates that a village attack in 2021, Burkina Faso's deadliest terrorist attack in years, which killed at least 132, was carried out mostly by children under the age of 14. (19) In addition, a military coup in January 2022 and continued insecurity has led to the mass displacement of over 1.4 million IDPs in the last 3 years, including a large number of vulnerable children. (1,11,12,23)

Although the Law Orienting the Education System mandates free education until age 16, many children face barriers to education access. (3,11,24,25) Due to a lack of infrastructure, some communities create makeshift structures to serve as schools, and in rural areas, teacher shortages are common, especially in post-primary levels. In addition, there are fees for all levels of public education, which sometimes pose heavy burdens on families. (3,11) Moreover, school violence exists and is exacerbated by the current security crisis, and transportation costs restrict access to schooling in urban areas. (11)

Children in Burkina Faso must have birth documentation (a birth certificate or supplemental birth judgment) to register for school. (11,26) A student may begin schooling without documentation, but documentation must be provided before the end of the first quarter following the child’s registration. (3,11) Because more than one in five children do not have a birth certificate, many children in Burkina Faso remain out of school and vulnerable to child labor. (11) While research has found no evidence of discrimination based on ethnicity, refugees and IDPs face many education challenges, mainly due to the sudden increase in education needs in the communities hosting them. Less than 20 percent of displaced people manage to obtain school registration. (11) In some localities where armed attacks on schools have intensified, especially in the East and Sahel regions, there is a preference of some communities for other types of education such as Koranic schools. (11)

II. Legal Framework for Child Labor

Burkina Faso has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).

Table 3. Ratification of International Conventions on Child Labor

Convention

Ratification

ILO C. 138, Minimum Age

ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor

UN CRC

UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict

UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography

Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons

The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Burkina Faso’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including unspecified light work provisions.

Table 4. Laws and Regulations on Child Labor

Standard

Meets International Standards

Age

Legislation

Minimum Age for Work

Yes

16

Article 152 of the Labor Code; Order Deviating the Age of Admission to Employment (27,28)

Minimum Age for Hazardous Work

Yes

18

Articles 149 and 150 of the Labor Code; Article 1 of the Hazardous Work List (27,29)

Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children

Yes

 

Article 153 of the Labor Code; Articles 3–6 of the Hazardous Work List; Article 77 of the Mining Code (27,29,30)

Prohibition of Forced Labor

Yes

 

Articles 5 and 153 of the Labor Code; Articles 3–5 of the Law Suppressing the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; Article 1 of the Law on Combating Trafficking of Persons and Similar Practices (27,31,32)

Prohibition of Child Trafficking

Yes

 

Article 153 of the Labor Code; Articles 1–5, 14, and 15 of the Law on Combating Trafficking of Persons and Similar Practices (27,32)

Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Yes

 

Article 153 of the Labor Code; Articles 3, 4, 7–10, and 20 of the Law Suppressing the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (27,31)

Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities

Yes

 

Article 153 of the Labor Code (27)

Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment

Yes

20

Article 2 of the Decree Organizing Operations Related to Convoking the Contingent (33)

Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military

N/A*

   

Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups

Yes

 

Articles 153 and 424 of the Labor Code (27)

Compulsory Education Age

Yes

16

Article 4 of the Law Orienting the Education System (25)

Free Public Education

Yes

 

Article 6 of the Law Orienting the Education System (25)

* Country has no conscription (34)

The light work provisions in the Labor Code are not sufficiently specific to prevent children from involvement in child labor because activities that qualify as light work that may be permitted are not identified in legislation. (27,28)

III. Enforcement of Laws on Child Labor

The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of child labor laws.

Table 5. Agencies Responsible for Child Labor Law Enforcement

Organization/Agency

Role

Ministry of Public Service, Labor, and Social Security (MFPTSS)

Enforces labor laws, including child labor laws and laws on the worst forms of child labor, and establishes a government policy to address child labor. (35)

Ministry of Women, National Solidarity, Family, and Humanitarian Action (MFSNF)

Removes children from exploitative child labor, provides reintegration services through its mobile unit for intervention, and works with local village surveillance committees on awareness-raising efforts through participation in joint routine inspections with MFPTSS, the lead agency on child labor law enforcement. (12,36) Operates a free hotline to report child abuse, and maintains civil registry offices in maternity wards to register newborn babies. Enlists its National Council for Childhood to oversee all policies aimed at the survival, protection, development, and participation of children in broader policy initiatives. (37) It is unknown how many cases of child labor are identified as a result of complaints made to the MFSNF hotline.

Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Interior Security (MATDSI)

Through its Morals Brigade in the MATDSI National Police Force, oversees criminal cases involving children and women, which are referred to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution. Assists MFPTSS by participating in joint routine inspections related to child labor in suspected human trafficking cases. (12,36)

Ministry of Justice

Appoints one or more judges who specialize in child protection issues to each high court to oversee juvenile court cases. Collaborates with MFSNF social workers in charge of child protection to conduct investigations on behalf of vulnerable children, including victims of child trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, exploitative child labor, and begging. (12,38)

Labor Law Enforcement

In 2021, labor law enforcement agencies in Burkina Faso took actions to address child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the Ministry of Public Service, Labor, and Social Security that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including a lack of human resources.

Table 6. Labor Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor

Overview of Labor Law Enforcement

2020

2021

Labor Inspectorate Funding

Unknown (11)

Unknown

Number of Labor Inspectors

159 (11)

Unknown

Mechanism to Assess Civil Penalties

Yes (27)

Yes (27)

Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors

Yes (11)

Unknown

Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor

N/A (11)

Unknown

Refresher Courses Provided

Unknown (11)

Yes (3)

Number of Labor Inspections Conducted

Unknown (11)

Unknown

Number Conducted at Worksite

Unknown (11)

Unknown

Number of Child Labor Violations Found

Unknown (11)

Unknown

Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed

Unknown (11)

Unknown

Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected

Unknown (11)

Unknown

Routine Inspections Conducted

Unknown (11)

Unknown

Routine Inspections Targeted

Unknown (11)

Unknown

Unannounced Inspections Permitted

Yes (27)

Yes (27)

Unannounced Inspections Conducted

Yes (11)

Unknown

Complaint Mechanism Exists

Yes (11)

Yes (3)

Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services

Yes (11)

Yes (3)

The number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Burkina Faso's workforce, which includes over 8.5 million workers. According to the ILO’s technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 40,000 workers in less developed economies, Burkina Faso would need to employ about 213 labor inspectors. (39) Research indicates that the labor inspectorate lacks adequate resources to enforce labor laws throughout the country, including the human and financial resources needed to carry out a sufficient number of preliminary labor inspections and follow-up inspections. (20,40) The government did not provide information on its labor law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report.(3) However, labor inspectors received training on the National Strategy to End the Worst Forms of Child Labor (2019–2023) (SN/PFTE), its Plan of Operational Action 2019–2021, and on general child labor issues during the year. (3)

Criminal Law Enforcement

In 2021, criminal law enforcement agencies in Burkina Faso took actions to address child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including inconsistent application of victim identification and referral procedures by authorities and frontline responders.

Table 7. Criminal Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor

Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement

2020

2021

Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators

Unknown (11)

Unknown (3)

Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor

N/A (11)

N/A (3)

Refresher Courses Provided

Unknown (11)

Unknown (3)

Number of Investigations

1 (41)

Unknown (3)

Number of Violations Found

Unknown (11)

Unknown (3)

Number of Prosecutions Initiated

Unknown (11)

Unknown (3)

Number of Convictions

Unknown (11)

Unknown (3)

Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor

Unknown (11)

Unknown (3)

Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services

Unknown (11)

Unknown (3)

During the reporting period, law enforcement agents and social workers received training on addressing trafficking in persons as a part of the Tripartite Cooperation Agreement for the Protection of Children on the Move or Victims of Cross-Border Trafficking between the Governments of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Togo. (42) In addition, during the reporting period, 18 children who were potential victims of child trafficking were intercepted in Burkina Faso. (3,42)

Although the government has standard victim identification and referral procedures, criminal law enforcement authorities and frontline responders do not apply them uniformly. (2,20) The government did not provide information on its criminal law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report. (11)

Research has found isolated cases of children being apprehended by the government during anti-terrorism sweeps, and has determined that in the current system, children are often treated as perpetrators. Research indicates that children suspected of terrorist activity are being held in prison along with adults, with some children being held for years. (43)

IV. Coordination of Government Efforts on Child Labor

The government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8). However, gaps exist that hinder the effective coordination of efforts to address child labor, including insufficient coordination among ministries.

Table 8. Key Mechanisms to Coordinate Government Efforts on Child Labor

Coordinating Body

Role & Description

National Coordination Committee for the National Strategy Plan to Combat the Worst Forms of Child Labor (CNC-SN/PFTE)

Defines appropriate strategies for mobilizing the resources necessary to implement the SN/PFTE. Created in July 2020 by order of the Minister of Labor, comprises representatives from other ministries, civil society organizations, NGOs, unions, and employers. (3,11) Promotes consultation and synergy of action between the actors involved in SN/PFTE implementation. Validates the annual activity programs of SN/PFTE. (11) Monitors and evaluates the implementation and proposes necessary readjustments. Reviews and adopts the reports submitted to it by the Technical Secretariat. (11) Issues reasoned opinions on any question relating to the worst forms of child labor. (11) During the reporting period, the National Coordination Committee developed a new operational plan for the National Strategy to Combat the Worst Forms of Child Labor for the period of 2022 to 2023. (3)

MFPTSS Directorate to Combat Child Labor and its Worst Forms

Coordinates and leads interagency efforts to address child labor, including its worst forms; collects information on child labor; and conducts awareness-raising activities. Serves as the Secretariat for CNC‑SN/PFTE. (44) Research was unable to determine whether the Directorate was active during the reporting period.

National Committee for Vigilance and Surveillance Against the Trafficking in Persons and Assimilated Practices (CNVS)

Coordinates actions at the national level to address the worst forms of child labor, including human trafficking, and oversees Committees for Vigilance and Surveillance in each of the regions. MFSNF serves as the lead agency, with MATDSI playing a secondary role; includes representatives from MFPTSS, MFSNF, and NGOs. (1,12,16) Research was unable to determine whether CNVS was active during the reporting period.

Child Protection Networks

Assist CNVS with bringing together state and non-state actors and coordinating and facilitating the collection of statistical data on human trafficking, specifically the trafficking of women and children. (11) Established by MFSNF, the networks comprise social workers, magistrates, judges, police officers, health workers, and NGOs in 23 of the country’s 45 provinces. Research was unable to determine whether the Child Protection Networks were active during the reporting period.

Cooperation Agreements with other countries

Aim to address cross-border trafficking in children. (1) Research was unable to determine whether cooperation agreements with other countries were active during the reporting period.

Parliamentary Network for the Promotion of Child Rights

Trains government officials on children’s rights, including child labor laws and other issues affecting children. (45) Research was unable to determine whether the Parliamentary Network for the Promotion of Child Rights was active during the reporting period.

During the reporting period, Burkina Faso and Nigeria signed an MOU to fight trafficking in persons, which consists of 18 articles and addresses identification, prosecution, repatriation, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration of victims, among other issues. (3,42)

The National Coordination Committee for the National Strategy Plan to Combat the Worst Forms of Child Labor (CNC-SN/PFTE) is made up of representatives from the various ministries responsible for the fight against the worst forms of child labor, representatives from civil society organizations working in the protection of children's rights, social partners (workers' unions and employers), and NGOs. (11) However, all mechanisms suffer from poor coordination among ministries and a lack of resources, such as computers and electricity, which continued to hamper the government’s ability to coordinate efforts to fully address child trafficking. (3,21,40)

V. Government Policies on Child Labor

The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including a lack of implementation of policies related to child labor.

Table 9. Key Policies Related to Child Labor

Policy

Description

National Strategy to End the Worst Forms of Child Labor (2019–2023) (SN/PFTE)

Aims to monitor, address, prevent, and protect against the worst forms of child labor in Burkina Faso, and to reintegrate victims. (1,3) Developed by law enforcement agencies focused on child labor and its worst forms; governmental and non-governmental bodies; technical, financial, and social partners; and civil society organizations, including children's associations. (11) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the SN/PFTE during the reporting period.

National Child Protection Strategy (2020–2023)

Aims to strengthen the institutional, community, and family environment to ensure effective protection for children. (26) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the National Child Protection Strategy during the reporting period.

VI. Social Programs to Address Child Labor

In 2021, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including the inadequacy of programs to address the full scope of the problem.

Table 10. Key Social Programs to Address Child Labor

Program

Description

MFSNF Projects to Combat Human Trafficking†

Aim to address human trafficking. Include the operation of transit centers that provide food, medical assistance, and counseling to child trafficking survivors and children vulnerable to trafficking. (2,46) Transit centers aim to reintegrate victims into their communities and facilitate repatriation of foreign victims when possible. (2) The National Parenting Program assists parents in providing access to education and raising awareness about child trafficking. Nationwide media campaigns to address human trafficking provide advocacy, raise awareness, and build capacity for key actors involved in child protection issues, including child trafficking. (2) Watchdog and monitoring committees ensure that all cases of alleged trafficking of children are reported to the justice system by social workers. (47) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the MFNSF Projects to Combat Human Trafficking during the reporting period.

Campaign to Remove Street Children

NGO MinWomen-funded program, with coordination by the MFSNF, and includes outreach missions in the streets to identify and refer vulnerable children, including forced begging victims, to one of the four youth shelters established in the Somgandé, Baskuy, Nongremassom, and Cissin districts of Ouagadougou. (20,40) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the Campaign to Remove Street Children during the reporting period.

ILO-Implemented Projects to Combat Child Labor

Project to address child labor and forced labor in supply chains, implemented by ILO in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Includes Eliminating Child Labor and Forced Labor in the Cotton, Textile and Garment Value Chains: an Integrated Approach (2018–2022), a EUR 9 million EU and ILO initiative of the UN-funded global project to combat child labor and forced labor in cotton and textile supply chains. (48) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the Eliminating Child Labor and Forced Labor in the Cotton, Textile and Garment Value Chains: an Integrated Approach project during the reporting period.

World Bank-Funded Projects

Include a $51 million Education Access and Quality Improvement Project to support the government in increasing access to preschool education in the two poorest regions and to secondary education in the five poorest regions, and to improve teaching and education; and a $50 million Social Safety Net Project to provide income support to poor households and lay the foundation for a basic safety net system in Burkina Faso. (49,50) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement World Bank-Funded Projects during the reporting period.

Measurement, Awareness-Raising, and Policy Engagement (MAP 16) Project on Child Labor and Forced Labor (2019–2021)

USDOL-funded global project implemented by ILO to support global and national efforts aimed at countering child labor and the forced labor of adults and children. Includes the Measurement, Awareness-Raising, and Policy Engagement (MAP 16) Project on Child Labor and Forced Labor (2019–2021), a $170,000 program. (51) Additional information is available on the USDOL website.

† Program is funded by the Government of Burkina Faso.

In 2021, the Ministry of Public Service, Labor, and Social Security completed a national child labor survey, though the results were not published. (3)

Although Burkina Faso has social programs to address the worst forms of child labor in cotton production and gold mining, the scope of these programs is insufficient to fully address the extent of the problem. (2)

VII. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor

Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Burkina Faso (Table 11).

Table 11. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor

Area

Suggested Action

Year(s) Suggested

Legal Framework

Ensure that laws determine the activities in which light work may be permitted.

2016 – 2021

Enforcement

Ensure that labor law enforcement receives sufficient human and financial resources to fulfill its mandates, including hiring enough labor inspectors to meet ILO recommendations, conducting an adequate number of inspections, and following up after preliminary inspections to ensure remediation of notices to comply with labor law obligations.

2009 – 2021

 

Publish statistics on labor law enforcement efforts, including the labor inspectorate's funding, number of labor inspectors employed, number and type of labor inspections conducted, the number of child labor violations found, the number of penalties imposed and collected, number of inspections conducted at worksites, the number of targeted and routine inspections, and whether unannounced inspections were conducted.

2009 – 2021

 

Establish and publish data on a mechanism to log all calls to the government child protection hotline and to track cases of child labor for referral to law enforcement or social services providers.

2015 – 2021

 

Ensure that criminal law enforcement authorities and frontline responders apply standard victim identification and referral procedures uniformly.

2016 – 2021

 

Publish statistics on criminal law enforcement efforts, including initial training, refresher courses, investigations undertaken, violations found, prosecutions initiated, convictions obtained, and penalties imposed, and whether a reciprocal referral mechanism exists between criminal authorities and social services.

2016 – 2021

 

Ensure a referral mechanism between criminal authorities and social services is operational.

2019 – 2021

 

Take active measures, including ensuring a mechanism is operational, to ensure that children are not inappropriately incarcerated, penalized, or physically harmed solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of their subjection to the worst forms of child labor, such as child soldiering.

2020 – 2021

Coordination

Ensure that all coordinating bodies are active and able to carry out their intended mandates.

2020 – 2021

 

Ensure that coordinating bodies receive adequate resources, such as computers and electricity, to accomplish their mandates.

2015 – 2021

 

Enhance coordination and collaborative processes and procedures among ministries, law enforcement, and social services.

2019 – 2021

Government Policies

Ensure activities are undertaken to implement key policies related to child labor and publish results from activities implemented during the reporting period.

2020 – 2021

Social Programs

Establish a social program to ensure that IDP and other vulnerable children have access to education and thus reduce their risk of exposure to the worst forms of child labor.

2020 – 2021

 

Improve access to education by eliminating school-related fees and other costs, such as uniforms, by increasing the number of schools and teachers in rural areas, ensuring access to affordable transportation, and ending violence in schools.

2010 – 2021

 

Ensure that children are registered at birth and that IDPs have access to the requisite documentation to gain access to social services, including education.

2010 – 2021

 

Ensure activities are undertaken to implement key social programs to address child labor during the reporting period and make information about implementation measures publicly available.

2020 – 2021

 

Expand existing programs to fully address child labor in cotton production and gold mining.

2009 – 2021

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  26. U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2020- Burkina Faso. Washington, D.C., March 30, 2021. 
  27. Government of Burkina Faso. Loi N° 028-2008/AN du 13 mai 2008 Portant Code du Travail au Burkina Faso. Enacted: May 13, 2008. 
    http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---ilo_aids/documents/legaldocument/wcms_126287.pdf
  28. Government of Burkina Faso. Arrêté N° 2008-027/MTSS/SG/DGSST du 26 décembre 2008 portant dérogation de l'âge d'admission à l'emploi. Enacted: December 26, 2008. 
    http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/MONOGRAPH/96329/113810/F692170910/BFA-96329.pdf
  29. Government of Burkina Faso. Décret N° 2016-504/PRES/PM/MFPTPS/MS/MFSNF Portant Détermination de la Liste des Travaux Dangereux Interdits aux Enfants. Enacted: June 9, 2016. Source on file. 
  30. Government of Burkina Faso. Loi N° 036-2015/CNT Portant Code Minier du Burkina Faso. Enacted: June 26, 2015. 
    https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/101264/121922/F-259063524/BFA-101264.pdf
  31. Government of Burkina Faso. Loi Portant Repression de la Vente d’Enfants, de la Prostitution des Enfants et de la Pornographie Mettant en Scene des Enfants, Loi N° 011-2014/AN. Enacted: April 17, 2014. 
    http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/98001/116475/F-1511397845/BFA-98001.pdf
  32. Government of Burkina Faso. Loi N° 029-2008/AN Portant Lutte Contre la Traite des Personnes et Les Pratiques Assimilees. Enacted: May 15, 2008. 
    https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/79122/84952/F1942473436/BFA-79122.pdf
  33. Government of Burkina Faso. Décret N° 2013-358/PRES/PM/MDNAC Portant Organisation des Opérations Relatives à l'Appel du Contingent JO N° 34 du 22 Aout 2013. Enacted: April 29, 2013. Source on file. 
  34. U.S. Embassy- Ouagadougou official. E-mail communication with USDOL official. February 23, 2018. 
  35. Government of Burkina Faso. Décret N° 2016-006/PRES/PM/SGG-CM 06 Février 2016 Portant Attributions des Membres du Gouvernement. Enacted: February 8, 2016. 
    https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/104131/126907/F1207739908/BFA-104131.pdf
  36. U.S. Embassy- Ouagadougou official. E-mail communication with USDOL official. April 30, 2018. 
  37. Government of Burkina Faso. Décret N° 2014-092/PRES/PM/MASSN/MEF/MATS Portant Création, Attributions, Composition et Fonctionnement d’un Conseil National pour l’Enfance. Enacted: February 20, 2014. 
    https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/98000/116474/F-1201415008/BFA-98000.pdf
  38. Government of Burkina Faso. Décret Promulguant la loi n° 015-2014/AN du 13 mai 2014 Portant Protection de l’Enfant en Conflit avec la loi ou en Danger, Decree Nº 2014-519/PRES. Enacted: June 20, 2014. 
    http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_isn=98010
  39. ILO. ILO modelled estimates and projections (ILOEST) – Population and labour force. Accessed January 25, 2022. Labor force data is modelled on a combination of demographic and economic explanatory variables by the ILO. Please see "Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report. 
    https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/
  40. U.S. Embassy- Ouagadougou. Reporting. February 22, 2019. 
  41. U.S. Embassy- Ouagadougou official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 17, 2021. 
  42. U.S. Embassy- Ouagadougou. Reporting. March 4, 2022. 
  43. Voice of America. Hundreds in Burkina Faso, Including Minors, Await Trial on Terrorism Charges. October 6, 2021. 
    https://www.voanews.com/a/hundreds-in-burkina-faso-including-minors-await-trial-on-terrorism-charges-/6260162.html
  44. U.S. Embassy- Ouagadougou. Reporting. February 5, 2018. 
  45. Government of Burkina Faso. Droits de l’Enfant: Les Députés Membres du REPRODEN se Forment en Matière d’Interpellation du Gouvernement. National Assembly Burkina Faso. Accessed January 11, 2014. Source on file. 
  46. U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report 2017- Burkina Faso. Washington, D.C., June 27, 2017. 
    https://www.state.gov/reports/2017-trafficking-in-persons-report/burkina-faso/
  47. UN Human Rights Committee. Concluding observations on the initial report of Burkina Faso - Addendum - Information received from Burkina Faso on follow-up to the concluding observations. September 12, 2017: CCPR/C/BFA/CO/1/Add.1. 
    http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d/PPRiCAqhKb7yhsvOZ9yy4HyCRjzP2m4A/0WEZYp3T7yn7phznP46xXdN7qO0+yK9Tzgla08dEHqGlqtCWyj+scwdrLN3i9BSB+JMwfqec8qPuLdHVXeHpCerHMCWtLerSzFXiJUQX/nkdvA==
  48. ILO. CLEAR Cotton: Eliminating child labour and forced labour in the cotton, textile and garment value chains: an integrated approach. Accessed March 25, 2022. 
    https://www.ilo.org/ipec/projects/global/clearcotton/lang--en/index.htm
  49. World Bank. Social Safety Net Project (P124015). June 14, 2017: Implementation Status & Results Report - Sequence 09. 
    http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/240971497457676248/pdf/ISR-Disclosable-P124015-06-14-2017-1497457666509.pdf
  50. World Bank. Education Access and Quality Improvement Project (EAQIP) (P148062). 
    https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P148062
  51. U.S. Department of Labor. Measurement, Awareness-Raising, and Policy Engagement (MAP 16) Project on Child Labor and Forced Labor. Accessed March 17, 2021. 
    https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/measurement-awareness-raising-and-policy-engagement-map-16-project-child-labor-and