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/></td> <td> <p style="font-size:1.4em;">United Nations</p> </td> <td> <p> <span style="font-size:2em;">CCPR</span>/C/BFA/CO/1</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:1.7em;">International Covenant onCivil and Political Rights</p> </td> <td> <p>Distr.: General</p> <p>17 October 2016</p> <p>English</p> <p>Original: French</p> </td> </tr> </table> <div class="content"> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:1.2em;">Human Rights Committee</p> <h2 style="font-weight:bold;">Concluding observations on the initial report of Burkina Faso *</h2> <p>1.The Human Rights Committee considered the initial report of Burkina Faso (CCPR/C/BFA/1) at its 3279th and 3280th meetings (CCPR/C/SR.3279 and 3280), held on 28 and 29 June 2016. At its 3294th meeting, held on 11 July 2016, the Committee adopted the following concluding observations.</p> <h3>A.Introduction</h3> <p>2.The Committee welcomes the submission of the initial report of Burkina Faso, which was submitted 14 years late, and the information contained therein. The Committee appreciated the opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue with the high-level delegation from the State party on the measures taken by the latter to give effect to the provisions of the Covenant. It thanks the State party for its written replies (CCPR/C/BFA/Q/1/Add.1) to the list of issues (CCPR/C/BFA/Q/1), which were supplemented by the delegation s oral replies during the dialogue and the additional information it provided in writing.</p> <h3>B.Positive aspects</h3> <p>3.The Committee welcomes the legislative and institutional measures taken by the State party, notably:</p> <p>(a)The adoption of the national justice policy for 2010-2019 and the National Pact for Justice Reform on 28 March 2015;</p> <p>(b)The adoption of Act No. 22-2014/AN of 27 May 2014 aimed at preventing and punishing torture and related practices, which also provides for the establishment of a national observatory for the prevention of torture and related practices;</p> <p>(c)The adoption of Act No. 061-2015/CNT of 6 September 2015 on the prevention, punishment and reparation of violence against women and girls and support for victims, and the adoption in October 2015 of a road map for the rescue and reintegration into society of persons excluded for alleged witchcraft; </p> <p>(d)The adoption of Act No. 015-2014/AN of 13 May 2014 on the protection of children in conflict with the law or at risk;</p> <p>(e)The adoption in November 2015 of the National Strategy for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Marriage (2016-2025);</p> <p>(f)The adoption of various measures to combat child labour, including a national programme to combat child labour at small-scale mining sites and quarries in Burkina Faso (2015-2019);</p> <p>(g)The decriminalization of press offences, in 2015;</p> <p>(h)The establishment in 2015 of the National Observatory for the Prevention and Management of Community Conflicts.</p> <p>4.The Committee welcomes the ratification of or accession to the following international human rights instruments by the State party: </p> <p>(a)The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, in 2009;</p> <p>(b)The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, in 2009;</p> <p>(c)The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, in 2003;</p> <p>(d)The Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1990, and its Optional Protocols on the involvement of children in armed conflict, in 2006, and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, in 2007;</p> <p>(e)The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in 1987, and its Optional Protocol, in 2005;</p> <p>(f)The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, in 1999, and its Optional Protocol, in 2010;</p> <p>(g)The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in 1999;</p> <p>(h)The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, in 1974.</p> <h3>C.Principal subjects of concern and recommendations </h3> <h3>Applicability of the Covenant by national courts </h3> <p>5.The Committee notes that article 151 of the Constitution of Burkina Faso establishes the primacy of international treaties over domestic law and that the Covenant is an integral part of domestic law and may be directly invoked by the courts. The Committee regrets, however, that the provisions of the Covenant have only rarely been invoked or applied by the courts and that only one case has been submitted under the First Optional Protocol since 1999, which could signify a lack of awareness of the Covenant and its Optional Protocol (art. 2). </p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">6. The State party should take steps to further raise awareness among judges, lawyers, prosecutors and other law enforcement personnel about the provisions of the Covenant, so that these can be taken into account before and by the national courts. </p> <h3>National Human Rights Commission</h3> <p>7.The Committee welcomes the broadening of the terms of reference of the National Human Rights Commission on 24 March 2016 to bolster its members independence and give it functional and financial autonomy, but r