Uddrag af omtalen af programsamarbejdslandet Burkina Faso i det amerikanske udenrigsministeriums årsrapport 2004 om menneskerettighedernes stilling verden over.
The Government of Burkina Fasos human rights record remained poor, although there were some improvements in a few areas in 2003 and early 2004.
Political rights, particularly the right to change government, are not fully exercised. The judiciary is subject to executive influence, and individual members of security forces continue to commit human rights abuses.
To address these issues, the U.S. human rights and democracy strategy combines advocacy and program support to draw attention to international human rights norms, emphasize accountability and transparency in government, and nurture the large and active but under-financed non-governmental organization community that is engaged in the human rights/democracy arena.
Several of the Embassys regular interlocutors have emphasized that they see the American Embassy as the best and strongest advocate in the country for human rights and democracy.
Encouraged by diplomatic missions in Burkina Faso, including that of the United States, criticism and publicity campaigns by human rights associations resulted in a sharp decline in extrajudicial killings of criminal suspects by Burkina Faso police in 2002.
The treatment of detainees accused in the alleged coup plot uncovered in October 2003 is also a priority for the United States.
The Ambassador has repeatedly stressed to the Government the importance of transparency and full adherence to international human rights norms in its treatment of the detainees, and the Embassy continues to press for a fair and speedy trial and presentation of evidence in 2004.
Over the past several years, through Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) and Public Diplomacy (PD) grants, the United States helped equip a number of local tribunals in the interior of the country with photocopiers and typewriters.
In 2002, the United States used DHRF funds to sponsor a workshop on the living conditions in Burkina Faso prisons. Following that workshop, the Justice Minister committed himself to addressing prisoners harsh living conditions through a number of initiatives. The United States continues to follow up on this issue with local human rights organizations including by visiting local prisons.
Human rights and democracy building remain strategic goals in U.S. policy toward Burkina Faso. The United States continues to encourage the Government to improve its human rights record and accelerate democratic reforms, particularly with regard to coming elections. DHRF money also supports activities that promote human rights and democratic development.
In addition to sponsoring these events with program funding, the Ambassador and other embassy staff have worked to promote womens rights, childrens rights and the rights of people infected with HIV/AIDS.
U.S.-funded programs focusing on training journalists in investigative and political reporting, bringing together political parties for consideration of necessary electoral reforms, and personal advocacy from the Ambassador to encourage opposition parties to participate fully in the political reform process, paid off during the 2002 legislative elections.
Both international and national observers stated that the elections were free and fair, with no serious fraud or harassment reported. In addition, all opposition parties participated and quadrupled their representation, taking 49 percent of the seats. For the first time since multiparty politics were restored in 1992, Burkina Faso has a genuinely pluralist legislature.
The country is now gearing up for 2005 elections to elect the president and also local commune representatives (a newly created office under Burkina Fasos decentralization plan). Political jockeying for these elections has already begun at the national level.
A Human Rights and Democracy Fund grant supported the production of a play on the rights and obligations of citizens in a democracy, in particular during elections; the play will be performed in rural areas in different local languages.
PD grants have been used to sponsor programs on the rights of persons with disabilities, produce radio programs on human rights, democracy and the electoral process, support local associations that promote human rights, development of the judicial system and the rights of women, and sponsor awards for journalists who have published articles involving investigative journalism.
Using U.S. Labor Department funds, the International Program for the Elimination of Child Labor and the Burkina anti-trafficking in children project funded a workshop on draft anti-child trafficking legislation in late 2002. The National Assembly passed the law in May 2003 and is now working on educating the public about its provisions.
Two new grants from the Office to Monitor and Combat the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) are also funding an information booklet on the new law as well as a locally produced documentary on the dangers of child trafficking.
FY 2003 TIP and INL funding was used for a highly successful training program on trafficking for local police in all 13 regions of Burkina Faso.
In 2003, the U.S. Labor Departments International Child Labor Program funded a 3 million dollar project to combat child trafficking through education, to be implemented by Save the Children-Canada.
Through DHRF funding, the Embassy has also sponsored programs on female genital mutilation, forced marriage, womens and childrens rights, the rights of persons with HIV/AIDS and the problem of social exclusion.
Kilde: Det amerikanske udenrigsministerium
