The study, conducted by Tournons La Page Burundi, examines the current state of women’s political participation in Burundi, a decade after the 2015 political crisis that curtailed democracy and civil liberties. Despite constitutional and legal guarantees—including a 30% quota for women in decision-making bodies—women remain underrepresented and lack meaningful political influence.
The key findings include:
• Formal recognition without real impact: Legal provisions exist but are treated as maximum limits rather than goals for gender parity.
• Limited political presence: Women hold 30–40% of positions in bodies where quotas apply (e.g., parliament), but their presence is minimal in other areas like diplomacy and provincial administration.
• Marginal influence: Women in politics rarely advocate for critical issues such as inheritance rights due to pressure to conform to party lines.
The report concludes that true political equality requires systemic reforms—beyond quotas—including legal changes, civic education, cultural transformation, and support for independent female leadership.
It offers recommendations targeted at the government, civil society, political parties, and development partners to help achieve meaningful gender equality in Burundi’s political landscape.
Please find the full analysis below:
TLP Burundi report on the challenges of women’s political participation in Burundi_English