Burundi: The Association for the Promotion of the Burundian Girl (Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise - APFB), including its members and activities; the treatment of APFB members by the authorities and the Imbonerakure (2016-March 2017)

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Association for the Promotion of the Burundian Girl (Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise - APFB)

On its website, the APFB describes itself as a non-profit association created in May 1999 on the initiative [translation] "of a small number of female students who were already engaged in youth and women's associations [and who] were concerned about the limited participation of their sisters" (APFB n.d.a). That same source writes that the association [translation] "aims to develop an awareness in young Burundian girls of the role they must play in the country's social, economic and political life" (APFB n.d.b). The APFB website states that it aims to

[translation]

• improve the education of young Burundian girls;
• encourage young Burundian girls to take interest in socio-politics and economics, both nationally and internationally;
• raise awareness in Burundian society of the role of women in the country;
• foster education in peace, democracy and respect of human beings; and
• promote girls' financial independence through entrepreneurship (APFB n.d.b).

Similarly, according to an article published in 2012 by Global Fund for Children, an organization based in Washington, DC, that provides minor funding to community organizations working with vulnerable children and youth in the world (Global Fund for Children n.d.), the APFB [translation] "works to awaken the socio-political and economic conscience of young girls in Burundi through academic support, vocational training programs and awareness initiatives" (Global Fund for Children 5 Jan. 2012). Yellow.Place, an online search tool that "provides information about businesses and places around the world" (Yellow.Place n.d.a), describes the APFB as [translation] "a non-profit organization [and an NGO] created in May 1999 to raise awareness in young Burundi girls of the role they must play in society, the economy and politics" (Yellow.Place n.d.b). According to the same source, the association envisions [translation] "an educated, patriotic, financially independent girl, free of violence [and] who is aware of her rights and obligations and who embodies the positive values of Burundian society" (Yellow.Place n.d.b).

1.1 APFB Members

According to an article published by the Burundi News Publications (Publications de presse burundaises - PPB), a Burundi publishing house that [translation] "aims to disseminate … objective information about national and international news" (Rondera n.d.), the President of the APFB is Marie Lasia Karire (PPB n.d.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Sources report that the [national] coordinator of the APFB is Domitille [Nduwimana] (RPA 12 Oct. 2015; Projet 51 9 Jan. 2016).

An article published in 2017 on the website of the Burundi news group Iwacu presents the biography of Alida Kanyange, [translation] "an intern at the Iwacu newspaper," who is also a member of the APFB and who "sometimes" participates in the association's meetings (Iwacu 1 Feb. 2017).

According to the APFB website, the association's target group includes girls who are [translation] "underprivileged," "repatriated" or "victims of violence," "heads household," and of the "Batwa ethnic minority," and students (APFB n.d.b.).

During an interview published in 2016 by Projet 51, an itinerant project led [by two French students and one young French graduate (Projet 51 n.d.a)] in 19 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to meet social entrepreneurs, association officials and [translation] "a number of other actors working to change the status of women" (Projet 51 n.d.b), the APFB coordinator stated that her association also includes boys (Projet 51 9 Jan. 2016). Similarly, the website of the APFB reports that Éric Ndihokubwayo, a member of the APFB, was an instructor in April 2015 for visits to secondary schools (APFB n.d.c.).

According to the interview published in 2016 by Projet 51, the APFB coordinator stated that boy members of the association are told by other boys that they are not boys and that they have been corrupted by the girls (Projet 51 9 Jan. 2016). According to the same source, the APFB coordinator stated that [translation] "sometimes, there are even boys who do not want to approach girls from their hometown to propose marriage. They say that ʻshe will be very difficult in the household and she will impose equality between man and womanʼ" (Projet 51 9 Jan. 2016). In the interview conducted by Projet 51, the APFB coordinator stated that in Burundi, [translation] "custom" and the "law, which does not favour girls enough," are "obstacles to the emancipation of women and girls" (Projet 51 9 Jan. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to an article published on the APFB website, [translation] "some 60 APFB members" participated in training on "life skills … [and] will in turn form 30 pairs each for wider dissemination of this knowledge" (APFB n.d.d). That same source presents "Nahimana E" as [translation] "a member" who received the training (APFB n.d.d).

1.2. APFB Activities

The APFB website states that it intervenes in the following areas: [translation] "reproductive health and the fight against HIV/AIDS; the fight against sexual violence; the promotion of human and gender rights, with an entrepreneurship component; [and] school education and vocational training" (APFB n.d.b). The article published by PPB states the following about concrete action carried out by APFB to [translation] "empower the [Burundian]" girl:

Ms. Karire [president of the APFB] responded that with the support of its partners and with respect to the economy, the association organizes information and training sessions on youth entrepreneurship.

In the health sector, she stated that the APFB has organized on-site visits to raise awareness among girls in schools or rural environments of learning about healthy reproductive and sexual health. She stated that this activity is organized in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexual violence, especially in adolescent girls ….

In the education sector, the association encourages all girls who are old enough to attend school to put education first in order to have the right to participate not only in the country's development but also in the decision-making mechanisms.

Ms. Karire stated that the work of the APFB has already been successful because there are girls who have created small businesses. These girls are now autonomous. The legal representative of the APFB … asks the government to support the girls in their endeavours to become autonomous. She also asks that those who are guilty of preventing girls' empowerment, especially through sexual violence, be severely punished (PPB n.d.).

Information on the activities of the APFB since 2016 was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. An article published on the APFB website states that the association organized, on April 25, 2015, [translation] "visits to secondary schools, including the municipal school of Musaga, to encourage young girls to continue their education" (APFB n.d.c). According to another article published on that site, [translation] "youth and women from 20 communes in the provinces of Bururi, Mwaro and Makamba were targeted by the APFB from July to September 2015, to train them and raise their awareness of democratic principles and managing electoral results" (APFB n.d.e).

An article published in 2016 by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that during the ceremony organized for World Population Day, celebrated on July 15, 2016, in Burundi, Chanella Ndayishimiye shared her experience with the APFB - of which she is a member - which intervened when she was an adolescent [translation] "to enable [her and her sister] to be independent and to continue their education without problems" after they were abandoned by their mother (UN 26 July 2016). Sources state that the APFB participated in ceremonies organized by the Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender on October 15, 2016, in Bujumbura for International Day of the Girl Child (Burundi 17 Oct. 2016; Le Renouveau 18 Oct. 2016).

According to an article published on the APFB website, the association has a partnership with UNICEF through the [translation] "Adolescents and youth pave the way to peace in Burundi" (Les adolescents et les jeunes ouvrent la voie vers la paix au Burundi) project (APFB n.d.d). According to another article published on that site, UNICEF [translation] "has targeted local organizations, including APFB, to deploy [U-report] [a communication tool that enables participants to give their points of view on social subjects through text messaging]" (APFB n.d.f). The same source writes that the APFB [translation] "recorded some 100 U-Reporters in 2015" (APFB n.d.f). According to the article published in 2012 by Global Fund for Children, a grant from the organization [translation] "supports the APFB's education empowerment program that provides educational support and financial assistance to girls in primary and secondary schools and that challenges society's negligence regarding the education of girls" (Global Fund for Children 5 Jan. 2012).

Projet 51 reports that the APFB coordinator stated the following regarding the [translation] "current crisis" in Burundi and the work that the association is doing in the field:

"We're trying to work despite the current situation in the country, but you know, we can't work where it isn't safe! Sometimes, we have to close our offices; sometimes, the roads are blocked; sometimes, we can't move, like last Friday when everyone had to stay home the entire day because of the gunshots" (Projet 51 9 Jan. 2016).

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Treatment of APFB Members by the Authorities and the Imbonerakure

Information regarding the treatment of the APFB members by the authorities and the Imbonerakure [members of the youth league in the ruling party (Human Rights Watch 19 Jan. 2017)] could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2.1. Treatment of Members of Civil Society by the Authorities

According to Amnesty International's annual report on the human rights situation in 2016, [Amnesty International English version] "[h]uman rights work became increasingly dangerous and difficult" in Burundi (Amnesty International 22 Feb. 2017, 130). The same source explains that "[t]he [National intelligence service (Service national de renseignement - SNR)] increased surveillance of human rights defenders" (Amnesty International 22 Feb. 2017, 130). Similarly, a report of the United Nations Independent Investigation on Burundi (UNIIB), published in 2016 by the Human Rights Council, states that the human rights defenders were among the [UN English version] "primary targets of systematic repression by authorities" (UN 25 Oct. 2016, para. 78).

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016, prepared by the US Department of State, reports that the Burundian authorities ordered the closure of NGOs that criticized the government and the ruling party (US 3 Mar. 2017, 1). Similarly, the UNIIB report states that in November 2015, the activities of civil society organizations were [UN English version] "ʻtemporarilyʼ" suspended by Ministerial decree, and the bank accounts of some of them as well as those of their executives frozen" (UN 25 Oct. 2016, para. 79). According to an article published in 2016 by Human Rights Watch, the bank accounts of NGOs were frozen by the Attorney General in November and December 2015 (Human Rights Watch 25 Feb. 2016).

Sources state that arrest warrants were issued against activists of civil society organizations (UN 25 Oct. 2016, para. 80; Human Rights Watch Jan. 2017, 5). US Country Reports 2016 states that many civil society leaders in Burundi "reportedly [went] into voluntary exile to escape threats and violence" (US 3 Mar. 2017, 23).

According to the UNIIB report, [UN English version] "[h]uman rights activists, as well as their relatives, have been primary targets" of assassinations by the security forces (UN 25 Oct. 2016, para. 49). The same source writes that [UN English version] "[m]any persons have disappeared since the beginning of the crisis [that began in 2015 (UN 25 Oct. 2016, para. 28)]," including members of civil society, "often following their arbitrary arrest by security forces" (UN 25 Oct. 2016, para. 50).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International. 22 February 2017. "Burundi." Rapport 2016/2017 - la situation des droits humains dans le monde. [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise (APFB). N.d.a. "Historique." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise (APFB). N.d.b. "Présentation." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise (APFB). N.d.c. "L'éducation de la fille, notre priorité." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise (APFB). N.d.d. "Jeunes adolescents, ouvrons la voie vers la paix au Burundi." [Accessed 22 Mar. 2017]

Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise (APFB). N.d.e. "Le respect des principes démocratiques et de gestion des résultats électoraux, facteurs primordiaux pour la consolidation de la paix." [Accessed 22 Mar. 2017]

Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise (APFB). N.d.f. "'Devenons des U-reporters' : l'APFB enregistre une centaine d'U-reporters pour l'an 2015." [Accessed 22 Mar. 2017]

Burundi. 17 October 2016. Government of Burundi. "Célébration de la journée internationale de la fille au Burundi : 'aux côtés de l'adolescente burundaise pour ses ambitions 2030'." [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]

Global Fund for Children. 5 January 2012. "Partners." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Global Fund for Children. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 20 Mar. 2017]

Human Rights Watch. 19 January 2017. "Burundi: Attacks by Ruling Party Youth League Members." [Accessed 27 Mar. 2017]

Human Rights Watch. January 2017. "Burundi." World Report 2017: Events of 2016. [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Human Rights Watch. 25 February 2016. "Burundi : les enlèvements et les meurtres répandent la peur." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Iwacu. 1 February 2017. "Alida Kanyange." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Projet 51. 9 January 2016. "Interview de Domitille, coordonnatrice nationale de l'Association pour la promotion de la femme burundaise (APFB)." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Projet 51. N.d.a. "Qui sommes-nous?" [Accessed 20 Mar. 2017]

Projet 51. N.d.b. "Le Projet 51, c'est quoi?" [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]

Publications de presse burundaise (PPB). N.d. Rose Mpekerimana. "La fille constitue un potentiel important pour le développement du pays." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Le Renouveau. 18 October 2016. "MDPHASG Célébration de la Journée internationale de la fille, édition 2016. Tout le monde est interpellé à contribuer dans la lutte contre les défis que rencontrent les jeunes filles." (Factiva)

Rondera. N.d. "Publications de presse burundaise." [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]

Radio publique africaine (RPA). 12 October 2015. "Journée internationale de la fille : au Burundi, les défis restent nombreux." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

United Nations (UN). 25 October 2016. Human Rights Council. Rapport de l'enquête indépendante des Nations Unies sur le Burundi menée en vertu de la résolution S-24/1 du Conseil des droits de l'homme. (A/HCR/33/37). [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

United Nations (UN). 26 July 2016. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). "Célébration de la journée mondiale de la population." [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]

United States (US). 3 March 2017. Department of State. "Burundi." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016. [Accessed 16 Mar. 2017]

Yellow.Place. N.d.a. "What is Yellow.Place." [Accessed 20 Mar. 2017]

Yellow.Place. N.d.b. "Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise." [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Association des femmes juristes du Burundi; Association pour la promotion de la fille burundaise; Centre des femmes pour la paix; independent consultant; Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme; Réseau femmes et paix.

Internet sites, including: Africa Confidential; Africa Research Bulletin; Africanews; Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development; BBC; Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme; Radio France internationale; UN – Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth; United Nations Radio.