UN Authority Figures

UN Economic and Social Council: Burkina Faso

On Wednesday September 16, 2015 members of the RSP military forces led a coup against the government, and targeted artists and human rights defenders.
Source: Arterial Network, September 21, 2015


Mission of the Economic and Social Council: "The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals." (ECOSOC website, "About Us")

Term of office: 2015-2017

Burkina Faso's Record on "social development" and "fostering debate":
"The most significant human rights problems included security force use of excessive force against civilians and detainees; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; and violence and discrimination against women and children, including female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Other human rights problems included arbitrary arrest and detention; judicial inefficiency and lack of independence; official corruption; trafficking in persons, including forced labor of children; discrimination against persons with disabilities; societal violence; and discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community... journalists occasionally faced criminal prosecution for libel and other forms of harassment and intimidation. Freedom of Speech: The law prohibits persons from insulting the head of state or using derogatory language with respect to the office." (US State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2014, Burkina Faso)