He stabilised the situation by holding and winning free, multiparty elections in 1991, and under Compaor , Burkina Faso seems to have found national reconciliation and stability. Women in Burkina Faso are not protected by any constitutional provision or law. Customary law and practice determine in family rights issues. Female Genital Mutilation is widely practiced. Due to tradition, women do much of the subsistence farming work.
Women experience discrimination in family rights issues.
No special laws protect women against violence such as wife beating and spousal rape. Cases like this are handled through customary law and practice. There are no specific constitutional provisions or laws protecting women, who face extensive discrimination. In general women continue to occupy a subordinate position and experience discrimination in such areas as education, jobs, property, and family rights. Overall, women represent 45 percent of the work force.