Burkina Faso is a secular state, and religious freedom is respected. At least a dozen private radio stations, a private television station, and numerous independent newspapers and magazines function with little governmental interference. The media, which are often highly critical of the government, play an important role in public debate. Customary law sanctions discrimination against women and is used by traditional courts to resolve civil and family disputes, especially in rural areas. Constitutional and legal protections for women s rights are nonexistent or poorly enforced.
Women hold few parliamentary seats or senior government posts.
Female genital mutilation is still widely practiced, even though it is illegal and a government campaign has been mounted against it. Labor unions are a strong force in society and have staged strikes about wages, alleged human rights abuses, and the impunity of security forces. Several labor confederations and independent unions bargain with employers. Efforts to reform the civil service have been met with marches and strikes, but are considered a vital element of economic progress and improvement in public administration. Burkina Faso is one of the world s poorest countries.