Life of Congolese school children in refugee camp in Burundi: applicability of human rights standards and conventions relating to the status of refugees

Abstract

In accordance with international human rights law and of refugee law, member states are obliged to provide schooling to foreigners as well as nationals. This article explores the impact of schooling on Congolese refugee children in Burundi. Our objective is to identify the factors that are linked to the non-enjoyment of certain rights. The methods resulting from the qualitative and quantitative approach seem to us the most relevant. For sample size, we surveyed 352 refugee students out of MUSASA School's enrollment of 2029 students. The factors that impede the enrollment of refugee children in school include sexual harassment, out of 166 respondents, or 52.8% out of 47.2% say that there are cases of sexual harassment in their school. Early and forced marriage, 224 out of 128 respondents 63.6% out of 36.4%) , lack of food,231 respondents out of 121, or 65.6% out of 34.4% gender discrimination, and ignorance of the rights of children in general, and of refugee children in particular, 186 out of 166 respondents, or 52.8% . This study is based on qualitative and quantitative data collected through documentation and fieldwork conducted in the Congolese refugee camps of MUSASA. The research findings highlight that refugee children's right to access schooling is often violated. That said, appropriate measures must also be considered to guarantee rights related to schooling as ratified and promulgated in legal texts. Some of these are the respect and implementation of education rights and laws in force in host countries.