The Child’s Rights to Quality Food for Children Residing with Their Mothers in Prison: Case of Mpimba Prison, Burundi

The children’s right to quality food is a key to the other children’s rights especially the right to survival, development and protection and is a means to analyze by practical items the child’s right to non-discrimination. Through the article 20 §2, a) African countries among which Burundi are obliged to assist parents in the implementation of certain children’s rights in which the right to nutrition. While article 30 of the same regional instruments obliges countries to behave in childish favorite way when the mother is jailed, other instruments go far. Mandela’s rules and Bangkok rules admit that a child may stay with her mother but this is done in accordance with the child best interest. The aim of this article is to analyze the way Burundi implements the children’s right to her/his best interest in the context of being with their mothers during the time a mother is in prison in Burundi. Methodologically, we paid a visit to pregnant and breastfeeding women at Mpimba prison in Burundi. We conducted a survey with them targeting to inquire the context of children feeding practices at Mpimba central prison. Findings show that they are fed with only cassava/maize bread and beans without cooking oil. No porridge, milk, sugar, legumes or meat is said to be in children’s diet from the penitentiary administration budget. While they should at list benefit or enjoy their rights equally to their peers outside the jail, the former are in dangerous situation and their quality food is counted on the volunteers and good-doers contribution.