At stake in this Referendum:

• Voters were asked to approve a new constitution that will replace the transitional charter governing the country.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE
• Head of Government: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE
• Assembly: Burundi has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate with 54 seats and the National Assembly with 140 seats.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Approval of a new constitution that would replace the transitional charter governing the country. This referendum asked voters to approve a new Constitution, which includes allocation of seats in Parliament: a 50-50 seat split in the Senate between Hutus and Tutsis, while in the National Assembly the split will be 60-40 between Hutus and Tutsis.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 7,934,213 (2005)
• Registered Voters: 3,100,000 (February 2005 est.)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 4,014,185 (2005)

·         Is Burundi a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Burundi ratified CEDAW: Yes (8 January 1992)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 36 (following 2005 parliamentary elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 184 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Burundi a signatory to CRPD: Yes (26 April 2007)

·         Has Burundi ratified CRPD: Yes (22 May 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 1,190,131 (est.)