HRC48: Oral statement during ID with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the CAR

Item 10:Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Madame President,

CSW welcomes the Independent Expert’s report and thanks him for his continued work.

While encouraged by the Central African Republic’s (CAR’s) continued engagement with this Council, we remain greatly concerned by reports of ongoing violence and violations committed by armed actors, as well as the outstanding need to address impunity, restore rule of law and secure justice for victims of human rights violations.

We share the Independent Expert’s concerns around the breakdown of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation and by the upsurge in attacks by the Coalition of Patriots for Change, exacerbating an already deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Such acts have raised concerns for those involved in civilian peace initiatives. On 4 June the convoy of Apostle Nicolas Gurekoyame Bangou, head of the Evangelical Union in CAR and a founding member of the Interfaith Peace Platform, was attacked by unknown gunmen.

We are also concerned by the increasing use of explosive devices such as landmines in CAR, including by Russian paramilitaries. The presence of explosive devices constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and limits the work and reach of humanitarian organisations.

We have in the past welcomed the steps to challenge impunity in CAR, notably through the establishment of the Special Criminal Court, however we note with concern the challenges to operationalising the court especially in the context of continuing violations.

We call on the CAR to urgently investigate the source and use of landmines with a view to ensuring accountability, and to renew disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration operations to ensure that the inclusive republican dialogue and new peace agreement has an open and transparent process and that the safety of vulnerable citizens is prioritised.

Thank you.