HRC41: Statement during oral update with the Independent Expert on CAR

Agenda Item 10: Oral update with the IE on CAR

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you Mr President,

CSW wishes to thank the Independent Expert for her oral update.

We welcome the signing of the Agreement of Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic earlier this year; however, there remains a need to support justice mechanisms in order to ensure that lasting peace is achieved.

CSW is particularly concerned by recent attacks on villages by the 3R rebel group. On 21 May over 40 people were killed and dozens injured when the group attacked two villages in the northwest.

These attacks breach the hard won peace agreement to which 3R is a signatory, and illustrate the immense challenges of maintaining peace in CAR. We welcome the swift response to this particular breech by the government and the MINUSCA.

However, we remain concerned by the potential for a proliferation of groups resorting to violence because they do not feel adequately represented by those that are part of the peace agreement.

An area that was not clarified in the recent peace agreement was how combatting impunity will work in practice. While the establishment and operationalisation of the Special Criminal Court is a significant step forward in the fight against impunity, such judicial institutions need political and financial support in order to effectively execute their mandates.

CSW encourages CAR to ensure the court is resourced sufficiently, and calls on the international community to assist in every way possible.

We conclude with a question for the Independent Expert: Ms Keïta-Bocoum, how well have victims of human rights abuses been represented in the peace agreement and in the justice mechanisms, and what recommendations do you have for the government and MINUSCA to further protect the rights of victims?

Thank you.