Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Central African Republic
UN Human Rights Council – 27th Session, Geneva
September 25, 2014
As Delivered by Peter Mulrean
U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative
Thank you.
The United States thanks the Independent Expert (IE) for her presentation today. We are grateful for her continued commitment to security, justice, and accountability in the Central African Republic.
We greatly value the IE’s ongoing work and recent recommendations to the transitional government in CAR, the parties to the conflict, and the international community on ways to end the violence and suffering. We call on members of this Council to support the renewal of this important mandate.
We welcome the July 23 ceasefire agreement signed in Brazzaville and the September 15 transfer of authority from the African Union-led peacekeeping operation to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR. We remain deeply concerned by reports of ongoing violence, killings of civilians, population displacement, and an on-going humanitarian crisis.
We share the IE’s belief that the current crisis in the CAR is the result of structural problems that the country has experienced for decades. Successive weak central governments and a culture of impunity for violations and abuses committed by the national security forces and myriad armed groups further contributed to a lack of national cohesion and deep mistrust in government.
The transitional government has the opportunity to turn the tide of CAR’s history. It should lead a government for all its citizens and work to advance the ongoing national dialogue process, ensuring justice and accountability. It also should move ahead with electoral preparations that culminate in free and fair elections.
Question
What efforts by the transitional government has the Independent Expert observed to address impunity for violations and abuses committed by all parties to the conflict and to bring about national reconciliation?
Thank you.