Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the Central African Republic
Statement by the United States of America
31st Session of the Human Rights Council
March 21, 2016
Geneva, Switzerland
Delivered by Amanda Wall
The United States thanks the Independent Expert for her continued work on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic, including her recent follow-up mission. We welcome her update on the current human rights situation following the second round of presidential elections.
The United States welcomes the successful completion of the presidential elections and looks forward to working with the newly elected government. We emphasize that the new government must govern for all the Central African Republic’s people, regions, and religions and must ensure that the country is grounded in peace, justice, and tolerance and are encouraged by recent statements and remarks made by President-elect Faustin Touadera to that effect. We underscore our commitment to supporting the final round of parliamentary elections slated for March 27, including our recent $1.3 million contribution to the UNDP elections basket fund.
We condemn the recent attacks killing 12 Central Africans and call for accountability for those responsible. We express solidarity with the Central African people and reiterate our commitment to continuing to help Central Africans find the peace and stability they deserve.
While we acknowledge and appreciate the information provided in the Secretary-General’s March 4 report on sexual exploitation and abuse in UN missions throughout the world, and in particular in the Central African Republic, the United States strongly urges the UN to take all necessary steps to fully implement its zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, including by rotating out those peacekeepers who do not comply with the zero tolerance policy, and removing from UN peacekeeping those troop and police contributing countries that do not adequately investigate sexual exploitation and abuse allegations or hold those responsible to account.
Question: What actions by the newly elected government are most critical to bringing about peace, justice, and stability? How does your office intend to engage with the new government once it is in place?