UN Human Rights Council 60: UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with Independent Expert on Central African Republic
UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with Independent Expert on Central African Republic. Delivered at the 60th session of the HRC in Geneva.
Thank you, Madame Vice President,
We welcome the Central African Republic’s continued engagement with this Council and the Independent Expert’s scrutiny of the human rights situation. Ongoing implementation of national human rights policies remains vital to translate commitments into results.
The UK welcomes the Central African Republic’s commitment to hold local, legislative and presidential elections in December. However, holding combined elections presents significant challenges. We urge the government to strengthen the National Electoral Authority to ensure the constitutional timelines for elections are met and encourage stakeholders to support the Authority in delivering free and fair elections.
We are pleased the measures taken under the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation has led to an improvement in the human rights situation, but we remain deeply concerned by abuses committed by Russian proxies and armed groups. These groups do not improve security or stability. We urge the authorities to strengthen the implementation of the Agreement, and to support the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) as it seeks to fulfil its mandate.
Intercommunity tensions represent a serious threat to peace and human rights. We ask the independent expert, what can the international community do to support the Central African Republic in combatting these tensions?