Special session of Human Rights Council appoints Independent Expert on situation of human rights in Central African Republic

Human Rights Council
ROUNDUP

20 January 2014

Marie-Therese Keita Bocoum of Côte d’Ivoire Named as Independent Expert

The Human Rights Council this afternoon concluded its special session on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic by appointing an Independent Expert on the situation and requesting the immediate operationalization of the mandate.  Marie-Therese Keita Bocoum of Côte d’Ivoire was named as the Independent Expert.

In resolution (A/HRC/S20/L-21) on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic and technical assistance in the area of human rights, adopted without a vote at the end of the special session, the Council strongly condemned the continued and widespread violations and abuses of human rights perpetrated by all actors, and stressed that the perpetrators of such violations and abuses should be held accountable and brought to justice.  The Council demanded an immediate halt to all human rights violations and abuses by all parties, and urged all parties in the Central African Republic to protect all civilians, in particular women and children from sexual violence.  The Council also emphasized the need for all parties to facilitate humanitarian access for the United Nations and humanitarian organizations to all persons in need of assistance.  

In the resolution, which was adopted without a vote, the Council emphasized the urgency of appointing an Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, requested the immediate operationalization of the mandate, and called upon all parties to cooperate fully with the Independent Expert, and on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Expert with the necessary financial and human resources.

After the adoption of the resolution, Baudelaire Ndong Ella, President of the Human Rights Council, said that he had carried out a number of consultations and thanked the members of the Advisory Group and then proceeded to appoint Marie-Therese Keita Bocoum (Côte d’Ivoire)  as the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic.  The President then  declared the twentieth special session of the Human Rights Council closed.

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