CAR: UN human rights expert launches follow-up mission after adoption of the Republican Pact

GENEVA (11 June 2015) – The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum, will carry out a follow-up mission to the Central African Republic (CAR) from 14 to 23 June 2015, after the adoption of the Republican Pact for Peace, National Reconciliation and Reconstruction at the Bangui National Forum last May.

“I will inquire about the main human rights development since my last visit, as well as the establishment of monitoring mechanisms for the implementation of the Forum’s recommendations, including on the fight against impunity and the protection of human rights,” Ms. Keita Bocoum said, while welcoming the adoption of the Republican Pact at the Bangui National Forum last May.

During her nine-day mission, Ms. Keita Bocoum will meet government, legislative and judicial authorities and UN representatives, NGOs and the diplomatic community to take stock of the situation and developments since her last mission in February. The independent expert also intends to travel inside the country and make prison and detention centers’ visits.

The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic will report on her conclusions to the Council of Human Rights on 30 June 2015 and submit her final report to the Council in September 2015.

The mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic was established by the Council of Human Rights on 27 September 2013. Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum, a former professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire, held various positions both in Côte d’Ivoire and in the UN. She was Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to UNOWA, as well as Director of the Division of Human Rights and the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Darfur. For additional information, please visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/CountriesMandates/CF/Pages/IECentralAfricanRepublic.aspx

The Independent Experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, country page – Central African Republic: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/CFIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests please contact Julie Tétard (+41 22 928 9301 / jtetard@ohchr.org) ou d’écrire à ie-car@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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