CAR: UN Independent Expert on follow-up mission to meet newly appointed authorities

GENEVA (9 June 2016) - The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, Keita Bocoum Marie-Thérèse, will conduct a follow-up visit in the Central African Republic (CAR) from 10 to 20 June 2016.

This seventh visit comes following the inauguration of the new government set up by President Touadéra and the start of the work of newly elected parliamentarians.

“I’m going to discuss with the authorities, civil society and the international community on the current human rights situation, and perspectives related to security, respect for human rights, justice and national reconciliation”, Ms. Keita Bocoum said.

On 28 June at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ms. Keita Bocoum will discuss the issue of transitional justice with representatives of the Central African authorities, MINUSCA and civil society organisations

The UN Independent Expert will submit her final report to the Human Rights Council in September 2016.

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. Ms. 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 more information, please visit: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/ie-central-african-republic

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/central-african-republic

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Bangui (during the visist): Benjamin Hounton (Cell: +236 75647467 / +236 72591112 / hounton@un.org)
In Geneva (before and after the visit): Julie Tétard (+41 22 928 9301 / jtetard@ohchr.org) or write to ie-car@ohchr.org

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