About Burundi and human rights

On 26 April 2015, late President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he was seeking a third term as president, sparking the most important crisis in Burundi since its 12-year ethnic civil war ended in 2005. The announcement led to demonstrations that were violently oppressed by security forces, an attempted coup d’état, as well as widespread and grave human rights violations with the ensuing loss of trust of the population in security and defence forces. Elections were boycotted by most of the opposition parties and several representatives of civil society were suspended or banned. A number of media professionals were forced to flee the country.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burundi was created to:

• Monitor the situation of human rights in Burundi,
• Make recommendations for its improvement,
• Collect, examine and assess information from all relevant stakeholders pertaining to the human rights in Burundi, building upon the work of the Commission of Inquiry,
• Advise the Government of Burundi on fulfilling its human rights obligations emanating from international treaties
• Offer support and advice to civil society and to the National Independent Human Rights Commission in executing its independent mandate of promoting and protecting human rights as well as in raising awareness on human rights issues.

The Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Burundi analyses the human rights situation following a holistic approach that takes into account civil and political rights and economic social and cultural rights. The Special Rapporteur intends to increase understanding of the human rights situation, to maintain close consultation with key actors, including the UN system and the international community, to advocate for cooperation with the government, to monitor the situation on the ground and to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Burundian authorities, and to explore the most effective ways to address the issues and challenges related to the protection of human rights in Burundi.