UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement on CAR
UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on Central African Republic.
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.
Progress by the Special Criminal Court is crucial to ensuring the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity can be held to account. We urge states and other stakeholders to assist the Special Criminal Court in carrying out arrest warrants, including for former President Bozizé. The Central African Republic has the full support of the UK to strengthen the justice system. We encourage the authorities to respect judicial process by handing over Mr Hassan Bouba Ali to the Court.
Madame Vice President, declining violations committed by the army, police and gendarmerie is positive, but we remain deeply concerned by abuses committed by Russian proxies. Russian forces do not improve security, they spread brutality across the country. They intentionally prolong the conflict, committing conflict-related sexual violence, exploiting national resources, and undermining MINUSCA (Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic) as it seeks to fulfil its mandate.
Mr Agbetse,
Increasing disinformation and hate speech present unprecedented challenges for long-term stability. What, in cooperation with Central African Republic authorities, can be done to combat this?