Un Human Rights In Africa

UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELDBURUNDIPopulation size1 Surface area1 Human Development Index2 NHRI (if applicable)311.53 million28,000 km² 0.423 (rank: 185/188 in 2018) Status B, 2017Type of engagementCountry OfficeYear established2015 (closed in March 2019)Field office(s)BujumburaUN partnership frameworkUnited Nations Development AssistanceFramework 2019-2023Staff as of 31 December 20191of the training, the participants wereempowered to ensure the protectionof witnesses, victims and other persons at risk in judicial and non-judicialproceedings. During the training, thelawyers committed to using the Lawof 27 June 2016 on the protection ofwitnesses, victims and other personsat risk to claim their right to protectionas needed.Parti ci pation (P)Total incomeUS 342,332XB requirements 2019US 3,543,000Total XB expenditureUS 2,134,585P2 – Civil society actors participate freelyin public life, includ ing during electionperiods.PersonnelNon-personnelPSC†65%24% 502,63412% 1,384,925 247,026Key OMP pillars in 2019Data sources and notes:1 U N (2019), Statistical Yearbook 2019: Sixty-Second Issue, UN, New York.2 U NDP (2019), Human Development Report 2019, “Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today: Inequalities inhuman development in the 21st century”.3 Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), Chart of theStatus of National Institutions.4 March 2019: main.aspx† OHCHR, as part of the UN Secretariat, charges 13 per cent of Programme Support Cost (PSC) on all direct costs as perGeneral Assembly resolution 35/217 of December 1980. However, for activities implemented jointly with otherUN partners, the related indirect PSC is reduced to 7 per cent. This explains a lower PSC percentage average.PILLAR RESULTS:Accountability (A)A1 – The justice system and the administration establish and apply laws, policiesand practices that address human rightsvio lations effectively, protect victims andothers at risk, and ensure that humanrights complaints are investigated.OHCHR contributed to the establishment and functioning of accountabilityand protection mechanisms that conformto international human rights standardsby building the capacity of lawyersin Burundi.In November, OHCHR facilitated a training workshop for a group of 60 Burundianlawyers, includ ing 20 women. As a result208 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019Through advo c acy and outreach,OHCHR contributed to the increasedparti ci pation of rights-holders, especiallywomen, in selected public processes.Within the framework of the 16 Days ofActivism against Gender-Based Vio lence, key actors discussed challengeshindering the implementation of theLaw on the fight against gender-basedvio lence of 22 September 2016. Theseactors also developed strategies on howto advocate with authorities and moreactively involve them in the fight againstgender-based vio lence. A strong standwas taken and authorities were calledupon to ensure the widespread dissemination of the Law, combat impunity andfacilitate remedial actions and the reintegration of victims facing intimidationfor participating in judicial procedures.During the campaign, printed promotional materials that were developedby the Office were distributed to humanrights NGOs, academic institutions,embassies, UN agencies and international organizations.

UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELDDevelopment (D)D3 –Civil society is more able to participate in the formation of developmentpolicies and in decision-making. Civilsociety organizations work to promoteand protect economic, social and culturalrights. Policies are in place that ensurethat all stakeholders enjoy equal parti ci pation, access and opportunities withrespect to education, health, food, land,and employment.OHCHR provided technical guidanceto stakeholders to support the meaningful parti ci pation of rights-holders inpublic processes.In collaboration with the Ministry ofHuman Rights and development partners, a road map was adopted, inSeptember, on the implementation ofand follow-up to recommendationsissued by the Universal Periodic Review(UPR) in relation to Burundi. The roadmap provides details on concreteactions, timelines and the distribution oftasks related to monitoring this implementation. It also outlines actions to betaken to implement the SDGs.In addition, under the Mechanisms pillar,the Office built the capacity of the members of the Interministerial Committeeand other institutions to facilitate theirinteraction with the international humanrights mechanisms and to follow up onthe implementation of recommendations issued by the treaty bodies. As aresult of these efforts, a road map wasadopted that features concrete actionsand a defined timeframe.CENTRAL AFRICAType of engagementRegional OfficeCountries of engagementCameroon, Republic of the Congo, EquatorialGuinea, Gabon, Sao Tomé and PrincipeYear established2001Field office(s)Yaoundé, CameroonStaff as of 31 December 201914Total incomeUS 270,095XB requirements 2019US 555,000Total XB expenditureUS 321,880PersonnelNon-personnel35%54%12% 111,494 173,356 37,031Total RB expenditurePSC†US 1,244,827PersonnelNon-personnel84%16% 1,039,433 205,394Key OMP pillars in 2019† Please refer to Data sources and notes on p.208PILLAR RESULTS:Non-discrimination (ND)ND1 – Laws, policies and practices moreeffectively combat discrimination inall forms, and responsible authoritiesactively work to ‘leave no one behind’,includ ing by addressing the root causesof inequality.With OHCHR support, selected anti-discrimination policies were amended toincrease their compliance with international human rights norms and standards.The Office trained 81 journalists (26women) from Cameroon on freedomof expression and international humanrights law, journalism and ethics; media,conflicts and conflict resolution; mediaand elections; and media and nationallegislation. A total of 26 participantsestablished an internal self-regulatorymechanism against hate speech in theform a peer oversight mechanism. Themechanism was entrusted with ensuringthat journalists and media organs abideby ethics. More specifically, a journalist ormedia outlet can be held accountable bypeers in case of a failure to comply withjournalistic ethics. OHCHR will continuesupporting these journalists in the effective operationalization of this mechanismUN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019 209

UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELDby facilitating and hosting their meetings,providing technical advice and reviewingits terms of reference.Development (D)D8 – Relevant official institutions andcivil society actors systematically collectand analyse data, particularly data thatrelates to natural resource exploitationand social expenditure.established a mechanism to enhancecollaboration on data collection andanaly sis on economic social and culturalrights, particularly regarding the level ofrealization of these rights. OHCHR willcontinue providing technical supportfor its operationalization and for theestablishment of a similar mechanism inSao Tomé and Principe.Accountability (A)A1 – The decisions of judicial actorsincreasingly reference human rights principles and standards. Law enforcementinstitutions are taking steps to complywith international human rights normsand standards, notably those that concern torture and ill-treatment and thedeprivation of liberty.In Cameroon and Gabon, selected Stateinstitutions improved their compliancewith international human rights normsand standards, due in part to technicalsupport provided by OHCHR.With OHCHR’s guidance, oversightmechanisms that conform to international human rights standards wereestablished in the region.In July, a new law was adopted inCameroon to strengthen the capacity ofthe National Human Rights Commissionand reinforce its mandate with newfunctions as the National PreventiveMechanism (NPM). OHCHR providedIn Cameroon, the National Institute ofStatistics, which is the cross-sectoralplatform for economic, social and culturalrights and other concerned stakeholders,CAMEROON’S GOVERN MENT SHOWS OPENNESS AFTER OFFICIAL VISIT“Less than a week after the United Nations High Commissionerfor Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, conducted a visit toCameroon, President Paul Biya requested his Prime Ministerto conduct a dia logue mission to the conflict-hit north-westand south-west regions to find a political solution to the escalating vio lence and the ensuing humanitarian crisis.The High Commissioner was invited by the Govern ment tovisit the country from 1 to 4 May. During meetings and consultations in the capital, Yaoundé, the High Commissionerhad an in-depth discussion with the President on the humanrights challenges facing the country, the initiatives beingtaken by the Govern ment and their broader linkages withpeace, security and development.She also met with the Prime Minister, representatives of theGovern ment, the President of the National Assembly andthe Vice-President of the Senate, civil society organizations,members of the media, the National Commission of Human210 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019Rights and Freedoms, members of the opposition and rulingparty, senior leaders of religious communities and the diplomaticcommunity. She engaged with the presidents of two new bodies, which were established by President Biya to tackle issuesrelated to the crisis in the north-west and the south-west, namely,the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism andMulticulturalism and the National Disarmament, Demobilizationand Reintegration Committee. Following her visit, staff of theCentral Africa Regional Office facilitated difficult conversationswithin the country, includ ing at a High-level Round-Table forpolitical parties and other political actors on their role in thepromotion of human rights, peacebuilding and democracy.The High Commissioner‘s statement at the end of her missionunderlined the importance of adopting a prevention mindset inorder to halt vio lations and improve security. “I believe,” she said,“that there is a clear – if possibly short – window of opportunityto arrest the crises.”

UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELDadvice and technical assistance duringthe drafting of the law to ensure its compliance with international standards.OHCHR will work to strengthen thecapacities of the commissioners andstaff of the Commission to enable themto effectively discharge their functions. InGabon, OHCHR facilitated a consultationworkshop and contributed with technicalinputs for the drafting of amendments tothe enabling legislation of the NationalHuman Rights Commission, which willstrengthen its institutional and operational capacities and bring it in line withthe Paris Principles.Additionally, under the Mechanismspillar, OHCHR trained the members ofseven national human rights committees on reporting to the internationalhuman rights mechanisms. Moreover,the Office provided technical guidance to the interministerial committeesof Burundi, Cameroon and Sao Toméand Principe for the development andadoption of road maps for the draftingof reports to the international humanrights mechanisms.CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UNITED NATIONSMULTIDIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATIONMISSION IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (MINUSCA)Population size1 Surface area1 Human Development Index2 NHRI (if applicable)34.75 million623,000 km² 0.381 (rank: 188/188 in 2018)Type of engagementPeace MissionYear established2000Field office(s)Bambari, Bangassou, Bangui, Berberati, Birao,Bossangoa, Bria, Kaga-Bandoro, Ndele, Obo,PaouaUN partnership frameworkUnited Nations Development AssistanceFramework 2018-2021Staff as of 31 December 201965XB requirements 2019US 129,000Key OMP pillars in 20191 23Please refer to Data sources and notes on p.208.PILLAR RESULTS:Accountability (A)A1 – The actions of judicial institutionsand defence and security forces increasingly comply with human rights.The Human Rights Division (HRD) ofMINUSCA contributed to the improvedcompliance of State institutions withinternational human rights norms andstandards by providing technical supportand advice on these standards.The Govern ment continued its efforts togradually deploy defence and securityforces and administrative and judicialauthorities beyond the capital, whichis expected to enhance the State’scapacity to protect civilians and addressimpunity. To support these efforts, theHRD applied the United Nations HumanRights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) inresponse to 132 requests for supportfrom the defence and security forces.This resulted in the production of riskassessments and proposals for mitigating measures to prevent human rightsvio lations. The HRD screened 4,399members of the defence and securityforces who were to benefit from UNsupport. A total of 74 of those who werescreened were excluded when it wasdetermined that they were responsiblefor human rights vio lations. The HRDcontinued to provide technical supportfor the integration of human rights intosecurity sector reform through trainings,workshops and expert advice. The HRDorganized 60 training sessions and 10workshops on international human rightslaw and international humanitarian lawUN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019 211

UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELDfor 1,796 defence and security officers,includ ing 287 women, in Bangui and theregions across the country.Peace and Security (PS)PS1 – As a component of CAR’s nationalinfrastructure for peace and humanrights, the National Committee on thePrevention of Genocide, War Crimesand Crimes against Humanity andDiscrimination is fully operational. TheCommittee’s capacity is strengthenedto enable it to implement its road map.A national multifunctional mechanism toprotect victims and witnesses is established: it is able to hold accountablethose responsible for vio lations of international humanitarian and human rightslaw and protect and assist victims of gender-based vio lence and sexual vio lencein conflict.The HRD contributed to the increasedcompliance of national protection systems with international human rightsstandards by providing technical support to these mechanisms.Since the 2018 nomination of the members of the Steering Committee, theHRD has provided technical supportto ensure its full operationalization.The Steering Committee is composedof an Executive Board and a TechnicalSecretariat with 25 members fromthe Presidency, Govern m ent andParliament of CAR, as well as political parties, CSOs and members of theinternational community, includ ingMINUSCA and the AU. It is mandatedto support the initiation of a truth-seeking process through the preparation oflegislation on the organization and functioning of a Truth Commission in CAR.To this end, the HRD facilitated nine212 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019meetings of the Steering Committee,which led to the review of policy documents and the adoption of a frameworkfor national consultations on the futureTruth and Reconciliation Commission.The HRD continued to support theNational Human Rights Commission(NHRC) on the elaboration of its threeyear Plan of Action for the promotion andprotection of human rights, a communication strategy, a complaints procedureand the review and adoption of its manual on administrative procedures. In Juneand July, the HRD supported the NHRCto organize a series of activities in linewith the Political Agreement on Peaceand Reconciliation and contributed to thecreation of local committees to supportthe work of the Commission.The HRD also provided technical assistance to the National Committee on thePrevention of Genocide, War Crimesand Crimes against Humanity andDiscrimination during its field visits to17 localities in the country. During thesevisits, members of the Committee raisedawareness about international standardsof human rights law and humanitarianlaw, the exercise of universal jurisdictionfor serious international crimes, includ inggenocide, prevention mechanisms andmeasures to be taken by the State andinternational partners.PS4 – A comprehensive national transitional justice strategy is developed andimplemented; it is gender-sensitive.A comprehensive national transitionaljustice strategy continued to be developed by the Govern m ent with thetechnical support of the HRD.The national consultative process on thedraft law establishing the proposed Truthand Reconciliation Commission in CARwas held in June. The consultation, whichis a critical element of applying a humanrights-based approach to transitionaljustice, enabled approximately 3,000 citizens to provide feedback on the designof the draft law, which is being finalized.Furthermore, following the signingof the Political Agreement for Peaceand Reconciliation, on 6 February, theGovern ment established an InclusiveCommission composed of representatives of signatory armed groupsand national authorities. The InclusiveCommission is mandated to deve loprecommendations on justice for crimescommitted in the context of the armedconflict. Those cases will be transmitted to the Truth and ReconciliationCommission once it is established. TheHRD supported the work of the InclusiveCommission by providing documentation on human rights, includ ing reportson human rights vio lations and breachesof international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict. Moreover,the HRD supported five field missions ofthe Inclusive Commission to gather infor ma tion on human rights vio lations.PS5 – National institutions and nonState actors increase their capacity toprotect and promote human rights moreeffectively.The HRD contributed to the increasedcompliance of State institutions withinternational human rights standardsthrough its monitoring and reporting andby providing tailored recommendationsto relevant authorities.In 2019, the HRD conducted 164 fieldmissions in all 16 prefectures in CARto monitor and verify allegations of

UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELDvio lations of international humanitarianlaw and human rights vio lations andabuses. These missions contributed tothe protection of civilians through earlywarning monitoring and reporting, includ ing tailored recommendations targetingperpetrators of human rights vio lationsand abuses. The HRD also conducted383 visits to detention centres that arecontrolled by the State and facilities thatare controlled by armed groups in orderto monitor the human rights situation forpersons who are deprived of their liberty.During these visits, the HRD advocatedwith relevant authorities for compliancewith international standards related toarrests and detention.Finally, in 2019, the HRD documented1,017 incidents of human rights vio lationsand abuses, includ ing 320 conflict-related civilian deaths, which affected 1,831victims. In contrast, in 2018, the HRDdocumented 2,457 incidents against4,266 victims and 688 civilian deaths.This decrease suggests that despite thegrave human rights abuses and vio lationsrecorded in 2019, there is evidence of relative improvement of the situation, whichcan be partially attributed to the signingof the Political Agreement for Peace andReconciliation and the efforts of facilitators related to its implementation.CHADPopulation size1 Surface area1 Human Development Index2 NHRI (if applicable)315.95 million1,284,000 km² 0.401 (187/188 in 2018)Status B, 2009Type of engagementCountry OfficeYear established2018Field office(s)N’DjamenaUN partnership frameworkUnited Nations Development AssistanceFramework 2017–2021Staff as of 31 December 20197Total incomeUS 1,239,165XB requirements 2019US 1,847,000Total XB expenditureUS 1,350,313PersonnelNon-personnelPSC†48%41%11% 650,792 549,289 150,232Key OMP pillars in 2019123† Please refer to Data sources and notes on p.208.PILLAR RESULTS:Accountability (A)A1 – The National Human RightsCommission is established and functionsin conformity with the Paris Principles.OHCHR contributed to the functioning ofthe National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) in increased conformity withthe Paris Principles, includ ing by supporting the process for the selection ofcommissioners.and nomination process, OHCHR provided technical advice on the ParisPrinciples through parti ci pation in relevant meetings and briefings to theAd Hoc Committee that was establishedfor the selection of commissioners.Following the approval of the 2018Law for the functioning of the NHRC,commissioners were nominated inaccordance with the Presidential Actof 15 August 2019. During the selectionUN H

UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019 205 . seven human rights presences in UN peace missions in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Demo cra tic Republic . tional materials that were developed by the Office were distributed to human rights NGOs, academic institutions,