Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) has been engulfed in violent armed conflict since 2013, and conflict-related insecurity has left women and girls vulnerable to forced marriage, abduction, and especially sexual and gender-based violence; according to the International Development Monitoring Centre, 68% of girls in CAR are married before the age of eighteen. Women in the CAR continue to be largely excluded from peacebuilding and reconstruction efforts and have even been subjected to violence perpetrated by UN peacekeepers. Deployed in April 2014, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)is mandated to protect women, monitor and report on violations against women, adhere to the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, ensure women’s full participation in conflict resolution and elections, and incorporate gender as a cross-cutting issue. To further this progress, based on the work of NGOWG members and their partners, the NGOWG advocates for more thorough monitoring of UN peacekeepers in CAR to ensure that no exploitation and abuse occurs on their watch.
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) has been engulfed in violent armed conflict since 2013, and conflict-related insecurity has left women and girls vulnerable to forced marriage, abduction, and especially sexual and gender-based violence; according to the International Development Monitoring Centre, 68% of girls in CAR are married before the age of eighteen.
Women in the CAR continue to be largely excluded from peacebuilding and reconstruction efforts and have even been subjected to violence perpetrated by UN peacekeepers. Deployed in April 2014, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is mandated to protect women, monitor and report on violations against women, adhere to the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, ensure women’s full participation in conflict resolution and elections, and incorporate gender as a cross-cutting issue. To further this progress, based on the work of NGOWG members and their partners, the NGOWG advocates for more thorough monitoring of UN peacekeepers in CAR to ensure that no exploitation and abuse occurs on their watch.
Current and Past Recommendations to the UN Security Council (Monthly Action Points)
Central African Republic (May 2013)
The situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) has continued to deteriorate, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict. There are increasing concerns regarding violations of women’s and girls´ human rights in the country since the 24 March takeover of the Bozize government. In its discussion of the report on the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), the Council should press the CAR government to ensure conditions are restored to enable UN personnel and other international actors to resume their work in service provision and human rights monitoring. This includes ensuring that all allegations of violence against women perpetrated by all parties to the conflict, including the SELEKA, are monitored and reported by the BINUCA Human Rights and Justice unit, properly investigated by CAR Government officials and that perpetrators are held accountable. The Council should also inquire into impunity for atrocities committed by the LRA, including what efforts are being made to ensure justice systems are established and LRA leaders are apprehended, including by transferring to the ICC those persons under arrest warrants by the Court. Vetting and gender training of armed forces is necessary, as is attention to the protection of civilians in all areas of the country. The Council should ensure the report provides specific information, analysis and recommendations on how BINUCA will address women’s protection concerns, given the current situation in CAR, and how barriers to women’s participation will be overcome
Relevant Resources
