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 (November 2015)
The situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) continues to be serious, with persistent violence, insecurity, and political and religious tensions. The conflict has displaced almost a quarter of the population, with continued fighting forcing new displacement in and around Bangui. Human rights violations and abuses reported by human rights organizations may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. With civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict, the Council should insist that Member States, including CAR, give the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) all possible support to facilitate the protection of civilians, including through gender-sensitive humanitarian assistance. Further, efforts should be made to ensure MINUSCA troops are better prepared and trained, and human rights officers, gender advisors and experts, and Women Protection Advisers are fully deployed. Medical and psychosocial services must be made available and accessible, per SCR 2127 (2013), especially to those displaced, and include gender-specific services for women. In its recent presidential statement (S/PRST/2015/17), the Council neglected to recognize and call for women’s participation in conflict resolution efforts, thus in any future action and throughout its discussion, the Council should explicitly support women’s participation in electoral processes and reconciliation processes, including national dialogues and transitional justice efforts.
Relevant Resources
